"That's so gay."
You have probably read that comment a million times on YouTube, referring to something that is stupid or lame. You have probably even heard similar statements at bars around Metro Manila such as "usapang lalake (a manly agreement)," which connotes that women and gays do not keep their promises or agreements, or "bakla ka yata eh (you're probably gay)" when a man refuses to drink a mug of beer. You also may have watched that local beer commercial that shows a difference between "real men" and the so-called "fake men."
For many, referring to gay people as inferior, lame, unmanly-like, and stupid may mean nothing. "It's just a word," they say. "Why would you be offended?"
The problem, however, is yes. WE ARE OFFENDED.
Being verbally harassed because of our sexual orientation creates an atmosphere where gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender feel disrespected, unwanted, and unsafe. Homophobic remarks may be often unintentional, but casual use of such offensive language can carry into more overt harassment. Using who we are as an insult, like "That's so Muslim," or "That's so senior citizen," or "That's so girly," connotes that we should be ashamed of who we are.
This is what a recent series of public service announcement in the United States wanted to convey: to raise awareness about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBT bias and behavior, and ultimately to reduce and prevent the use of homophobic language. The advocacy campaign features teen star Hilary Duff and comedian Wanda Sykes telling everyone, "When you say 'That's so gay,' do you realize what you say? Knock it off!"
The Ad Council awarded these commercials with a Bell Award for Best Public Service Advertising Campaign last December 2008.
However, several people felt offended about the ads, claiming that it is an invasion to freedom of speech and the right to oppose the gay agenda. As one YouTube commenter puts it:
"FREE SPEECH for everyone; special rights for NO ONE!
No, the majority of Americans will NOT ever recognize homosexuality as being normal and natural. It is an abomination in GOD's sight! GOD still loves those people and HE will forgive them if they repent from that sin, but it will never be a normal, natural, legitimate lifestyle."
Does that mean the religious should not have a special right to worship? I'm just saying.
You have probably read that comment a million times on YouTube, referring to something that is stupid or lame. You have probably even heard similar statements at bars around Metro Manila such as "usapang lalake (a manly agreement)," which connotes that women and gays do not keep their promises or agreements, or "bakla ka yata eh (you're probably gay)" when a man refuses to drink a mug of beer. You also may have watched that local beer commercial that shows a difference between "real men" and the so-called "fake men."
For many, referring to gay people as inferior, lame, unmanly-like, and stupid may mean nothing. "It's just a word," they say. "Why would you be offended?"
The problem, however, is yes. WE ARE OFFENDED.
Being verbally harassed because of our sexual orientation creates an atmosphere where gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender feel disrespected, unwanted, and unsafe. Homophobic remarks may be often unintentional, but casual use of such offensive language can carry into more overt harassment. Using who we are as an insult, like "That's so Muslim," or "That's so senior citizen," or "That's so girly," connotes that we should be ashamed of who we are.
This is what a recent series of public service announcement in the United States wanted to convey: to raise awareness about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBT bias and behavior, and ultimately to reduce and prevent the use of homophobic language. The advocacy campaign features teen star Hilary Duff and comedian Wanda Sykes telling everyone, "When you say 'That's so gay,' do you realize what you say? Knock it off!"
The Ad Council awarded these commercials with a Bell Award for Best Public Service Advertising Campaign last December 2008.
However, several people felt offended about the ads, claiming that it is an invasion to freedom of speech and the right to oppose the gay agenda. As one YouTube commenter puts it:
"FREE SPEECH for everyone; special rights for NO ONE!
No, the majority of Americans will NOT ever recognize homosexuality as being normal and natural. It is an abomination in GOD's sight! GOD still loves those people and HE will forgive them if they repent from that sin, but it will never be a normal, natural, legitimate lifestyle."
Does that mean the religious should not have a special right to worship? I'm just saying.
Comments
been hearing that phrase million times in public places! i for one felt the need of uprising whenever i heard it. but nada! those are for uneducated conversations joke or otherwise!!
what i meant is this.
obviously, the infomercial is directed towards straight people who either knowingly or unknowingly uses it to describe some stupid things and sure it does sounds insulting, been there.
yet my gay friends are so used to saying that line "that is ssoooo gay!" in fact, i might have used it to refer to something that i did no like.
i'm curious now what column do we belong hahaha yet, i did not mean to degrade my fellow colors under the rainbow
Pinkish greetings everyone!
we are not asking for SPECIAL RIGHTS
we are normal and we are asking for equal rights! there is no such thing as special rights.
EQUAL RIGHTS, yan ang ating sinisigaw!
Sama sama tayo para sa iisang layunin tungo sa iisang mithiin!
tama ba un?
dubai
haha thats funny and kinda scary a bit especially that ure not in your own land pero di naman dapat ikainit ng tenga yun. mga ganyang bagay dapat deadma lang tayo basta ba hindi ka nasaktan.
ingat ka lagi jan! God bless u!
LOL at Colt 45 commercial.
As for using the gay word, I don't know if I would want to tell people to stop using the word in such context. It is a reflection of collective view and changing the meaning is not through suppressing its use.
My point is that there is no point in censoring others' words when it doesn't change there views. We only hinder their expression and we need people to express freely that we may understand or know their nature. When they cannot do so, then we cannot identify them and learn to deal with them. It is even more dangerous. Likewise, we are free to voice our objections and let people hear our side.
The situation is different when they act upon their beliefs in a harmful way, such as coercion and violence.
"Because the sweater is hideous and ugly."
Associating "gay" with "hideous and ugly" is subliminal homophobia. Huwag nating hayaang gamitin ang ating identity bilang insulto. Hindi ito right to hate o freedom of expression. You can say "That sweater is hideous," but definitely not "That's so gay."
Saying "That's sooo gay" isn't an insult particularly targeting your community. It's like when my sisters decide against a purse because it's "too girly".
And may point naman talaga ang counter-arguments eh. The only way to deal with too much free speech is more free speech. Imagine, kung ipagbabawal ang pagsabi ng "that's sooo gay" dahil it's degrading, para mo na ring sinabing dapat pagbawalan ang mga taong maghayag ng criticism of Islamic views, of Catholic dogmas, Christian biases dahil nakakaoffend sila ng mga communities. The only way para maging legit ang karapatan natin na maniwala sa mga bagay ay ang pagtanggap na may karapatan din ang ibang taong maniwala na mali ang ating pinaniniwalaan.
Sana, maging critical tayo bago tayo sumawsaw sa issues. Wag nating gawing controversial ang mga bagay bagay dahil lang uso.