The casual and derogatory use of the words "gay" and "fag"- In our culture, ideas are shaped through words and terminology. In order to understand something, we first have to be able to label it. The label we apply to a person, place, or thing shapes how we see it, framing it with all the connotations that word carries with it. Think of the example that has been brought up in recent years that a person waging war against an oppressive government can either be a "freedom fighter" or a "terrorist" depending on which side of their gun you're on. It is in this same manner that we come to label and understand homosexuals in our society. The word "faggot" carries with it oodles of negative connotation, and by applying it to gay culture we automatically frame it as something worthy of our derision. The word "gay" doesn't necessarily carry the same negative tone (it originally meant "happy," and that's nice and all) but dammit if we're not doing everything we can to give it one. Every time some angsty twelve-year-old calls a friend/parent/homework assignment/tv show/whatthefuckever "gay" in order to express displeasure with it the word "gay" is given a gentle little push away from being a relatively neutral word to one loaded with as much negative connotations as "fag." Now, seeing as gay culture is already barely tolerated in our society as is (hint: saying "I'm okay with gay people as long as they keep it to themselves" does not actually mean that you're okay with gay people), I really don't think it needs the added stress of having its existing labels turned into slurs. This is why every person, be they fat twelve year old or ignorant 20-30-something, that uses the word "gay" as a slur, or the word "fag" to refer to anything other than a British cigarette, makes me want to show them what a real hate-crime is.Related only through talk of homosexuality, I fucking love...
Mondo Guerra- Say what you will about his bowties and short-shorts, this man has the biggest balls in the world for finding the courage to come out as HIV-positive on national television. There are special places in heaven reserved for people who refuse to hide who they are, people who refuse to let something negative define them, and people who are able to harness tragic events and refine them into works of art. As he has proven himself able to do all three, Mr. Guerra probably has a golden chair with his name on it right next to Jesus so that the two of them can sit in the early evening sunlight (it's always dusk in heaven) and talk about suspenders and Jerry curls.
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