Reply #143: Yes, it's offensive

[TuxedoKat]

Two years ago or so when I heard my daughter (then 10-11 years) and her friends using that phrase, I carefully explained to her that it was homophobic and hurtful (I don't think it had registered with her that way until I explained it). She stopped using it and at that same time started speaking out against homophobia when she heard friends or schoolmates use that phrase or make other homophobic remarks. Very proud of her!

I had never thought of the term "lame excuse" being offensive. If I used it, it was in the sense of meaning weak, not in denigrating a group of people who are lame. Now that I see what others have said about it, I won't use lame that way again, if I ever did.