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

[Aiden]

Don't worry, I was past the stage of using the term "gay" 5/6 years ago. Just saying if someone called me gay the most offensive bit to me is the "technically correct" definition would be wrong, as I am straight lol

well if it doesnt bother you then who cares!!!!
YOU'RE GAY AND YOU'RE GAY AND YOU'RE ALL GAY!!!!1
WOWOWO U ******S x

[AgnesIO]

well if it doesnt bother you then who cares!!!!
YOU'RE GAY AND YOU'RE GAY AND YOU'RE ALL GAY!!!!1
WOWOWO U ******S x

Thanks, to be honest being called gay to me wouldn't offend me in the slightest.

It would show the person is unintelligent, lacking a broad vocabulary, and also make me think they were 12 years old.

[Aiden]

Thanks, to be honest being called gay to me wouldn't offend me in the slightest.

It would show the person is unintelligent, lacking a broad vocabulary, and also make me think they were 12 years old.

yea true

who cares about them depressed, confused and suicidal kid who dont know who they are
they just need to grow the **** up

dont u agreee?

[Lewis]

Not everyone classes these words as harmless.

Many people are homophobic, whether its two woman or two men. So the word 'gay' can really hurt people, alongside 'ginger' if you actually ARE ginger. If you're using it as a word that means no harm, make up another word or use another word that doesn't relate to homophobia or being prejudice.

Just because you don't think this way, doesn't mean others don't. Some people are strong, some people are emotional. Anyone can take great offense to these words, especially if they actually are what they're calling you. Especially if you're still young and not an adult.

[Spoltage]

Time for a gay's opinion on the topic (at least I don't think any previous posters are gay??)

Honestly I see where Mr. Grove is coming from however I agree with what Marketing has been saying and that he should perhaps include other forms of discrimination such as racism etc. Children may hear their parents, older siblings, random strangers (since a lot of people don't watch what they say in public and especially around children) and children look up to adults and will think these words are perfectly fine. They may even call each other gay, a ****** etc without even knowing what these words mean, they should be taught at an early ages these words are not acceptable. When i was at primary school I do not recall use calling each other these things, the way times have changed... However in secondary schools people get into the bullying phase where the more popular kids decided to pick on the less popular kids or ones that are different to them, gay/camp, different race etc. I used to get bullied in school but I think this was due to the fact i was a quiet and kinda nerd kid, I cannot remember any time were I was called gay (maybe because I was not openly gay - still am not). Honestly I have had people call me gay as a joke both off and on habbo, it doesn't bother me (really in real it just wants me to turn around and tell them I am in fact gay), however when it is said in an obvious homophobic way this really annoys me, its like "how is my sexual preference affecting you..", for example I was in jungle run and some random guy found out i was gay and simply started spamming "ewww...." "he's gay" etc, this annoys me but i guess that's life and i am going to have to put up with it.

Overall after my rambling on i think he was both right and wrong to say this, it was good he is trying to help LGBT seem like a normal thing (which it is!!!!!) but he should also do this for other people who are being discriminated against. Even if school children were taught these things, who says they arn't going to grow up and become homophobic? Even though homophobic people annoy me and I tend to argue with them i am prepared to face hordes of them during my life once I decide to fully come out.

Thanks for reading till the end

Sam

P.S I love ya'll

[SlimShadyLp]

If someone calls an average person gay THAT person classes it as a insult..... maybe that because being gay in the back of everyones mind is something to be ashamed of

[GommeInc]

It makes sense, but it seems weird for it to of come straight from Government to notice this. Anything can be taken badly as a joke or an insult.

[AgnesIO]

yea true

who cares about them depressed, confused and suicidal kid who dont know who they are
they just need to grow the **** up

dont u agreee?

That is exactly what I said, clearly.

Not everyone classes these words as harmless.

Many people are homophobic, whether its two woman or two men. So the word 'gay' can really hurt people, alongside 'ginger' if you actually ARE ginger. If you're using it as a word that means no harm, make up another word or use another word that doesn't relate to homophobia or being prejudice.

Just because you don't think this way, doesn't mean others don't. Some people are strong, some people are emotional. Anyone can take great offense to these words, especially if they actually are what they're calling you. Especially if you're still young and not an adult.

In fairness, if you keep making up words (for example, gay would often mean pretty much anything negative - like "I am setting you home", student thinks "that's so gay" - they are clearly not saying "that's so homosexual", or "that's so happy" - if one were to use the old definition) then you will simply end up with new words that have negative connotations - creating a wider, more negative language.

Time for a gay's opinion on the topic (at least I don't think any previous posters are gay??)

Honestly I see where Mr. Grove is coming from however I agree with what Marketing has been saying and that he should perhaps include other forms of discrimination such as racism etc. Children may hear their parents, older siblings, random strangers (since a lot of people don't watch what they say in public and especially around children) and children look up to adults and will think these words are perfectly fine. They may even call each other gay, a ****** etc without even knowing what these words mean, they should be taught at an early ages these words are not acceptable. When i was at primary school I do not recall use calling each other these things, the way times have changed... However in secondary schools people get into the bullying phase where the more popular kids decided to pick on the less popular kids or ones that are different to them, gay/camp, different race etc. I used to get bullied in school but I think this was due to the fact i was a quiet and kinda nerd kid, I cannot remember any time were I was called gay (maybe because I was not openly gay - still am not). Honestly I have had people call me gay as a joke both off and on habbo, it doesn't bother me (really in real it just wants me to turn around and tell them I am in fact gay), however when it is said in an obvious homophobic way this really annoys me, its like "how is my sexual preference affecting you..", for example I was in jungle run and some random guy found out i was gay and simply started spamming "ewww...." "he's gay" etc, this annoys me but i guess that's life and i am going to have to put up with it.

Overall after my rambling on i think he was both right and wrong to say this, it was good he is trying to help LGBT seem like a normal thing (which it is!!!!!) but he should also do this for other people who are being discriminated against. Even if school children were taught these things, who says they arn't going to grow up and become homophobic? Even though homophobic people annoy me and I tend to argue with them i am prepared to face hordes of them during my life once I decide to fully come out.

Thanks for reading till the end

Sam

P.S I love ya'll

I imagine people know what these words technically mean, but when one uses them they wouldn't use them thinking about what it really means. Also, it is Michael Gove, not Grove :L Oh, and you'll find a disproportionate amount of male users on here are gay aha

---

I don't see why a gay person should or would be super offended if someone called them gay.. I have ginger friends who if someone said "HAHA YOU'RE GINGER", they would just say "well.. yeah?", and same if an individual has black skin and they get called black most with a brain cell would just say "ok, thanks for pointing that out "

[Yawn]

i say it all the time on habbo but would never say it irl!

[AgnesIO]

i say it all the time on habbo but would never say it irl!

I believe that is known as having a fake online personality in an attempt to fit in.. :L