A rant about why I don’t like people using the word gay as an insult. What do you think though? You can disagree with me if you like, I might be wrong!
Hey!
So 17th May is The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia and to mark the occasion I thought I’d write a post about one of the things that really gets on my nerves: when people say “that’s so gay”, or “your phone is gay” or “staying in to do work is gay”.
For some reason people are using the word ‘gay’ instead of ‘shit’: why? Gay is not shit!
I know that people that say this might not mean it as an insult to gay, lesbian and bisexual people; but obviously if we use the word ‘gay’ as a negative thing or an insult, then it is being negative to gays, lesbians and bisexuals. Imagine hearing people describing you as shit all the time, how would that make you feel? Shit? Exactly.
So please think about the language you use and, if you agree with me, please encourage your mates to do this too. You could share these images on your facebook walls, tweet them, bbm them.
So here’s a poster which is a tribute to Gilbert and George. I hope they like it.
And here is an animated GIF woo!
If you would like to learn more about how to tackle discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals then go to Stonewall (here) who are responsible for this brilliant campaign
The London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard who provide an information, support and referral service for lesbians, gay men, bisexual, trans people and anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality. (here)
Queery is a directory of services and supporting organisations for gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people across the UK (here)
More Bishness that you may find interesting
Transform: a guide to trans and everything that this means
A really interesting story about a trans man
Ask Bish She says she’s straight
© Justin Hancock 2012 (yes that is a funny name for a sex educator) bishtraining.com
awesome this is going up in the office and the clinic
Awww thanks Dan.
This article is soooooo gaaaaayyyyyyy! I mean shit!!!
Tee hee!!
ummm, dude, gay HAS changed meaning! :p
but yeah, quite right, point taken and all. carry on!
I don’t know if Liz was joking but I think she is right. The meaning of the term ‘gay’ has changed over time. And gay people themselves are not the sole owners of the word. I like it when language changes.
My hope is that the term ‘gay’ stops meaning ‘men who have sex with and love men’ altogether because I don’t think it should be a specific sexual orientation/identity. Why should it matter who has sex with who?
This idea has been developed by Mark Simpson, author of Anti-Gay which he wrote against the ‘gay’ identity back in 1996.
http://www.marksimpson.com
Elly. I see your point however in this case I think that using the word gay as a synonym for shit is wrong. Just as it when people say ‘retarded’ or ‘Jew’.
some people use the term ‘ghey’ which is not ‘gay’ but a play on the word.
And quite a few gay people use it too! I don’t think it is the same as retarded or Jew but I am not sure how to explain why. I think it is partly because the meaning is genuinely different from the origin. It doesn’t mean ‘gay=homosexual=shit’ it is a genuine change in the use of the term ‘gay’.
A 14yr old struggling with his sexuality may not get the subtle nuance of your opinion, he’d just feel like shit!!
Hear, hear.
I like your point. It’s very valid. I’m not sure I’d want kids saying that everything is ‘shit’ though or telling others that their trainers are shit. I don’t think that’s a good message to send out either.
It’s like saying insulting others is fine as long as you don’t insult gay/lesbian/bisexual people in the process.
Thanks for that, you make good points which I haven’t considered. It’s meant to be a hard hitting poster and I think it’s unrealistic (and not my job) to ask people not to insult or criticise people or things. Eg I often say that a film, TV programme, album is shit.