Why "that's gay" is not homophobic.
How many journals and thread comments I have read complaining about "that's gay is homophobic" is beyond me. When in fact, it's nothing more than slang. Yes, gay also means homosexual, but... originally it meant happy, so really it has various meanings.
A lot of words people use in such phrases as "that's gay" have more than one meaning.
lame 1.(a) Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a lame leg, arm, or muscle.(b) To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. ``Lame of one leg.'' --Arbuthnot. ``Lame in both his feet.'' --2 Sam. ix. 13. ``He fell, and became lame.'' --2 Sam. iv.
2. Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect. ``A lame endeavor.'' --Barrow.
insane: Exhibiting unsoundness or disorded of mind; not sane; mad; deranged in mind; delirious; distracted.
retarded: 1. characterized by retardation: a retarded child.
gay: 1. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
2. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
3. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season.
4. licentious; dissipated; wanton: The baron is a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies.
All the definitions are either from dictionary.net or dictionary.com.
There are more, but these are the main ones that came to mind.
So, the word gay, like many others, are used as slang. Not because someone is "homophobic" or anything along those lines. It's just a saying, like "that's lame" or "that's retarded".
Next time someone says that, instead of freaking out saying "You homophobic a**hole!!!111!" (yes, I have read journals about people doing just this.), just breathe and ignore it if it bothers you. Because it's very likely that they mean nothing by it.
A lot of words people use in such phrases as "that's gay" have more than one meaning.
lame 1.(a) Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect, or temporary obstruction of a function; as, a lame leg, arm, or muscle.(b) To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. ``Lame of one leg.'' --Arbuthnot. ``Lame in both his feet.'' --2 Sam. ix. 13. ``He fell, and became lame.'' --2 Sam. iv.
2. Hence, hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect. ``A lame endeavor.'' --Barrow.
insane: Exhibiting unsoundness or disorded of mind; not sane; mad; deranged in mind; delirious; distracted.
retarded: 1. characterized by retardation: a retarded child.
gay: 1. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
2. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
3. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season.
4. licentious; dissipated; wanton: The baron is a gay old rogue with an eye for the ladies.
All the definitions are either from dictionary.net or dictionary.com.
There are more, but these are the main ones that came to mind.
So, the word gay, like many others, are used as slang. Not because someone is "homophobic" or anything along those lines. It's just a saying, like "that's lame" or "that's retarded".
Next time someone says that, instead of freaking out saying "You homophobic a**hole!!!111!" (yes, I have read journals about people doing just this.), just breathe and ignore it if it bothers you. Because it's very likely that they mean nothing by it.
Posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 02:25am
Comments
Page 1/2 | Next
I say you're gay and that's gay all the time and I have a close gay friend. Even he says that. He calls everyone gay.
If I really wanted to be offensive I'd make it super obvious. I know how to be mean - I'm just normally not.
Spaztastic, September 11th, 2008 at 04:40:11am
Thank you!!! I'm tired of everyone jumping on someone elses case when they say that's gay. To avoid confusion everyone should just go back to saying the term "Brokeback"
razorblade_kisses200, September 6th, 2008 at 06:42:36pm
Thank you! People should get over it tbh, it's a saying, it's not as if whoever says it is the next Hitler.
vghdob, September 3rd, 2008 at 08:12:52am
Thank you!
People take things far too personally.
x_00.07_x, September 3rd, 2008 at 06:15:25am
You're awesome.
Saying 'That's Gay' isn't being homophobic, exactly. I don't think anyone says it with the thought 'That's as bad as gay people' in their heads.
I've got a habit of saying 'That's so Jewish'.
It's the same thing, I'd say.
Yes, I'm okay with being ranted at about being racist, because that's not the case. :/
The Guitar Man, September 3rd, 2008 at 04:14:20am
Thank you! I was really irritated when people kept saying it was homophobic. Homophobic is when you are afraid of gay people or you hate them. And gay can also mean lame/insane/unfair. Thank you.
I truely don't like saying it but I don't mind other people saying it. They don't mean, "That is something that likes the same sex." They are meaning, "That is lame/insane/unfair."
HeartSearching, September 3rd, 2008 at 03:39:13am
Well, I guess we just have different experiences, then. But still, people can take offence to things even if the person doesn't mean it.
And aren't there better words to use, anyway? I've always found people who use that kind of slang all the time a little lacking in vocabulary.
Miss Ann Thrope, September 3rd, 2008 at 03:19:11am
THANK YOU! Thats exactly how I feel. I use gay all the time to mean stupid because its a mega slang over here. Everyone says it so it just latched on. It doesn;t mean I am homophobic- jeez I write slash of course i am not. And also, I say "Thats retarded" but I'm not trying to BE offensive it just comes out. Gah. And like you said, meanings of words change over the years- Gay didn't always mean homosexual either. It meant happy. And now it means stupid. And maybe it twenty years it will mean, I don't know, telephone. Or something. This isnt a very intelligent response, but I will say I concur!
Sardonic Grin, September 3rd, 2008 at 03:18:41am
I've never heard anyone doing that. It's mainly just slang, as I said. I say it, but I don't mean anything by it.
Geesecks., September 3rd, 2008 at 02:52:58am
Yes, but saying something is retarded is also offensive. And what if someone says something is gay with the full intent of being offensive because they do, in fact, have a negitive attitude towards homosexuals?
Miss Ann Thrope, September 3rd, 2008 at 02:51:15am
yeah, it's slang. but like, i don't know.
i've always kind of taken it offensively. i never say that people who say it are homophobic because i know it's now slang for stupid.
Mali Moron, September 3rd, 2008 at 02:45:43am
Yes, I say it, but I don't even think about it, and God knows I would never say it to be mean to anyone.
If people asked me to stop I gladly would....but if you start yelling at me over it and calling me things I'm not then there will be a problem, because in striking back in such a hostile manner it offends me.
-shrugs-
Bettie Page, September 3rd, 2008 at 02:42:31am
I agreee.
I have a shirt that says "Homophobia is Gay", and a gay guy approached me and said that he "loved me" for wearing it. If "gay" in that sense meant homophobic, then I'm sure he would've started b*tching me out.
Some gay guys even use the expression.
Plus, I'm bisexual, and even though that's not totally gay, I'm fine with people calling things/events/situations gay ^_^
ILoveFrerard, September 3rd, 2008 at 02:39:53am
xD true you should''tyell, doesn't mean the person is homophobic.
you just have to ask nicely : )
She's_Like_Heroin, September 3rd, 2008 at 02:37:32am
Thank you!
I've been trying to get this through people's heads forever.
It's just a phrase...it's not meant to offend anyone....and if it does all you have to say is,"I find that offending. Can you please not say that around me?" instead of calling people homophobic and yelling at them.
Simple?
Yes.
Bettie Page, September 3rd, 2008 at 02:35:02am