The Word 'Gay'

[lupestripe]

When did the word 'gay' start to be used to describe something bad or to be ridiculed? And isn't the repeated use of the word in this way a tacit acceptation of discrimination? The fact that the word was used repeatedly during my secondary schools days in such a negative way caused untold problems when it eventually came to accepting my sexuality. I rarely agree with Peter Tatchell but I think the overuse of the word in the playground and online to describe bad things sometimes does have negative connotations. Or am I just suffering from a humour by-pass?

Comments

[schnee.livejournal.com]

I have no idea who Stonewall or Thatchell are. Feel free to continue using the word the way you are, too; it doesn't really matter. To be honest, I'm not even sure we're talking about the same thing.

[rustyfox.livejournal.com]

Stonewall are a UK charity (although I think pressure-group might be more appropriate) to "promote" LGBT issues, whose output nearly always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Peter Thatchell (mentioned way back in Lupe's post!) is a rather outspoken activist too, whose bile also I rarely ever agree with.

Actually now that I check, seems that Thatchell doesn't have anything to do with Stonewall, so my bad. In fact he's been critical of them also, I assumed he must promote them as I find both their ravings equally inane and self-serving. They've both jumped on the "gay is not an insult!" homophobic bandwagon before now.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see.