I'm so glad you posted this. It really bothers me when I hear people use the word gay as an insult. I'll admit that I used to say it myself a few years ago before I stopped to think about exactly what I was doing, and I had to work pretty hard to get myself to drop it from my vocabulary, just because SO MANY people use it that way. But I think you're right, a lot of people just don't think about what they're implying when they say stuff like that, though sadly, some people I'm sure DO do it on purpose.

Anyways, I hope you got a good grade for your paper! It was really well written, but I know how tough some AP teachers can be. Keep up the good work!

I really liked this, if only because I was feeling guilty about having corrected my friends several times for using the phrase. It's always bothered me, and I've always felt somewhat insulted when it was used.

I noticed some people in reviews were arguing that the meanings of words change and that we should 'get over it'. However, I'd like to point out that, yes, while word meanings change, when that change is directly related to bigotry, I won't 'get over it'. 'Gay' as an insult didn't start by pure coincidence. It started because 'gay', as in 'homosexual', /was/ considered an insult for the longest time. So, gay ('insult') is not uncorelated to gay ('homosexual'). Proof: At my school, along with 'That's so gay' to describe anything stupid or unmasculine, 'That's straight' is used to describe anything that's really 'cool'.

First, I'd like to say you're a great potential as a writer. I just read Blind Yourself, and wrote a HUGE review and analised each character and everything, but my firefox bugged and I lost it all. I'm so pissed off. I can't re-write it right now, but I'll some day. Maybe when you update.

Well, I liked the essay -- except for some details, like the last paragraph; I felt like I was reading No Cussing Club's website or something. You almost convinced me of your point of view, which isn't so easy. But I still entirely disagree with you.

I don't think the use of the word 'gay' as something negative should be anything to worry about. Actually, I sense a little fascism in the way you say how people should act and talk. The last thing we need is a dictionary of forbidden words, or where and when to use each.

By the way, the word gay, just like you said, used to mean happy, something positive. I bet people who condemn homosexuality aren't very pleased about its new conotation, especially because so many works used it with the old meaning. I don't know what was C. S. Lewis' opinion towards homosexuality, but I know he was a devoted christian and I just reckon he wasn't very cheeful with the idea. Now, I don't think he would like to know what everyone thinks and gigle about when they read his character, the Queen, was very 'happy and gay'.

I also heard a lot about homosexuals who doesn't like to be called 'gay'. They say their sexuality has nothing to do with being happy -- quite the opposite, but yet the same thing, you defend. You see, I saw this old guy talking about this in an interview and I would describe him as 'gay' for his sexuality, but I would NEVER think about the original meaning of the word. He looked anything but happy. And what you're saying is just the same he's saying, which is quite stupid.

Apart that, Cheesesticks said it all.

Oh, and the-truth-is-verity was wondering if there was the same 'problem' in other languages. Well, I'm brazilian, and here we do the same thing. I can't remember how many times I heard someone say "que gay" (yeah, we use the same word). I know I must have said it sometimes, and in front of some gay friends too. I actually questioned a lesbian friend once how she feels about gay jokes from me and other of our friends, and she said she never cared, because she knows we don't really think gay is wrong.

I guess it's nothing big, even if it's from someone who actually hates gay people. The problem isn't the use of the word, but the real intention behind it.

Well, all in all, nice essay. How much did you score?

sorry, but i'm going to keep saying thats so gay. gay doesnt just mean one thing. just becuz i say thats so gay doesnt mean i'm putting people down. my best friend is gay. he thinks its crap that people are getting so beefed up about a simple use of slang. in a way to me, its like those animal rights people throwing paint on anybody who wears fur. its just a little to extream.

Very bad essay, uses slang, passive voice, "We" (Persuasive essays are supposed to be written in 3rd Person), The Nazism comparison was very bad. I loathed the use of a copied block of text showed a lack of creativity. The most critical failure is your weak connection to homophobia, there was barely any support you gave to support your claim.

That was definately better than my MLA paper for this year.

very interesting :) I also agree with you completely. At my school a lot of people say things like, 'Oh my God, this homework is so gay!'
I mean... what??
I'm pretty certian that they aren't actually referring to the homework's sexual orientation -_-
Obviously, though, pointing this out to them still doesn't really help them to understand, but I'm hoping that this is a phase in language that will pass.
I wonder if they have the same issue in other languages at the moment...?

Very persuasive and true; I particularly related to the bit about how you wouldn't like it if someone used your name as a swear word-- I thought it a very clear analogy, and part of the reason I try to avoid phrases like "thats so gay" and (this is just personal to my religion, I don't really get offended when other people say it, I myself just try to avoid it) "Oh my God."

Anyway, this was really well written and thought out, and on a more sentimental note it makes me feel better about a persuasive paper *I* wrote in favor of gay marriage, which I recieved a D on because I was very green as far as essay writer, had a very hard teacher, and (being a new student at the time) didn't understand what MLA format meant (yeah, I know-- this was awhile ago).

Lovely essay!

~The Pixess

P.S. Thanks for saying that about InSilverShadows, I know her and she's a lovely writer and person!

I think I love you.

I hear "That's so gay," all the time at school and I try to explain to people that they're not only attaching a negative connotation to the word 'gay' but, in doing so, also fostering homophobia.

I think my favorite part about this was that your arguments were pellucid and very well written. I tried playing devil's advocate and failed miserably because your arguments were so logical. Bravo!

-Nub

Thank you for putting this out there. As a teenage lesbian, I often here the insults "fag" and "you're being so gay". I find it very offensive. Even today I went up to a guy that was insulting my friend by calling her a "lesbo" and gave him a full out lecture on his word choice.

I completely agree with you!

Why on earth would it be offensive to you if rapists and murderers shared the same term as your name? You’re trying to make that an analogy to gays being offended because the term “gay” is sometimes used to describe “something bad”. Well, in the situation of using the term “gay”, you state yourself that the users of that term aren’t really thinking about homosexuality when they throw it around carelessly. So why should you be offended if the people call rapists and murderers “Amies” when they’re not even referring to you in the first place? Let’s just say that in a small island, the indigenous population really calls rapists “Amy”. Would you really be offended if you traveled there and found out? Especially knowing that the term isn’t being used in relation to you?

And your quote by Eliza Byard. "As odd or funny as the phrase sounds, imagine what it feels like to be in a setting where you consistently hear it used to describe something undesirable or stupid, and it also applies to you.” Yes, well, it’s not freakin’ being applied to you. Like, for example, let’s say the term disgusting means both repulsive and is a term to refer to people with round faces, both definitions with no relation to each other. If I had a round face and were disgusting, I would not be offended if someone called a trash bin next to me “disgusting”, because I would know that they aren’t referring to me and my fellow round faced people. One could argue however, that round face isn’t a quality that’s currently shunned by some people, so suppose I replace it with, I dunno…Republican or something. Same thing. And maybe that paragraph would be stronger if you replaced it with a quote by someone who’s actually significant enough to have a Wikipedia Page and has a reputation for being ingenious. Maybe if Oscar Wilde said it. I’d take back everything I’ve said so far and announce that I have no idea what I’m talking about.

“The way we use words - and symbols and names - affects the connotation we assign them, and can distort their original meanings.” I don’t see how that helps your thesis. It’s just like…making you look more intellectual or something.

And I don’t think just using the word gay as “stupid” can spread homophobia. That’s kind of a stretcher. It really depends on how you act. Someone can say “Ew, that’s so gay” in front of their toddler, and then bring their three homosexual best friends over for dinner the next day. On the other hand, someone say “Ew, gay” while not referring to homosexuals and then going on a rant about how disgusting homosexuals are the next day. If you hear the word gay a lot derogatorily, chances are the people around you are actually homophobes. If not, then you’ll be able to form your own opinions based on the way you see people act towards homophobes.

That aside, the vocabulary, format, and grammar of your essay is marvelous. Still a great persuasive essay, though I don’t think some of your arguments are good enough.

Awesome work. I like the way you drew the comparison to other derogatory terms/symbols used and how their meanings can change and how they can fall into common use without the slightest thought about who they effect or that they are even derogatory. Great writing.

I adore how you used actual facts as well as feelings to back up your beliefs. Hopefully people will use those words as much as they use the profanity for black people--never. I love how you wrote this so much! You go girl!

I completely agree. How would people feel if, whenever they did something stupid, I said "that's so black?" Because of you, everytime someone says something along those lines, I'm going to politely point out that they're comment was homophobic and ignorant.