Many right wing and Christian people now object to the use by homosexuals of the term "Gay" so what term can be used without offending either side on this debate. "Shirt-lifter" perhaps. Ideas please.
2006-10-02 01:10:01 · 28 answers · asked by "Call me Dave" 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Trouble is with right wing /christian folk having the same rights not to be offended as Homosexual and or gay folk some of us whose work brings us into contact with these sensibilities need sensible guidance.
In addition many overtly "Gay" people are actually celibate and not praccticing homosexuals.
It aint easy for unsophisticated straight folk like me to be inoffensive if we dont get guidance when we take the trouble to ask..
2006-10-02 01:35:58 · update #1
Now, perhaps I'm being one of those awkward people that you get on here BUT why can't you just address people by their given name? I am of course presuming you want to, as opposed to shouting ''Oi shirtlifter' across the office.
So try it.....
2006-10-02 01:15:49 · answer #1 · answered by Dee 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
People often get confused between "camp" and "gay". You can be camp and heterosexual, and you can be homosexual without being camp.
"Gay" is a good, all encompassing term, but recently people are using it as a synonym for "sh*t". Basically it is the way that you say it.
Personally, I feel that as someone who clearly knows very few gay people, I don't think you should talk about it at all. You are bound to offend. You seem to think it is a choice that people make whilst drunk, which it isn't. Sure we can choose to be celibate, but as our sexual deviance harms no one, I don't see why it should be anyone else's business other than our own.
I find it curious that you find homosexuality so interesting as to take up so much of your attention. Perhaps this is the reason you don't drink?
2006-10-02 10:48:28 · answer #2 · answered by helen g 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well seeing as how us being gay offends the right-wings and Christians...of course we should be sure not to offend them anymore...Are you kidding me??? Since when do their preferences beat out our own?
Gay was started by the heterosexuals, and works just fine. Why would we care that we are "offending" them? They offend me whenever they insult and try to "change" me. If they have a problem with it, then they need to get over it.
2006-10-02 10:43:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Right wing pseudo Christians have no right to be offended by what someone else is called. That would be like saying the KKK objected to the term African-American. Who cares what they think? It is the group that is being labeled that has some right to choose the label. Gay works just fine.
2006-10-02 08:37:24 · answer #4 · answered by michael941260 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The politically correct term, at the present time is 'gay' or 'homosexual'.
It isnt the term 'Gay' that these people have the problem with. it is the fact that this is a socially acceptable term for something which they see as being socially unacceptable. when 'Gay' was seen as a derogatory term (i.e. as 'happy' as john inman) these people didnt pipe up with any objections.
2006-10-02 08:38:55 · answer #5 · answered by isildurs_babe 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I do not understand what the Gay communities choice of terms for their own self-identity has to do with right-wing conservitive christians anyway.
Perhaps this minority of christian people could better expend their energies doing good for the world instead of hounding non-heterosexual people and placing their own religion in a bad light?
2006-10-02 10:58:55 · answer #6 · answered by tysonian22 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Anything that gets up the noses of right wing godbotherers is OK by me. I have heard that the word queer is being reclaimed by the gay community, as in "Queer Nation" Who cares what bigots call you? You are still the same person whatever you are called. Stay queer!
2006-10-02 12:53:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gay.
Shirt-lifter is derogatory.
Why should you Pander to the right wing and Christians?
If you have a problem, simply say homosexual.
2006-10-02 08:13:47 · answer #8 · answered by IndyT- For Da Ben Dan 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, I would find "Shirt-lifter" to be not only offencive but derogitory and ignorant of the rest of "our" community.
The GLBT community stretches far beyond your run of the mill effeminate male or body-jocky. We encompass every race, nationality, gender, age, ability, religion. We are men, women, adolescents. Black, white, East Asian, Middle-Eastern, South American, Latino...etc.
We are Catholics, Muslims, Jewish, Buddist, Native American, Pagan, Unitarian, Southern Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopalian..eccetera, eccetera, eccetera.
The best thing I've come across would have to be simply "GLBT." It kind of says it all for those who know...and for those who don't, well they could bother to find out or they simply don't need to know.
2006-10-02 09:44:09 · answer #9 · answered by DEATH 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't care if straight christians try to take the word "gay" from us, we will, and I know I will keep on calling me and each other that
2006-10-02 09:25:05 · answer #10 · answered by Danielle 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋