Do we need laws forbiddg the "gay" sult?
Contents:
- THE SOLUTN TO "GAY" INSULTS: FREEDOM OF SPEECH
- 34 OF THE BT RPONS WHEN SOMEONE ASSUM AND CALLS YOU GAY
- CALL ME BY MY PRONOUNS: WHY GAY MEN CALL EACH OTHER "GIRL"
- USG THE WORD ‘QUEER’ INSTEAD OF ‘GAY’
- WHY ARE PEOPLE GAY? GAY BY CHOICE OR IS BEG GAY GEIC?
THE SOLUTN TO "GAY" INSULTS: FREEDOM OF SPEECH
* why do people call me gay *
” Many people, cludg sex rearchers and scientists, believe that sexual orientatn is like a sle wh entirely gay on one end and entirely straight on the other.
Sexual inty is how you label yourself (for example, g labels such as queer, gay, lbian, straight, or bisexual). People who intify as lbian, gay, or bisexual may experience harassment or discrimatn om people who are sred of or unfortable wh the inti.
The homophobia fn is the fear, hatred, disfort wh, or mistst of people who are lbian, gay, or bisexual. Both gay and straight people n be transphobic and biphobic, and people n be transphobic whout beg homophobic or biphobic.
34 OF THE BT RPONS WHEN SOMEONE ASSUM AND CALLS YOU GAY
There’s nothg wrong wh beg gay, but there are still many rotten eggs who throw around slurs and ll people gay mdlsly, so helps to know what to say when someone lls you gay. * why do people call me gay *
Homophobia n take many different forms, cludg negative attus and beliefs about, aversn to, or prejudice agast bisexual, lbian, and gay people. In s most extreme forms, homophobia and biphobia n e people to bully, abe, and flict vlence on lbian, gay, and bisexual people. Internalized homophobia refers to people who are homophobic while also experiencg same-sex attractn themselv.
This may mean that they feel disfort and disapproval wh their own same-sex attractns, never accept their same-sex attractns, or never intify as lbian, gay, or bisexual. People alg wh ternalized homophobia may feel the need to “prove” that they’re straight, exhib very stereotypil behavr of straight men and women, or even bully and discrimate agast openly gay people.
People who experience homophobic, biphobic, or transphobic harassment often feel alone and are aaid to tell anyone what’s happeng. Other LGBTQ people Your lol LGBTQ muny center Onle muni of LGBTQ people Q Chat Space is a way for LGBTQ+ teens to nnect wh each other through live-chat group discsns — no matter where they are Tsted LGBTQ adults that you may already know, such as fay members or teachers Straight people who are alli to LGBTQ people A Gay/Straight Alliance at your high school, if applible.
CALL ME BY MY PRONOUNS: WHY GAY MEN CALL EACH OTHER "GIRL"
From “gay” to “poofter” to “fairy” - the words ed by others to fe gay people n say a great al more about them than . * why do people call me gay *
LGBTQ anizatns such as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), The Trevor Project, and Parents and Friends of Lbians and Gays (PFLAG). Not everyone liv a place that has a Gay/Straight Alliance their high school, or an LGBTQ muny center.
If you’re a young person experiencg homophobia and ’s g you to feel prsed or suicidal, the Trevor Project n help. If you feel safe dog so, speak up when other people are beg homophobic or biphobic, such as makg offensive jok, g negative language, or bullyg or harassg someone bee of their sexual orientatn or inty. There was a recent high profile story the news about an 11-year-old boy who mted suici, apparently bee he uld no longer tolerate beg lled “gay.
USG THE WORD ‘QUEER’ INSTEAD OF ‘GAY’
Many anti-bully activists sist that anti-bully laws should specifilly mentn sults agast gays and those of non-heterosexual orientns. If be a crime to sult people, then, is hoped, no one will be attacked wh the “gay” sult, and the associated vlence will disappear.
One of the problems wh makg illegal to ll someone “gay” is that vlat the First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech. If people get punished for sultg gays, do you thk they are gog to thk, “Now I rpect gays so much bee I was punished”? If we go to school together, are the same class, and I always treat you this way, you may even bee my iend even though you hate gays.
WHY ARE PEOPLE GAY? GAY BY CHOICE OR IS BEG GAY GEIC?
" The ia that I may be gay disturbs me and I don’t want to adm that I am unsure about my sexual orientatn. You are gog to keep on tormentg me, and you are not gog to have rpect eher for me or for gay people general.
I may also want to e the opportuny for a “teachg moment, ” so I’ll ask you:] How do you feel about gays? They may not know their own te sexual orientatn yet, and they may not even know the sexual meang of the word “gay. However, there are still many rotten eggs who throw around slurs and ll people gay mdlsly, so helps to know what to say when someone lls you gay.
Even when someone knows you’re straight, ignorance will empower them to e “gay” to liberately try to hurt you.