Gays vs. 'faggots': Being gay is a conscious choice...

[kweerwolf]

From South Flordia's Express Gay News:

I’M AMAZED AT how quickly people can change overnight. Jeff “white male Christian gun-toting anti-gay Republican journalist” Gannon, for example, was transformed before our very eyes into Jim “HotMilitaryStud gay escort shill” Gluckert.

I’m not buying it. Gannon/Gluckert is not gay. He is nothing but a faggot. Let me explain the difference.

Being gay is the result of a conscious choice. It is the decision to accept one’s same-sex orientation and a willingness to stand with others who have done the same thing. “Gay” means joining the gay community without shame.

Not so for the faggot. He thinks same-sex desire is wrong, so same-sex orientation must be extinguished. If this is not possible, then desire must be hidden to protect all those nice straight people who would be offended by it. Shame is the only proper moral response.

http://www.expressgaynews.com/2005/3-25/view/columns/faggot.cfm

[iconoclastNYC]

1. Ugly sentiment in this article.

Rebranding 'faggot' as a self-loathing repressed homosexual, IMHO, is ugly and counter productive to the persuit of equal rights for homosexuals.

[kweerwolf]

3. True, but is it much different ...

... than blacks who fought for civil rights referring to those who didn't join the marches or challenge white authority as "Uncle Toms"?

Not that I'm defending the use of the word "faggot." It's a reprehensible word, but I think the writer was looking for the most reprehensible word he could find to describe the Gannon/Guckerts and their ilk.

[iconoclastNYC]

4. I see your point but....

I just think it as an ugly word and I think people who are in the closet and self loathing deserve compassion and help. I don't see the value in using a word used to attack homosexuals to attack these people. I think it just helps keep 'faggot' an insult, when in reality, it shouldn't be, because faggot = gay, and there is nothing wrong with being gay. I think that people who are trying to take back "queer" and "faggot" from the bigot are smart to do so, tho many disagree.

A closeted life is sufficient punishment for the afflicted. These people do not need to be insulted. They need therapy to get over thier self hatred and they need love and support from those close to them.

Now if someone is railing against gays while living a doube gay life I support outing them over the hypocrisy but I don't think we should use hateful rhetoric that reinforces negative sterotypes of gays in general.

[ooglymoogly]

2. there must be something redeeming in this

convoluted post. conscious choice???? hmmmmm, no thats not it.

[xchrom]

6. indeed.

[davidinalameda]

5. I agree with the column

if you're going to allow yourself to be kept down by others, you deserve what you're gonna get

tell these people to grow a pair and stop hiding

[Jamastiene]

9. Easier said than done in some cases.

In my case, although I am a lesbian, I cannot tell people for fear of attack and I HAVE BEEN attacked violently before. Thing is, I live in an area of the country that is hard to get out of and this area sees raping lesbians who aren't masculine as a good thing to do.

[Boomer]

7. Sorry, I don't buy your attitude

Your definition of faggot is entirely personal and has no currency elsewhere.

In fact, "faggot" and "dyke" are words that have been reclaimed by many of us in the gay community. These words aren't insults to me, and I resent your attempt to increase the pejorative connotations of a word that has been used against us.

[Jamastiene]

8. I disagree

I think the "faggot" is the person who gets to hear the word "faggot" and wishes he could hide at that very moment. In other words, I think "faggot" and "dyke" are both offensive as hell depending on the context.

And don't even get me started on the idea that being gay is a choice. No one would choose it. I don't care what anyone says.