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Gay Pupils Insulted By Homophobic Phrases
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the word "Gay", from the French "gai", meaning joyful or bright and showy, was increasingly appropriated in the last century to mean a particular lifestyle associated with orientation. Now it's been appropriated by others to mean something else.
Language is constantly evolving; is this something that the LGBTI community needs to "get over", or is the word "gay" now irrevocably locked to its 20th century meaning?
the word "Gay", from the French "gai", meaning joyful or bright and showy, was increasingly appropriated in the last century to mean a particular lifestyle associated with orientation. Now it's been appropriated by others to mean something else.
Language is constantly evolving; is this something that the LGBTI community needs to "get over", or is the word "gay" now irrevocably locked to its 20th century meaning?
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"I think gays should be more aware of the demands that they put on heterosexuals."
Yeah - so many straight teenagers attempting suicide because their gay classmates have found out they like the opposite sex.
And all those gay teens thrown out of their homes by their gay religious parents - ending up homeless.
And let's not forget the stories of gangs of gay men who verbally and physically assault lone straight people - remember that straight fella who was murdered by that heterophobic gang in Trafalgar Square a couple of years ago.
Yes, I see what you mean.
Must be awful for straight people...
Yeah - so many straight teenagers attempting suicide because their gay classmates have found out they like the opposite sex.
And all those gay teens thrown out of their homes by their gay religious parents - ending up homeless.
And let's not forget the stories of gangs of gay men who verbally and physically assault lone straight people - remember that straight fella who was murdered by that heterophobic gang in Trafalgar Square a couple of years ago.
Yes, I see what you mean.
Must be awful for straight people...
jeffa
I believe the word 'homophobia' was coined as a more polite collective term for someone who hates, fears or is disgusted by gay people.
Some straight people are simply like that...but there are fewer of them now than there was 30 years ago.
And in another 30 years?
Who knows. Bound to be good though...
I believe the word 'homophobia' was coined as a more polite collective term for someone who hates, fears or is disgusted by gay people.
Some straight people are simply like that...but there are fewer of them now than there was 30 years ago.
And in another 30 years?
Who knows. Bound to be good though...
sp, There are an awful lot more heterosexuals than gays so perhaps gays don't form gangs very often. They do however prey on vulnerable young men especially if they have a bit of money or influence and a swimming pool :O). If you are trying to imply that gays are pure as the driven snow then you are either naive or disingenuous and possibly being sexist. School bullies pick on any difference, it could be height, fatness, wearing spectacles, going to the 'wrong' school, having ginger hair or freckles or any number of things. ypu don't have to be just black or gay to get bullied, believe me I've been there.
"There are an awful lot more heterosexuals than gays so perhaps gays don't form gangs very often"
But that's not true.
The balance is shifted the opposite way in the gay areas of London, Brighton and (especially) Manchester.
You have large groups of gays in those areas - have you ever heard of any stories where gays in predominantly gay areas picking on straight men?
I can't think of any recent stories in the papers.
But that's not true.
The balance is shifted the opposite way in the gay areas of London, Brighton and (especially) Manchester.
You have large groups of gays in those areas - have you ever heard of any stories where gays in predominantly gay areas picking on straight men?
I can't think of any recent stories in the papers.
Nope. I haven't.
And if that's what you base your opinion of gay men on, then that's sad. Because it's a stereotype which is fast disappearing.
It might have something to do with the fact that there is now a whole generation of gay men who don't need to 'groom', because there's more than enough gay bars, clubs etc to go around.
It must've been very different years ago.
And if that's what you base your opinion of gay men on, then that's sad. Because it's a stereotype which is fast disappearing.
It might have something to do with the fact that there is now a whole generation of gay men who don't need to 'groom', because there's more than enough gay bars, clubs etc to go around.
It must've been very different years ago.
Jack the Hat is correct
when Queen Elizabeth (I) described Francis Drake as a 'gay dog'
she was not saying that he whistleth the live long day....
(and skips)
she was referring to ... other things (not particularly homosexual)
The Gay Nineties - people must have noticed werent renowned for jolly tunes....
when Queen Elizabeth (I) described Francis Drake as a 'gay dog'
she was not saying that he whistleth the live long day....
(and skips)
she was referring to ... other things (not particularly homosexual)
The Gay Nineties - people must have noticed werent renowned for jolly tunes....
gay gangs - I am sure there is a thesis there
the Krays were gay but I dont think the other gang members would look on themselves particularly so. [ osrry.. would have looked....]
Similar one of the Noonans in Manchester is obviously gay
currently on remand in Strangeways
but I dont think the whole of Noon.org perceive themselves as gay
Similarly girl gangs - the Leeds Dippers are the only well known ones
the Krays were gay but I dont think the other gang members would look on themselves particularly so. [ osrry.. would have looked....]
Similar one of the Noonans in Manchester is obviously gay
currently on remand in Strangeways
but I dont think the whole of Noon.org perceive themselves as gay
Similarly girl gangs - the Leeds Dippers are the only well known ones
"School bullies pick on any difference, it could be height, fatness, wearing spectacles, going to the 'wrong' school, having ginger hair or freckles or any number of things. ypu don't have to be just black or gay to get bullied, believe me I've been there."
So have I.
I also know what it's like to grow up as a gay teenager in a UK school. I can remember how all my classmates would use the word 'gay' pejoratively towards just about everything, and I remember there was often pressure among the boys in my class to appear homophobic ("I hate gays" etc.), when in retrospect I don't actually think they were.
I also know that in retrospect that when they said a lesson/accessory was "gay" they didn't mean homosexual - but that's not something which was abundantly clear to me at the time. I've also gone into schools and done workshops on this kind of thing. We often had young gay teenagers approach us after the class has left and confess to feeling isolated and unhappy.
The feeling reported by stonewall, in my opinion, is genuine.
So have I.
I also know what it's like to grow up as a gay teenager in a UK school. I can remember how all my classmates would use the word 'gay' pejoratively towards just about everything, and I remember there was often pressure among the boys in my class to appear homophobic ("I hate gays" etc.), when in retrospect I don't actually think they were.
I also know that in retrospect that when they said a lesson/accessory was "gay" they didn't mean homosexual - but that's not something which was abundantly clear to me at the time. I've also gone into schools and done workshops on this kind of thing. We often had young gay teenagers approach us after the class has left and confess to feeling isolated and unhappy.
The feeling reported by stonewall, in my opinion, is genuine.
"I personally can't be bothered to try not to offend people (of whatever gender alignement) who have an inclinationto be offended at every opportunity."
It's not really about offense. You say you object to the 'demands' gays put on straights, but I'm not really sure what you mean.
For example, say I'm sitting at a table with a bunch of people who I have only recently met. One of them asks me if I have a girlfriend, to which I say no, and then he immediately insists on trying to set me up with his female friends.
Given that somewhere between 6 and 10% (at a minimum) of the population is homosexual, am I "placing demands" on him when I expect him not to simply assume that I am straight? Am I obliged to "out" myself to him purely to correct his assumptions? If so, would this count as being too overt with my orientation?
Another issue is public affection. A straight couple has every right to walk hand in hand/cuddle/whatever down a public street with no interference whatsoever. In practice, this right is denied to gay couples. Is it an unreasonable demand for me to want heterosexuals to leave me alone when I do exactly the same things as they do?
It's not really about offense. You say you object to the 'demands' gays put on straights, but I'm not really sure what you mean.
For example, say I'm sitting at a table with a bunch of people who I have only recently met. One of them asks me if I have a girlfriend, to which I say no, and then he immediately insists on trying to set me up with his female friends.
Given that somewhere between 6 and 10% (at a minimum) of the population is homosexual, am I "placing demands" on him when I expect him not to simply assume that I am straight? Am I obliged to "out" myself to him purely to correct his assumptions? If so, would this count as being too overt with my orientation?
Another issue is public affection. A straight couple has every right to walk hand in hand/cuddle/whatever down a public street with no interference whatsoever. In practice, this right is denied to gay couples. Is it an unreasonable demand for me to want heterosexuals to leave me alone when I do exactly the same things as they do?
kromo, do you have a link to your figure of 6%-10% (at a minimum) percentage of persons who identify as being homosexual? the survey reported here http://
mushroom25
From Wikipedia:
A representative survey of 238,206 Britons, exclusive to their categories, found 1% identified as gay or lesbian and 0.5% said they were bisexual.
A further 0.5% self-identified as "other", and 3% responded as "do not know" or refused to answer.
In total this adds up to 5% of people who do not identify as heterosexual.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay equality charity Stonewall stated:
"This is the first time that people were asked and data collection happened on doorsteps or over the phone, which may deter people from giving accurate responses - particularly if someone isn't openly gay at home."
Stonewall worked with 600 major employers and their experience had shown that these statistics increased when people were regularly asked about sexual orientation as part of general monitoring information. It was therefore suggested that much of the 3% who responded with 'do not know', or refused to answer, may simply be homosexual or bisexual and a percentage of people may have lied when they claimed to be heterosexual.
From Wikipedia:
A representative survey of 238,206 Britons, exclusive to their categories, found 1% identified as gay or lesbian and 0.5% said they were bisexual.
A further 0.5% self-identified as "other", and 3% responded as "do not know" or refused to answer.
In total this adds up to 5% of people who do not identify as heterosexual.
Ben Summerskill, chief executive of the gay equality charity Stonewall stated:
"This is the first time that people were asked and data collection happened on doorsteps or over the phone, which may deter people from giving accurate responses - particularly if someone isn't openly gay at home."
Stonewall worked with 600 major employers and their experience had shown that these statistics increased when people were regularly asked about sexual orientation as part of general monitoring information. It was therefore suggested that much of the 3% who responded with 'do not know', or refused to answer, may simply be homosexual or bisexual and a percentage of people may have lied when they claimed to be heterosexual.
Kromo, when I was at grammar school, out of my year of about 100 boys there was one obviously effeminate boy and his friend who might have been homosexual. They were not bullied, we didn't know what a homosexual was until about the 3rd or 4th year and by then we had known them for 2 years so were not considered as anything unusual, just not in the mainstream. Many boys were different in other ways so difference was nothing unusual.
It seems to me that children are fare more aware of 'gender orientation' than I was at their age 66 years ago and I can't help but think that this is an unforseen consequence of the strident pushing for gay 'rights'. Back then homosexuality was little discussed but now hardly a day goes by without a gay issue being publicised on the media. I agree completely that gays should have the same rights as everyone else, and they do. If some people find their actions in public sometimes distasteful that is about manners and norms of behaviour. Distaste for some people's public behaviour is not limited to gays. Overtly sexual 'straight ' behaviour can be unacceptable and so can drunken behaviour or just plain loutishness. Just because some 'straights' have poor standards of public behaviour it isn't necessary for gays to emulate them..
It seems to me that children are fare more aware of 'gender orientation' than I was at their age 66 years ago and I can't help but think that this is an unforseen consequence of the strident pushing for gay 'rights'. Back then homosexuality was little discussed but now hardly a day goes by without a gay issue being publicised on the media. I agree completely that gays should have the same rights as everyone else, and they do. If some people find their actions in public sometimes distasteful that is about manners and norms of behaviour. Distaste for some people's public behaviour is not limited to gays. Overtly sexual 'straight ' behaviour can be unacceptable and so can drunken behaviour or just plain loutishness. Just because some 'straights' have poor standards of public behaviour it isn't necessary for gays to emulate them..
/A representative survey of 238,206 Britons, exclusive to their categories, found 1% identified as gay or lesbian and 0.5% said they were bisexual.
A further 0.5% self-identified as "other", and 3% responded as "do not know" or refused to answer. /
So that is 1.5% combined gay and lesbian, somewhat less than the much quoted 10% and fits well with my experience.Of my current 50 or so aquaintances, none are homosexual or lesbian as far as I know, but then I've never bothered to find out.
In total this adds up to 5% of people who do not identify as heterosexual.
A further 0.5% self-identified as "other", and 3% responded as "do not know" or refused to answer. /
So that is 1.5% combined gay and lesbian, somewhat less than the much quoted 10% and fits well with my experience.Of my current 50 or so aquaintances, none are homosexual or lesbian as far as I know, but then I've never bothered to find out.
In total this adds up to 5% of people who do not identify as heterosexual.
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