Gay Pupils Insulted By Homophobic Phrases

[mushroom25]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/24984781

the word "Gay", from the French "gai", meaning joyful or bright and showy, was increasingly appropriated in the last century to mean a particular lifestyle associated with orientation. Now it's been appropriated by others to mean something else.

Language is constantly evolving; is this something that the LGBTI community needs to "get over", or is the word "gay" now irrevocably locked to its 20th century meaning?

[jim360]

There's an interesting but possibly made-up story I've seen that during the filming of Django Unchained or something like it, there's a scene where Leonardo DiCaprio was obliged to use some seriously bad racist language quite often (who knows why? I've not seen the film) and becoming increasingly uncomfortable with what he was saying. Samuel L Jackson reassured him, saying something along the lines of "son, this is a Tuesday afternoon for us". Seems as though in that case the person most offended by the racist abuse was DiCaprio. Beyond a certain age some people develop thicker skins, I guess.

[joggerjayne]

It's about taking the nastiness out of a word.

The word "gay" is seen as offensive.

So the gay community adopts it.

Now, you can't offend me any more.

The word "queer" is seen as offensive.

So the gay community adopts it.

Now, you can't offend me any more.

Until ...

The PC brigade decide to give the word its nastiness back, by saying ... it is a nasty, spiteful word.

All the good work done by the gay community is undone by the well meaning, but badly informed, PC brigade.

The PC brigade are creating spite, and nastiness, where it had ceased to exist.

[jno]

JJ, the word is being used offensively without any imput from "the PC brigade" whatever. You think kids check with Brigade HQ to find what words are insulting today?

[sp1814]

JJ

But was the word 'gay' ever offensive?

And now come to think of it...exactly when did it's meaning change? And who really changed it?

I assume it came from the Gay Liberation Front in the US...time for some research...

[jno]

the last line of this may be one of the first uses in its current (but non-insulting) meaning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A8U6aUPW48

[joggerjayne]

Yes, but look at the context of the article.

Child one says "that's so gay"

Child two takes offence.

Why?

If I'm in the bar with two guys, and one of them orders a glass of wine ...

And the other says "That's a bit girlie"

Should I be offended?

Should I insist that the words "girl" and "girlie" are no longer used?

The PC brigade are trying very hard to turn "gay" into an offensive word but, in realty, it's so mild.

Plus, if you completely closet kids from exposure to that sort of thing, when they get out into the big wide world, they will be totally unprepared. Shouldn't our schools prepare kids to deal with real life?

[joggerjayne]

sp ...

You might be right. Maybe the word "gay" was never offensive ...

Well, until people try to suggest that it is offensive.

[FredPuli43]

Collins now lists 'gay' with 'homosexual' being its primary meaning, its old meaning being relegated to second place. And it carefully notes that 'gayness' is the state of being homosexual and 'gaiety' is the state of being happy or merry.

As in Reg Hunter's example, words get branded as offensive regardless of context

[joggerjayne]

That Collins definition is so gay.

[naomi24]

^^ :o)

[jomifl]

sp, numbers don't matter any more when they don't support your view. Except of course the suicide rate amongst young gays which is 400% the norm. But that is just a number. When did this increase in the gay suicide rate begin? possibly when the militant gays decided to encourage gays to 'out' themselves even when they hadn't a clue what the consequences would be for teenagers who were unprepared for the reality of doing it.
This current problem was initiated by gays however well intentioned and has resulted in more dead gays than the worst excesses of the NF and their league of morons. Apologies welcomed, but unlikely.

[jackthehat]

Oh, for the days when we knew our place and didn't go about frightening the horses...........

[joggerjayne]

I know places for gay people ... and not a horse in sight.

:0)

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1292666.html

[shoota]

JTH has a stable full of metaphors.

[sp1814]

jomifi

I don't know the suicide rate (or rather the attempted suicide rate) amongst gay teens, but I'll take your word for it.

This bit of your post:

"possibly when the militant gays decided to encourage gays to 'out' themselves even when they hadn't a clue what the consequences would be for teenagers who were unprepared for the reality of doing it."

is bizarre.

and this bit:

"This current problem was initiated by gays however well intention and has resulted in more dead gays than the worst excesses of the NF and their league of morons. Apologies welcomed, but unlikely."

is genuinely strange. I honestly haven't a clue as to what you mean. Are you saying that the fight for equal rights has resulted in an increase in gay murders? Also, did the NF have a particular policy with regards to killing gay people???

The NF were around a long time ago, but I thought they were more interested in race than sexuality.

Regarding apologies - again...you've lost me. Apologies for what???

Your post is interesting though...like a very clever cryptic crossword puzzle...

[doctordb]

JTH :)
Reminds of the guy who was arrested for calling a police horse gay.

As an aside, I always understood that many gays are members of the NF reflecting membership of all the political movements. One time National Front 'hero' Martin webster claims to have had a four-year relationship with Nick Griffin when they were teenagers.

[joggerjayne]

Oh, gross, gross ... Nick Griffin? yuck and bleeagh!

[sp1814]

Thanks doctorb.

I've now just thrown up a little bit in my mouth.

[Kromovaracun]

The thing is, jom, that before the campaign for equal rights began, homosexuals were frequently criminalized, dragged into psychiatric institutions and subject to horrifying chemical experiments.

After it began, as you rightly point out, the number of violent attacks against homosexuals by violent thugs increased dramatically because we had the temerity to point out what was happening to us. According to you, this was our fault.

What exactly are homosexuals supposed to do in your opinion? The past suggests that if we stay quiet and "know our place" then people inevitably come after us. Yet if we ask for the same rights as everyone else has, we are reponsible for the tide of thugs who turn up to bash our skulls in. I accept that for you, it's probably better if we just go away. But we can't.

[doctordb]

Sorry jj and sp,
but my shrink said the only way to get over it was by telling someone else. :)