I remember 'gay' being used as a term of abuse in late primary and early secondary school - but I disagree with the assertion that it was divorced from associations of homosexuality. On the contrary, it was used specifically to target those boys whose appearance and behaviour was judged to be effeminate, girly or 'poofy' enough to invite ridicule. As I recall, it was a particular favourite of PE teachers...
It's perhaps worth mentioning that the word 'gay' differs from most of the analogies offered ('motherfucker', 'bastard', 'lame') in that it's commonly used by the stigmatised group (ie. homosexual people) as a neutral descriptive term. If I make the decision to 'out' myself in mixed company - and particularly when I can't be sure I'm not inviting a potentially hostile response - I'll typically refer to myself as gay (rather than 'queer', or 'a poof' or 'a faggot' or whatever, all of which I tend to reserve for younger, more sympathetic audiences, or those rare occasions when I want to shock). As a homosexual man, I have a relatively small pool of 'neutral' words with which to describe myself (lesbians, at least, have a reasonably neutral noun; I can't think of a male equivalent) and I resent the fact that 'gay' is apparently subject to denigration.
The term 'political correctness' itself has been similarly denigrated, and it's important to emphasise that its linguistic aspect serves a particular purpose. It's all very well to claim that you have plenty of gay/black/psychiatrically disordered friends and they have no problems when you say 'poof'/'nigger'/'schizo' - but stigmatised sub-groups, having a generally low sense of a) entitlement and b) self-esteem, are often reluctant to invite disharmony by arguing the toss. Bernard Manning argues that 'Pakis' regularly attend his shows and are frequently in hysterics at the rib-tickling sophistry of his humour - but in that setting you would be, wouldn't you? Basic self-preservation...
Whether or not one believes one's present company is likely to be offended, taking even a modicum of care to avoid potentially offensive language serves to create an environment in which frequently-stigmatised subgroups feel freer and more able to express themselves more honestly. If I've just met you and you use the word 'poof' or dismiss something as 'totally gay', I'm highly unlikely to reveal my own sexuality - or anything else about me - to you. |
