Don’t Buy: The Anti-Gay Campaign
Etymology is the study of the history of words — when they entered a language, from what source, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.
(Wiki)
Someone should inform the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and their ‘partners’ over at the National Ad Council that worrying over the usage of the word gay is totally gay.
Geigh, ghey, gay, however you spell it. The meaning has totes changed, guys! I mean, sure, it still means homo. And it can even stand for happy. But in this post 9/11 world, gay also means frivolous, lame, retarded, stupid. Some gay(homo) people get all up in arms because it used to be an insult thrown at them, or they object to ‘their sexuality’ being linked to a pejorative definition. Whatevs! Get over it, dudes. Don’t be so gay(frivolous, lame, retarded, stupid).
I used to be like Hills Duff in the video above. I mean, ugh, gay people are SOOO not stupid. Why are you using that term in that way? But then I realized I was sort of confused about what I didn’t understand. I wanted to explore my own lexicon, but I was afraid of what society would think of me. I started using the pejorative gay in secret. First on the internet, where no one could link it back to me. Occasionally I would experiment in using gay with my best friend. He was gay(homo) so he helped me to ease into it a bit. At first I felt guilty about it, but eventually I started to get used to it. It was actually kind of fun! I’m proud to say I came out of the gay closet in 2007, and haven’t looked back since. Nowadays, pretty much everyone I know is into gay. ESPECIALLY the gays(homos).
Think of it like taking back a word, if you must. Black people took back their own word and have been running with it ever since. Gay people can totally divorce themselves from the previous meaning of the word and embrace the new one. Most of the forward thinking ones already have. That just leaves poor HillDuff bringing up the cultural rear. Again. So there really isn’t anything new to see here.
DISCLAIMER: I fully understand the INTENTION behind this campaign. I really do. But I think they’re getting distracted by the window dressing and have completely missed the heart of the matter. Please feel free to disagree with me. Obviously an entire council on gay/straight education does. However, everyone I personally know does not. And that’s why this is a Don’t Buy.
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6 Comments, Comment or Ping
Nice post!
We need someone gay to comment on this one.
That ad doesn’t even make sense. What if someone said that’s so like wearing a skirt as a dress? She uses something weird and backwards to equate with gay? ummz…
I like dropping “gay” once every so often, when your listeners least expect it.
BODB doesn’t do disclaimers.
I agree. Good post.
I don’t know. I think I disagree. I stay away from the word because, while it’s only mildly offensive (far from being a fa–ot or a ni–er), it’s still got a pejorative connotation. Once upon a time we used to have a “gay old time” watching the Flinstones and singing along with the three gay Caballeros, and all was good. This is the definition that used to be accepted. Now we’re supposed to avoid things that are too “gay.” Weird. But there’s probably something more accurate to say than “that’s so gay” when something seems a little out-of-the-ordinary or stylistically taboo. I’m not fighting a language war, I’m only shooting for clarity.
Hell yeah we do disclaimers.
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