Reply #47: Why Gay?

[RapidCreek]

Why not a male homosexual?

Frankly...in the literal sense...at least in my world...you may or may not be gay. Gay in my world means happy or joyful, keenly alive and exuberant....it was not until fairly recently that the words etymology was hijacked. Should I insist that the homosexual community refrain from using the word "Gay" to describe their sexual proclivities? Should the innateness of homosexuality validate or invalidate it's use? Indeed...why not fag? Why not queer? What makes either of these words more or less acceptable or accurate than gay?

I don't understand your argument. What has a traits innateness to do with justification of the words used to describe behavior not solely attributable to that trait? If it were possible for a person to innately possess a bitchiness trait and inescapably display the behavior this word describes, how, would the effect such behavior evokes in others be different from that of a person who chose to behave as such? In either case they would be displaying a particularly remarkable behavior. One which in either case is hurtful to others. While I agree that true homosexuality is an innate trait....not all who engage in homosexual sex are innately homosexual. That is not the point, however. Do you equate the impact on others evoked by behavior described as bitchy with the impact on others of that evoked by your homosexuality? To take your argument seriously one must assume that you do....and that, my friend, is the point. You see...behavior is behavior...it matters not whether such behavior finds it's origins in an inherent characteristic....but in it's effect on bystanders.

Your homosexuality does not effect me. A person who displays malicious, spiteful behavior and depends upon the protections societal norms afford those who possess a feminine nature is distinctly different than one who displays the same sorts of behavior with the understanding it might very well yield them an extremely harsh rebuttal. This sort of behavior does effect me....it is a remarkable and distinguishable behavior...whether it's origins are innate or not.

RC