By ALEX BRUCE-SMITH
Okay. Hands up. Who’s ever used the word “gay” to describe something that wasn’t of a homosexual nature?
For example, I could look out the window right now, see the torrential rain currently flooding Sydney, and say: “Ugh, that rain is so gay.” Er, except that it’s not. It’s wet and frustrating and the reason my hair is a complete frizzball right now, but it’s not gay.
Our community has slipped into this bad offensive habit of using “gay” to describe anything we don’t like. An early morning workout. A friend bailing on drinks. Your mother-in-law. (Unless, of course, she actually is gay, in which case the same rules don’t apply.)
So if you need it (and let’s be honest, loads of us need it), here’s a cheeky refresher course on when it’s okay and when it’s not okay to say “gay”.
Image via The Upworthy. Click through to see the rest.
Go on, confess: are you guilty of using the word gay to describe things that are very much not gay?
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Top Comments
Formerly, gay = happy
Then, gay = homosexual
Now, gay = lame
Many words have evolved over time to mean the opposite of (or completely unrelated to) what they used to.
I get called 'straight' often enough, in a derogative manner because I'm not as cool, extreme or risk-taking as the person telling me I'm boring. I'm sure heterosexuals are as verily offended as my homosexual friends are when they describe spilling their coffee as 'so gay'.
I'm not saying, "It's okay, I have gay friends who condone and perpetuate it"; I'm saying that language is going to happen regardless of how much you hate it.
I have felt sad since they renamed fairy penguins 'little penguins'? Why? Is fairy a bad connotation somehow, even though they were always called that? Did the penguins complain? Did the homosexual community feel they owned the word/ brand 'fairy'? If so, why is there dishwashing liquid named Fairy? I don't get it. Little penguins is a totally BS name.