Does describing something as "gay" insult the gay community?

Question

If someone says, "Scientology is gay" or "Ryan Cabrera's songs are gay" does it insult the gay community?

I wish not to hear defensive answers for Scientology and Ryan Cabrera. I only found those quotes on the web.

Answer 1

I take offense. Some of my friends don't. I'll be very quick to point out "What exactly are you trying to say? Scientology is homosexual? It likes other religions of the same sex? Or is it stupid? In that case, you might want to try another word that expresses what you really mean." I take offense with being equated with "stupid", etc.

But our society likes to do things like this. There's a reason we equate a lot of bad things with femininity. It's called patriarchy. Anything that challenges its status quo is deemed bad and adjectives associated with it are then used in derrogatory ways. Interesting phenomenon, really. Investigate it, you'll be surprised.

I'm not even going to touch the religion part. Let it suffice to say that I fought long and hard and finally realized there was no changing the way God made me.

Answer 2

It doesn't sound harmful, does it? It's not like calling someone a f****t or c**ks****r or bulld*k* -- is it?

I think it is. It is derogatory to homosexuals, bisexuals, and -- this may seem a little "out there" -- women, but hang with me here.

Think about how it's used: as silly, as stupid, as something to be dismissed. And it's used as a direct result of the word "gay" being used to identify homosexuals. If something is "gay," it is not acceptable to the speaker -- because it is identified with homosexuals, it is implicit homophobia. I don't know how it started, but I've heard a precedent for it. Twice in one week I heard the phrase "He is gay as a three-dollar bill." Language changes all the time.

What does homophobia have to with women? Homophobia has its roots in misogyny – the fear and hatred of females.

Ever heard this one as an insult on the playground: "You throw like a girl"? Coaches and drill sergeants call their teams of men “girls” or “ladies” or as homosexuals, using it as as a direct challenge to their manhood and insulting them as being what they see as "less" than men... in other words, women. It's one of the reasons that two women kissing is more socially acceptable than two men: the men are "less" than men -- and people are certain that one of them is "the woman" in the relationship.

Some people may not be upset about it, but maybe they just haven't thought it through. What others have said is exactly right: when in doubt, measure it against things that are obviously insulting like "That's so Jewish."

When anyone hears someone say "That is so gay" and does nothing about it, they send the message that it's okay to hate people because they are different, and that homosexuals mean less to the world, and that women are not as equal to men. Hey, I've stood up to my Southern uncles for telling racist jokes, I'm proud to stand up against anyone who is wrong to fight for what's right for everyone.

Incidentally, the word "gay" has been used to describe homosexuals since the 19th century. Every subculture develops its own lingo so it can recognize its own kind, and such was the use of "gay." It was like wearing a green carnation, or asking a stranger on the street "Do you have the time?" or "Are you a friend of Dorothy?" It was pretty much our secret until the mid-20th century.

I am gay. I am also odd, and queer, and proud, and very happy. I have no history of alcoholism, addictive drug use, using or being a prostitute, or suicide attempts.

Answer 3

No actually the homosexaul community being threatened with persecution for their 1. degrading acts 2. high level of suicide 3. high level of addictions 4. and later the horror of AIDS adopted the word gay which means happy, joyous, peacefully upbeat to hide the sadness and sorrowful depression charcterized by their community so that isf no one else they could at least try to insist they yhemselves were 'gay'. I grew up homosexaul and lived a super 'gay' lifestyle with alcohol, drugs, prostitution, pornography, suicide attempts, before I found hope in Christ Jesus that by His spirit, he could cleanse my haert and change me ever so one day at a time into the heterosexual He made me to be in the first place. Many things are truly gay. Few homosexuals are anywhere close to'gay' unless you add chemicals, perversion addictions and such. It is such a pure word. We heterosexuals should take claim back of the word gay for our children and grandchilden. However we never should do anything but love the person struggling with homosexuality and where they are not where we want them to be.

Answer 4

Yes it does. Gay means homosexual or happy. So unless they are saying that Ryan Cabrera is happy, (which I highly doubt) then we do get insulted. The reason is that they are using it in a bad way...like instead of saying stupid they say gay. I ask people nicely not to use it in that way, please.

Answer 5

great question and I asked a gay guy this , just last saturday. he said it doesn't bother him personally since he keeps it in perspective that homosexuals shifted the meaning of the word in the first place. It used to mean happy or celebratory. Now it means silly or stupid. It's just part of the ever changing nature of words.

However, there are gays who do find this offensive. It's a personal thing is what my gay friend told me.

My little sister says this alot so it made me curious. I guess I should have asked you guys....

Answer 6

Generally, I'd say yes. If you described something you were trying to cut down or didn't like as "Jewish," I think Jewish folks would dislike that. Or if you said "Scientology is Black," meaning that you thought Scientology was no good, I think Black folks might take issue with it. Instead, why not say, "I don't think sourdough bread is worthwhile at all" or "Those songs are stupid" or "Ryan Cabrea? Voice lessons needed badly."

Answer 7

I am not a member of the gay community, but often hear people using that term for silly things. I think it would be insulting to those who are, in fact, gay.

Answer 8

I would prefer people use another word, but it doesn't actually offend me if they don't unless they mean it offensively. I know that people learn that homosexuality is just a negative quality in general, and that is how they use it, so it's kind of a "don't hate the player, hate the game" kind of thing. I think it's hilarious when my (straight girl) friend will apologize profusely for letting it slip around me or her other gay friends, and we're like, "Shannon, chill, we don't care!"

Answer 9

I wouldn't think so. One of the definitions for "gay" is to be lighthearted and happy. I like that definition. It applies to a great many gay people I know and to myself. It also can be placed onto music as a descriptor. I know it's an old platitude to say words can't hurt you unless you let them (when they actually can a great deal) but I like being "Gay" in both sense of the word.

Answer 10

yes i think that this insults the gay community but what they are doing is also very insulting to men and women to the entire human race. Men are not ment to maryy men they are suppose to marry women so are they insulting the human race in a different kind of way.