When you hear the word "gay", which definition comes to your mind first?

When you hear the word "gay", which definition comes to your mind first?

  • Happy, bright, colorful

    Votes: 4 12.1%
  • Homosexual, homosexuality

    Votes: 27 81.8%
  • Stupid, silly, dumb, broken, undesirable, negative

    Votes: 2 6.1%

  • Total voters
    33

No_Strings

Expert Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2007
Posts
3,967
Media
0
Likes
178
Points
283
Location
Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Homosexuality. I hear it used with negative connotations a lot, but I tire of trying to correct/open the mind of everyone I hear using it that way. (Often, considering my generation.)

Usage that has always puzzled me is why many people(homosexuals included), will say "a gay" rather than "a gay person" or "the gays" rather than "people who are gay". It just serves to emphasise any potential discrimination and allow a person's sexuality to be defining, in my opinion.
 

Northland

Sexy Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2007
Posts
5,924
Media
0
Likes
39
Points
123
Sexuality
No Response
It depends upon the timing. Sometimes I think of homosexuals and sometimes I think of happy-it all depends where my mind is, what's going on at the time, where I am and who I am with.




(I did not vote in the poll; since, two answers-the first two-hold equal weight for me.)
 

Mem

Sexy Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2006
Posts
7,912
Media
0
Likes
54
Points
183
Location
FL
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
It depends on how it is used. In the 1920's it meant happy. When kids say "that is so gay' they mean "lame". The word by itself means a gay person to me.
 

MisterMark

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2002
Posts
2,021
Media
10
Likes
126
Points
383
Location
Palm Springs, CA
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
Usage that has always puzzled me is why many people(homosexuals included), will say "a gay" rather than "a gay person" or "the gays" rather than "people who are gay". It just serves to emphasise any potential discrimination and allow a person's sexuality to be defining, in my opinion.

Yeah, "a gay" seems to have become almost common now. I remember ten years ago when it was considered insulting to even refer to "the gays". It's a dehumanizing way to refer to gay people, but I'm sure that that was the intention of those who first started putting an article in front of "gay" or "gays".

You never hear people talk about "a straight", do you...
 

nudeyorker

Admired Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Posts
22,744
Media
0
Likes
776
Points
208
Location
NYC/Honolulu
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
Yeah, "a gay" seems to have become almost common now. I remember ten years ago when it was considered insulting to even refer to "the gays". It's a dehumanizing way to refer to gay people, but I'm sure that that was the intention of those who first started putting an article in front of "gay" or "gays".

You never hear people talk about "a straight", do you...

Well I think there is a double standard here, because I find it equally disappointing to hear straight people called "Breeders" by gay people.
 

MisterMark

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2002
Posts
2,021
Media
10
Likes
126
Points
383
Location
Palm Springs, CA
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
Well I think there is a double standard here, because I find it equally disappointing to hear straight people called "Breeders" by gay people.

What's the double standard? I was talking about calling someone "a gay" versus "a straight"?

If you want to get into slurs for homosexuals versus heterosexuals, there's a LOT more slurs for homosexuals than heterosexuals.
 

MisterMark

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2002
Posts
2,021
Media
10
Likes
126
Points
383
Location
Palm Springs, CA
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
Your third definition is now well-established in British teen slang - I don't know whether it is so used in the US also. This new usage suggests that homophobia is alive and kicking in the teenage group.

Yeah, I tend to think that it's died down a bit here in the U.S. over the past year.

I was reading comments on a Guardian news article about this very topic, and I couldn't believe that 90% of the comments were things like, "Quit whining" and "Get over it". I used to think of the Brits as more respectful to gays than Americans are, but I'm not so sure now.

We've also had campaigns in schools and on American TV to encourage people to not sue "gay" as a slur. I don't know if you've had anything like that in Britain, but it sounds like you haven't.
 

nudeyorker

Admired Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Posts
22,744
Media
0
Likes
776
Points
208
Location
NYC/Honolulu
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
What's the double standard? I was talking about calling someone "a gay" versus "a straight"?The double standard is that someone is using any slurs to describe another lifestyle when they are sensitive about labels or slurs of their own.

If you want to get into slurs for homosexuals versus heterosexuals, there's a LOT more slurs for homosexuals than heterosexuals.
And I am equally discouraged that anyone feels the need to use any of them whether it is someone's life style, religion or skin color.