Spring Break
This article is so gay
Brent Lemons, Columnist, blemons@smu
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Opinion
"That's so gay." It seems to echo through the halls of every educational institution across America housing students above the age of 12. Most people claim that the words just roll off the tongue without any real anti-homosexual sentiment behind it. 'Gay' is a word that has become synonymous with many negative adjectives such as stupid, unnecessary, maddening, ridiculous, silly and countless others.
When your teacher grades your term paper too harshly - that's gay! Someone looks at you the wrong way - that's gay! Your Coke doesn't dispense out of the vending machine - (oh yes, I've heard it!) that's gay! Virtually all irritating, pestilent or otherwise negative situations are commonly referred to as gay.
Why? It is because we are homophobic as a generation? I don't recall my parents ever saying that something was gay. Neither have I ever heard any mature adult use the term this way. The only time I've heard them say the word was when stating that someone was, in fact, homosexual.
It seems to tie in with the trend of losing specific vocabulary that identifies unique emotions that we as humans share. Why don't I hear, "Her nonchalant demeanor really perturbs me"? We just dumb it down to, "She's acting so gay today!"
Is using gay this way a problem? Yes, for two reasons.
We are losing an important part of our humanity: the freedom of expression. The ability to articulate our ideas, thoughts, emotions and tell stories seems to be eroding. When I asked why a friend of mine was not at an outing, I was simply told, "Oh, she's not coming. She's being gay." What does that mean? What was my friend trying to convey to me? Certainly she is not a lesbian this evening. So, she's being stupid? Well, what does that mean? Is she busy, going out with someone else, spending time with her boyfriend, going through a rough time? What?! Sorry, but describing someone as being gay does not suffice and it's offensive, which leads me to my next point.
We should refrain from using the word 'gay' because it is offensive and distasteful. It is not OK to use language that alienates or demeans any group based on race, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, ethnic group, etc. Obviously, the word gay is used in situations that have nothing, even remotely, to do with gay people. However, it is still not OK to use the word that way, because negatively associating words that categorize people furthers their alienation from mainstream society.
When your teacher grades your term paper too harshly - that's gay! Someone looks at you the wrong way - that's gay! Your Coke doesn't dispense out of the vending machine - (oh yes, I've heard it!) that's gay! Virtually all irritating, pestilent or otherwise negative situations are commonly referred to as gay.
Why? It is because we are homophobic as a generation? I don't recall my parents ever saying that something was gay. Neither have I ever heard any mature adult use the term this way. The only time I've heard them say the word was when stating that someone was, in fact, homosexual.
It seems to tie in with the trend of losing specific vocabulary that identifies unique emotions that we as humans share. Why don't I hear, "Her nonchalant demeanor really perturbs me"? We just dumb it down to, "She's acting so gay today!"
Is using gay this way a problem? Yes, for two reasons.
We are losing an important part of our humanity: the freedom of expression. The ability to articulate our ideas, thoughts, emotions and tell stories seems to be eroding. When I asked why a friend of mine was not at an outing, I was simply told, "Oh, she's not coming. She's being gay." What does that mean? What was my friend trying to convey to me? Certainly she is not a lesbian this evening. So, she's being stupid? Well, what does that mean? Is she busy, going out with someone else, spending time with her boyfriend, going through a rough time? What?! Sorry, but describing someone as being gay does not suffice and it's offensive, which leads me to my next point.
We should refrain from using the word 'gay' because it is offensive and distasteful. It is not OK to use language that alienates or demeans any group based on race, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, ethnic group, etc. Obviously, the word gay is used in situations that have nothing, even remotely, to do with gay people. However, it is still not OK to use the word that way, because negatively associating words that categorize people furthers their alienation from mainstream society.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
jeff
posted 3/25/08 @ 6:45 AM CST
I fully agree. We have a wonderful vernacular from which to draw in expressing ourselves as speakers of English. Bravo for saying so. Communication is key. (Continued…)
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