FargoUT pointed out in another thread the current use of the word "gay" in the lexicon of the American/English language. I have a 19 year old room mate- and he drops the word "gay" constantly- and at the same I know for a fact he has absolutely no problem with gays- his cousin, who is over at our house constantly, is gay, also 20, and he seems to think it is no big deal as a word usage. For instance, I own a small motorcycle shop, and we are shooting some TV show episodes in there, and I am "decorating the set" using graffiti "tagging" for all the walls. I invite local artists and friends and such to grab a spray can and get to work - well, one dude comes in and paints, well, no one has figured it out- it was so awful we kicked him out for the day- and the gay cousin over at my house- he writes next to it "Eliots Gay Tag"- he says "the word really doesn't mean a bad homosexual anymore- it is kinda "not cool" or "stupid" more than "homosexual". When I pointed the usage of the word out to these two fellas- thier answer was "because being gay is really only an issue for your generation, my generation doesn't really care if you are gay, and heck, even a little experimenting with being "bi" is no big deal like it was for you guys"- to which, I kinda have to agree!

So

Do you think the meaning of this word is in flux and really won't mean a slur on homosexuals anymore?

I know it is not exactly an "appropriate" word- any more than the word "nigger" as it is being used in rap music today is- but since it doesn't seem to have the impact- is this a positive developement for this word?

Does it signal greater acceptance by younger generations of homosexuality?

Do you think the meaning of this word is in flux and really won't mean a slur on homosexuals anymore?

Was gay ever a "slur" ?

The meaning of the word "gay" has changed a few times. A century ago, its primary meaning was "happy" "cheery" or "pleasant" as in the Christmas carol Deck the Halls: "Don we now our gay apparel".

I have lots of friends that use the word gay (occasionally) to mean "stupid" or "dumb" or "uncool". "That joke was gay." meaning not funny.

It is also used to refer to homosexuals, almost always men. "My cousin is gay."

Gay has never had the connotation of the n-word, that I am aware of. That is reserved for the three or six letter F words.

I disagree with it never being a slur- I know way, way back when I was 17 it was as nasty as the N word- in fact, they were used together to start a fight often.

1. I would have to ask one of my gay friends, but the way "gay" is used as a insult has changed. "Dude, that shirt is so gay-looking" or "Quit acting so gay" or "Your dog is gay" is how the slur has changed. The tone is lighter, almost comical, but depending on the emphasis, "Stop acting so freakin' GAY" I don't think there's quite the same bite to the word. At least not between homosexuals. It still freaks out a straight person to be called gay in any way.

2. Off the top of my head "gay" isn't quite as bad as being called a "queer," "homo," "dyke" or "faggot." I don't know if those words will trip the profanity filter, but "nigger" doesn't and that's one of the foulest words you can slap a person with. There have been homosexual activists who have embraced "queer" or "dyke" as a positive, empowering word, but for me a slur yesterday is a slur today and a slur tomorrow. I don't think there's any redemption possible for the term "nigger" and every day it's used is one longer before it passes out of the lexicon. Would Colin Powell ever proclaim himself "the baddest nigger on the planet?"

Uh no. I can't imagine a proud lesbian or gay man calling themselves a "queer" but I could be wrong.

3. Young people are less hung up about homosexuality than their parents. Wednesday, the whole family watches "America's Next Top Model" and if you are frightened by gay men, this show will stunt your growth. On the other hand, I don't think kids know very much about the gay lifestyle because a lot of their information comes second hand or even worse, based on television and pop culture.

Speaking from what I understand of the word, the word gay can be used in the place of many words, such as if you slip at work, you can stand up and say something like "wow that was gay", or if you playing an online game and you get killed you can type it, "wow that was gay" or something to that effect. Many times over in life I basically hear that word used like such, or when someone is not acting as some other person may like, such as being something of an annoyance, a person may say something like "stop being gay" or something like that. I personally notice this and basically have stopped using the word like such, for being a melting pot many times basically means a sacrifice of your perception when in the wild for the most part as to not be overbearing/offensive on/to other people you come into contact with.


Do you think the meaning of this word is in flux and really won't mean a slur on homosexuals anymore?

I think its half and half.

I know it is not exactly an "appropriate" word- any more than the word "nigger" as it is being used in rap music today is- but since it doesn't seem to have the impact- is this a positive developement for this word?

No.

Does it signal greater acceptance by younger generations of homosexuality?

No.