"that's so gay"

[Yoshi]

I don't really know how to explain why it bothers me when I hear someone say "oh, gay" when they're refering to something bad. It feels like people don't realize what they do when they use a phrase like that. They're creating a bad connotation of the word and I think that's what bothers me the most, and quite frankly I find it ignorant.

I know that all the people in the world aren't very accepting of a persons sexuality being different than the norm, but still it feels like even with a simple phrase like that bad feelings get spread
around. I've acutally asked friends that I've heard say that to stop it, but then is it really my right to ask them to?


I'm not really gay. I'm somewhere between the fence. I'm attracted to guys, but I can also find girls to be attractive as well.

But I digress. Is it ok to say "that's gay"? is it even ok to ask someone to stop using that prhase even though they're in total liberty of speaking in which ever manner they might wish to?

[May J. Finnigan]

I totally agree. Whenever I hear people say "that's so gay" I get offended... I'm not totally gay, but it's just offensive and I don't think that others realize totally what their even saying. People should think more before they talk. It's just rude.

[Kinz]

I ask people to stop saying that all the time. I'm asexual and therefore not really gay but it doesn't matter- it's discrimination regardless of whether or not a gay person is there. People don't say things like "that's so black/Asian/Jewish/Christian" etc when they want to say something is stupid because they think it's disrespectful, so why should they use 'gay' instead? It's just as disrespectful and discriminatory. I also ask people not to use "retarded" in the same way. By equating 'gay' with 'stupid', they're enforcing, possibly subconsciously, the idea that homosexuality or homosexuals themselves are stupid.

[amtar]

I absolutely hate it when people say that! I am not gay, but they are using the word completely out of context and as if there is something wrong with being gay. Serioulsly? People need to climb out of the hole they are living in and come into the real world. I could rant on about this, but I will save you. XD

[halwisethebrave]

I don't get offended. it doesn't bother me at all. words change meaning over time. gay used to mean happy. then it meant homosexual (men). and sometimes it means something is dumb or stupid. dumb also means someone who can't talk. lame is someone who can't walk. I think if you get annoyed or offended by people using the word 'gay' for someting other than happy or a homosexual person, then you also should be getting offended at people using dumb or lame.

if someone means it in a derrogatory way, you can usually tell. taking offense to that I can understand. otherwise I don't see why someone should get themselved worked up about it.

and I had no idea people took offense to it until the internet. none of my gay friends take offense by it. they even use it themselves.

[Loony Luna O.o]

people who say this are ignorant and don't deserve my precious ranting time.

[Taylor]

well for me, (i'm bi) whenever somebody says, "that's retarded" it seems to be the same basic thing to me, so I just reply, "No asshole, that's mean and not pc, say 'that's gay' instead." not a lot of people get the subtlety though, but oh well.

[Rebekah Lynn Oller Smith]

i know what you mean. and you do have a right to ask some one to stop, its called freedom of speech. But then again freedom of speech allows people to say "that's so gay" ...... freedom of speech is a very important but at times it gets a little confusing. i mean where do you draw the line at freedom of speech and discrimination? because a lot of people like to cross that line and/or get really close to it. but i definantly get offended when some one says "thats so gay" .... i'm bisexual so i'm not completely gay but it is still offensive.

[LexiLovesBooks]

When people say "that's gay" they mean "that's dumb" or "that's stupid" and it does kind of make being gay seem bad like it's dumb or stupid. It's just like when people say "that's retarded" it's offensive and ignorant.

[98petowner89]

When my friends say it I get offended but I dont say anything about it. I mean, they dont know about me being free to anything that comes my way so I dont stop them but I dont join them either. I just say that sucks or elborate on the subject. Its not an issue for me. 'Youre gay' is a comeback I use when other people start into the 'gay is a inslut' routine.

Instead of trying to stop people from saying it start a new trend. Whenever something awesome happens u can say that so gay or thats the gayest thing ever. Gay = happy right?

[Yoshi]

that's a good idea. i shall spread the word. this is so gay :D

[Juliana Johnson]

I think it's alright to politely ask your friends not to use that phrase, or the term "fag". Most of my friends are gay or bi, and I use both these terms when I mean them, example:

I told my gay friend "You are so gay!" when he admitted to taping a special about cats on animal planet.

I told my bi boyfriend at the time "you are such a fag", when he said "No it's not my shirt, I don't wear brown, it's not in my color pallet."

I think it's fine to not use these terms, but also okay (in the spirit of non censorship) to use them in the appropriate context.