Closet Talk: Your Clothes Aren’t Gay
Oh, that’s gay. That’s sooo gay. That’s like, totes uber gay. Ugh. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that awful phrase… uber.
Okay, obviously I’m joking. My real gripe is with the word “gay” – a word that represents me – being used to express dislike and hate. I hear so many things called gay: homework, exams, traffic… One time, I even heard a girl say, “My mom and dad are so gay!”
What the hell does that even mean? Was she adopted?
There are so many expressions about other minorities that people wouldn’t dare to say, but quips like “that’s so gay” and “no homo” are everywhere.
It’s ridiculous. The word gay used to mean happy. Now it means the complete opposite. It’s like when hipsters call something bad, but really mean it’s good, but truly mean it’s bad, but ultimately mean nothing because they’re being “ironic.”
If we go by the original meaning, calling someone gay should be a compliment. Why doesn’t anyone ever say, “Oh my gosh, I love your bag! It’s so gay!”
One time, I was wearing a colorful jacket, and a passerby called it gay. Okay sure, I’m busted – my jacket prefers other jackets of the same sex. That totally explains the homoerotic magazines in my pocket. Inside were explicit pictures of jackets taking it up the sleeve. They popped their collars, unzipped each other, turned inside out, and completely exposed their tags. There were even some spicy interracial photos of a jacket with a muumuu.
Seriously, being gay isn’t a punchline. I was born with this identity, carrying a burdening secret. Growing up, I heard countless false, misleading, and downright cruel things about who I was and what I might become. It’s unfair.
I’m all for freedom of speech, but if you know you’re saying something hurtful, do you really want to be the person who keeps saying it anyway?
Let’s consider some creative alternatives: that’s so vile! that’s so applesauce! that gives me the collywobbles! what a load of hooey! horseapples! poppycock! that’s so uber jacket!
My point is, words have power, and in today’s world, members of the LGBTQ+ community already face enough challenges. So next time you’re frustrated with life, remember: the world isn’t gay… I am.
49 Comments
Coretta Turner
I always tell people (especially children) to watch their words. Not only the words that they used to describe others but the words they used to describe themselves….why? Because as you said "words can hurt". And there are a lot of people out there who are abusing others with words out of ignorance and self-inflicting pain because they aren't loving themselves enough to be mindful of their word choices.
Melle Lee
the term "gay" is now overused.. Everything can be tagged as gay.. even the way you eat and what you're eating and yes, words can hurt especially if the term that was used against you was offensive and insulting.. now, that's gay.. LOL
Sandra
I only use the word gay when I'm happy. But I guess gay in today's world simply means gay. I respect you for being who you are, same goes to my friends who are in the LGBTQABCDEFG. We are all human beings for Pete's sake, we are who we are after all. So I'm with you with this blog entry! I like the alternatives! Applesauce, collywobbles! *PS sorry for the previous comment before this. I accidently pressed enter thus submitting my 'unfinished' comment. ^^
Sandra
I only use the word gay when I'm happy. But I guess gay in today's world simply means gay.
Miles
But what about EMO?
Jenni
Haha, I'm with you on this. It's so childish, it reminds me of being back in high school.
Kenji
I'll admit.. I use the word gay. A lot. I'm one of those annoying people that don't think about the meaning of the word (at all) when I say it.
I think that in society today, the word has been changed so much.. to the point where I would hardly liken the word to homosexual.
I love the way you've explained it though… and I will most definitely think twice before using the term so loosely again!
Sunny
Bravo! Well said!!! I agree with you 100%. People need to realize that words DO hurt. 🙁 Our school did a campaign a few years ago about stopping the use of the word "retard" in hurtful ways and your blog entry reminded me of it! Almost everyone in the school signed the pledge, but 90% of them didn't even TRY to stop using the r-word. In fact, right after it, they made fun of how "uncool" and "retarded" it was that they were made to sign the pledge. I was one of the only people who signed the pledge and still have yet to say it to this day (and I don't plan on saying it in the future, either.) This just shows that not only do people use the word "gay" in hurtful ways, but there are a bunch of other words too that people use terribly 🙁 It's pretty saddening to see what society has turned into!!!
I like your list of alternative phrases/words 😀 Poppycock- I'm so uber gonna use that now haha 😀
Liza
…HOTS FOR JUSTIN BEIBER?
I just noticed that…
…No, I'm not even gonna go there.
Liza
Soo, I can't remember if I commented on this or not, but yes. "That's so gay" is something people say a lot. "That car is so gay.", "This traffic is so gay." I really like the commercials that say, "This sweater is so Jessica and Maria."
The definition for "gay" also means "happy". I've used gay for happy a few times before. I haven't recently, though, because my friend got so angry with me for saying something… I can't remember what it was. :p – because I was being a hypocrite by saying it's not right to say "that's so gay [in place of dumb, etc.]", even though I was saying something for happy.
Geez. Society and their new terms. 'Tis too ridonkulous.
Shiri
I think I'm going to start using the "that's so applesauce!" one from now on 🙂 Not that I've ever EVER used "that's so gay".
Alice
DUDE LMAO I think this is my favorite blog by anyone ever. Like seriously, I love the way you were funny throughout this whole thing while you made your point, and I feel like this is a lot different than how most people would argue your point XD BAHH continue to be hilarious Justin! 😀
Matt Harvath
Great Blog! I love it. I peed a lot after reading through it! And thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting.
Nyuu
haha UBERRR!!
It's strange, but while the phrase, "that's so gay" was being thrown around to insult people, I've only used it a few times in happy situations. Because my mind automatically thinks gay=happy, Duuuhhh (that and because I was reading Shakespeare and he used the word 'gay' and I thought it was very high classed to use it in its correct form).
I'm not even gonna comment on the Justin Bieber remark.
Deanna
We talked about this when I was in school to become a teacher. I think a lot of people say it without thinking, kind of like a reflex. Which is sad and doesn't make it right. Another one that bugs me is when people say "that's retarded." Winston says that sometimes and I get mad him. But he doesn't understand why I get mad.
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