Don't use 'gay' as an insult or joke, says Michael Gove

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education...hael-Gove.html

Don't use 'gay' as an insult or joke, says Michael Gove

Using the word gay as an insult is “outrageous and medieval” and children should not see homosexuality as a legitimate subject for humour, Michael Gove has said.

Michael Gove says homophobic attitudes should be "actively challenged"

The Education Secretary claimed that homophobic prejudice had been expressed through “language in playgrounds that wasn’t effectively policed.”

This was the last thing pupils “wrestling with their sexuality” needed, he said.

Such prejudice had also been found in certain interpretations of religion, as well as “thoughtless words” from disc jockeys, he added.

“It’s utterly outrageous and medieval to think that to use the word gay as an insult is somehow acceptable,” he told Stonewall’s Education for All conference in London. “If it’s Chris Moyles or anyone, they should be called out.”

Mr Moyles, the DJ who previously hosted BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast Show, was accused of homophobia in 2006 after describing a phone ring tone as gay.

Mr Gove said: “If you’re growing up wrestling with your sexuality…the last thing you need to feel at school is any sense that the difficulties with which you’re wrestling or the path on which you wish to embark are in any way a legitimate subject for humour, ostracising or prejudice.”

He said he belonged to a generation that felt attitudes towards homosexuality “that still persist in part or many parts of our country” should be actively challenged to make society fairer.

The fact he was a Tory could also make people realise there were now no public figures who would support homophobic attitudes, he suggested.

“It’s a slightly bigger deal if a Conservative says something like that than if politicians from other parties do,” he said.

“That might be more inclined to make some of those people who might have thought there were politicians who had sneaking regard for their position think ‘actually there’s no-one in public life who will defend this position.’”

I'm just so so glad that this government has it's priorities straight.

As for Gove associating with the radical government-funded lobby 'charity' Stonewall, I had thought better of him than that but there you go.

Thoughts?

[AgnesIO]

Shows how out of touch this idiot is - when one calls another "gay" in a school playground, they are rarely implying the sexual term - it has a far broader meaning than this realistically. People in schools call people gay when they are in relationships with the opposite sex..

Whilst I can see how it can cause offence, for **** sake Gove - do something useful. Resign.

[Ardemax]

Gay is used in a derogatory manner in schools, so Gove has a point. Nothing will happen because of this, but he still has a point.

[AgnesIO]

Gay is used in a derogatory manner in schools, so Gove has a point. Nothing will happen because of this, but he still has a point.

Idiot, stupid and ginger are also used frequently - none are exactly positive statements.

[Ardemax]

Idiot, stupid and ginger are also used frequently - none are exactly positive statements.

I'm confused as to how this disproves my point :S

"Gay" was obviously used as an insult when being gay was considered... well an insult. Maybe it's time to wind down on its use?

[AgnesIO]

I'm confused as to how this disproves my point :S

"Gay" was obviously used as an insult when being gay was considered... well an insult. Maybe it's time to wind down on its use?

I was pointing out that whilst Gove may have a point on the "gay" issue, surely he should therefore be referring to ALL derogatory terms, if this is his aim. Rather than simple banging on about the homosexual bore, that we have all been dragged through for many months so the government can have a nice thick smoke screen to make them look busy and effective.

[Ardemax]

I was pointing out that whilst Gove may have a point on the "gay" issue, surely he should therefore be referring to ALL derogatory terms, if this is his aim. Rather than simple banging on about the homosexual bore, that we have all been dragged through for many months so the government can have a nice thick smoke screen to make them look busy and effective.

Sure ok. I mean like obviously there are a lot of people in this country who still have a problem with people being gay so maybe it's for that reason.

I agree, it makes the government look like they're doing something when they're not which has been seen all too often unfortunately

[FlyingJesus]

It's not just another "don't be mean to people" thing, it's about not seeing gay as something that's insulting. Gove's useless but I'm not sure why he's being attacked for expressing a harmless view with no attempt to mandate anything

[AgnesIO]

It's not just another "don't be mean to people" thing, it's about not seeing gay as something that's insulting. Gove's useless but I'm not sure why he's being attacked for expressing a harmless view with no attempt to mandate anything

Well I'd prefer it if he started doing his job, rather than "expressing harmless views", but there we go.

[FlyingJesus]

I wouldn't, considering what a mess he makes of it