Why has gay become a demeaning cuss word?

Question

Since im in the closet some of my friends instead of saying the word bad they say gay, why?

Answer 1

The evolution of language!! It can't be stopped! Just how gay went from happy to meaning homosexual, it now also has another meaning-bad.

Answer 2

I don't think there really is an answer to this... in a less political and offensive example, the word "wicked" means "very good" in New England... sometimes words are just interpreted in a different way and they are swooped up by teenage slang... Most of the people who say "gay" as in "bad" probably do not realize they are offending people who are in fact "gay"... which is in a sense, ignorance... but lots of times it's unintentional.

Hope that helps...

Answer 3

gay used to be a demeaning cuss word -- now its kinda meaningless. In fact, several of my younger friends (much nearer your age than mine) use it themselves. I got a tremendous kick out of being about to ask them what they wanted for dinner when Chris and Dan (who were visiting our home -- and yes, with their parents' knowledge) were fiddling trying to get something to print out on a photo printer from Jonathan's computer and Chris, while holding onto Dan's hand with one hand and occasionally kissing him announced "this printer is gay, it won't work." It took them both a while to figure out why I was almost rolling on the floor.

It means to you what you let it mean to you. :You being gay and the printer being gay are not the same thing.

I know how lonely and sad you feel, and how lost, but if I were you I wouldn't let it get to me -- I'd take it the way they mean it.

*hug*

Kind thoughts,

Reyn
[e-mail]
http://www.rebuff.org

Answer 4

It just depends on how the person reacting is. I'm not gay and I dont think its a cuss word at all.

Answer 5

families parents and kids are just sick of it that's all. We are looking to bring people together not split them up

My son is 10 and said to me "dad, that is gay" I took it to be bad of course, and we did not buy whatever it was that day.

We are only here for a couple of years.

It used to be people would be known for wether they were an artist, poet, or accountant.

The gay people want everyone first to be recognized regarding sexual orientation, amount of money, and how drunk they are at the moment and what they will do for them

Answer 6

i was in the closet until up to 3 months ago when i told my best
friend and then another friend. but it got on my nerves aswell until i came out but what i suggest is to talk to some one over the net so that you can get your feelings across to somebody who wont judge you because its important that you don't bottle things up because before i started to talk to people over the net i became a raving ***** i punched my friend twice because it was always he's gay she's gay your gay (he was right but it gets on your **** after a while) so what i suggest to you is to talk to people over the net because you can't stop your friends from abusing the term gay but you can channel your anger and i hope this advise works aswell for you as it has done for me

Answer 7

Not sure, I guess it's just a cultural thing you're going to have to endure. What would you prefer them to say? Maybe you should educate them. We use to use the word "fruit" the same way. Do yourself a favor and ignore that crap. Just be you.

Answer 8

You must be surrounded by ignorant, if not downright stupid rednecks who feel so badly about themselves, they try to find something their ignorant, stupid friends can agree with to run down. Sorry, but they fail miserably, you do not need to listen to their crap, and in fact, see how fast they fold up into a pile when you call them on it. Good luck

Answer 9

Everyone has their own individual way of expressing themselves. Why are you in the closet? You are what you are. Why are you trying to portray something you are not.

Answer 10

It's a figure of speech, you don't have to take it personally. Language evolves and words acquire new uses and meaning.