The Gays - Offensive?

leakey

I was reading the letters section of one of the national papers, can't remember which one. A letter addressed something on the Late Late Show but was essentially a letter about how wrong gay marriage is. This letter started by asking 'why the Gays are called the Gays' (paraphrasing but the term 'the Gays' was used).

This term does not sit easily with me. I never gave it any thought before, it isn't something that is used a lot I think. I am not sure if I feel uneasy because of the negative context it was used in, or if it is because it seems to dehumanise gay people (again, this may just be a mental link to the way it was used).

Anyway, is the term offensive? I wouldn't use it, I don't normally encounter it but I am just so not comfortable with it that I would be grateful if you could give your opinion and help me out. I just feel so confused. I really don't know if I have seriously over thought this or not.

wonderfulname

D'gheys, surely?

I don't find it offensive in it's own right, just incorrect, but I do see it as being used by those who hold views I would take offence to.

cartell_best

The media.. a monster with loose gears - a fool in control of discretion.

wonderfulname

cartell_best wrote: »

The media.. a monster with loose gears - a fool in control of discretion.

Pardon?

cartell_best

wonderfulname wrote: »

Pardon?

Somebody or someone who doesn't care about whom or what they upset or antagonise...It nature to them...

1ZRed

I don't like it and I prefer if 'gay people' was used. I mainly don't like it because it's always the auld lads that have something to say about 'dem gays'.

It's also like going around and calling the heteros 'straights' -I personally prefer to call them breeders as it's more PC :P

Funnily enough I think I hate it more when some gay people use queer as some umbrella term to label everyone not straight tbh.

leakey

Thanks for the replies. I dunno, it just seem very 'them' in a negative way as opposed to us people who may or may not be attracted to the opposite sex, if I am making sense.

I suppose that the content of the letter was utter bile about what god created, etc too and how essentially gay people are all well and good, just not in my neighbourhood or even country mentality. It just made me think about that expression properly. Only place you really hear it is on the Savage Eye (The Bull character).

I suppose it is a bit of a non-issue because I don't use it and don't encounter it in conversation. I just wasn't sure if I was being silly feeling so uneasy about it.

Thanks for the replies.

Lyaiera

I can imagine/see it being used in a derogatory way, I just don't think I've ever actually heard or seen it used that way. I've more often seen "teh gays" used in a deliberate piss take of the guys who would have typified usage of "the gays." As in "It's teh gays Joe, teh gays and teh muslins."

leakey

Lyaiera wrote: »

I can imagine/see it being used in a derogatory way, I just don't think I've ever actually heard or seen it used that way. I've more often seen "teh gays" used in a deliberate piss take of the guys who would have typified usage of "the gays." As in "It's teh gays Joe, teh gays and teh muslins."

I think you have kinda hit the nail on the head there. I have never come across it being used in a serious way before.

This was serious. I love the letter pages but the regulars who clearly live lonely and bitter lives and have nothing better to do than write letters about keeping the country as catholic as possible make my blood boil. For once though, it was serious food for thought.

illicit007

The gays, the Irish, the men, the women, the dogs, the English. I don't think things with the word the in front of them sound bad. What are you on about?

The person who called straights 'breeders' though that was funny :-) I might use that one day.

Anyway it all depends on context doesn't it. I think that's basically the answer so now you can all stop this pointless discussion and do something constructive, like start another thread perhaps :-) . I think the whole world is too PC and it almost feeds the fires of 'omgosh did that person just use a non PC way of describing something?!' unless it's obviously meant in a purposefully impolite and offensive way get upset? It's the intention that matters. The end.

illicit007

But on a more serious note if something is published that is offensive I'm sure there's a complaints department you could write to about it no? I'm not a fan of close minded speech especially when it's published. If it was really that kind of talk like it's them gays and their unnatural ways kind of talk or something like that then haters like that shouldn't be allowed to speak like that in public at all. Also my other point which I'm sure I made clear was let's be careful not to jump on people who say seemingly un pc things just cause it sounds un pc, like the gays :-D

lottpaul

I tend not to like any such "collective" terms, even when they are used in a light hearted way.
It makes an assumption that all members of any group think and act in one way, and that all are responsible for all of the actions of others in the group.
To my mind it depersonalises the individual - making it easier to hold radical views etc. Its much easier to oppose/hate "the Gays", "the Jews", "the Travellers" etc rather than an individual human being.
Maybe I'm being over sensitive but grouping any people together like that has always grated with me.

Annasopra

There's an academic word for this.

Othering

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other#section_2

http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Othering

http://newnarratives.wordpress.com/issue-2-the-other/other-and-othering-2/

leakey

mango salsa wrote: »

There's an academic word for this.

Othering

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other#section_2

http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Othering

http://newnarratives.wordpress.com/issue-2-the-other/other-and-othering-2/

Thanks Mango. I really appreciate your input.

To clarify, I am one of those breeders, so I came here for clarity

It just felt wrong. I wouldn't like my brother/ sister/ cousin/ friend/ neighbour/fellow human to feel uncomfortable in anyway because they are different on some obvious level. We are all different but all the same really.

This letter writer is prolific and I personally feel that it is better to leave them show their true colours and ignore them. Realistically, what right does anyone have to deny another basic happiness? This provoked thought for me and I suppose that can only be a good thing.

Nobody else is ever that different so I think that is why it made me think about why the phrase made me uncomfortable. I just didn't know if I had built it up in my head or not.

I haven't phrased any of this well, but thank you brilliant and articulate people of boards and the LGBT forum.

ewan whose army

The Gays? Its not really offensive, , misguided maybe. Its like saying The Gingers or The Blacks . Considering all of these are thing that people are born with and don't have a choice on

Azure_sky

The destruction of words is a beautiful thing. Double plus good, Brothers and Sisters!

jaffacakesyum

Don't find it offensive at all. Find it a bit bizaare how people could..

If it's saying "the gays are assholes" then of course :P but using the term "the gays" in itself to describe the gay population? What's wrong with that?