(yes, this is Travis' homepage. please read on)
Do you use the word 'gay' to mean stupid? How many times have you done so today? "That movie was so gay." "It was gay of you to do that" or the worst "Henry is so gay; he always acts like an idiot". I want to let you know that I am strongly opposed to this usage. Let me explain why
Now, the most common reply I hear is "But I just use it to mean 'stupid'. I'm not trying to insult homosexuals". I'm not saying that just using the word like that is insulting (though it may be). It is the IDEA behind the usage that makes it insulting.
Face it: when you use the word 'gay' to mean stupid, you are indirectly making the statement that gay people are stupid, and that is just not right.
You still aren't convinced though. Well, think of your nationality. Are you Portuguese? Italian? What if I say "That movie was so stupid, it was italian" "It was italian of you to do that" or "Stop being so italian". I am insulting italian people. I am saying that the stupid movie was something that italians would like, because it was stupid. ie "italians like stupid things". Or I'm saying that you are acting italian because "italians do stupid things". It is pretty offensive, don't you agree? Yet everyone I know does the same thing everyday with the word 'gay'.
It's the worst when you are talking about someone who you dislike, and you refer to them as being 'gay': "Henry is gay; he always acts like an idiot". So, what you mean is "Henry is probably homosexual, because he acts like an idiot and so do homosexuals".
AND even if you don't MEAN it that way, it can be interpreted that way. Others might think that is what you mean, and they will pickup on the idea that gay people are stupid.
If your best friend calls you 'gay', is that an insult? To most people it is. The common response is "No way, man, I'm not gay". Like it is a crime to be gay. I'm trying not to go off on a rant here, but the sad truth is that most people (I know) have the general idea that homosexuality is a bad thing that should be avoided at all costs.
That's sad.
What's even worse is that most people, when asked directly "What do you think of homosexuals?" reply along the lines of "I don't have anything at all against them": an outright lie.
Now, I'm not trying to change the minds of anyone who is homophobic, or biast against homosexuals. That is your choice, though I must say that it is a terribly mean one. All I'm saying is that people, especially those who claim to have nothing against homosexuals, should be careful in the way they talk about them.
Add your questions, comments or random rants here:
or, they may be sent to <SkaMoney34@mac.com>