Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Fans of Seinfeld will understand the title of this blog. The subject matter will make some angry and some cheer, but it is something that affects my kids and bothers me so I felt I had to write about it.

The word GAY. G.A.Y. gay gay gay gay gay! GAY! does it bother you?
Does it bother you when you're called Gay even when you're not gay? Does it bother you when you hear someone call something gay as if it is a negative thing?

Drives me up the wall.

Gay has lost it's old definition see 2 &3 and as Oxford reads, please note 4.

adjective (gayer, gayest)

• 1(of a person, especially a man) homosexual.
•  relating to or used by homosexuals:a gay bar

• 2 dated light-hearted and carefree:Nan had a gay disposition and a very pretty face

• 3 dated brightly coloured; showy:a gay profusion of purple and pink sweet peas

• 4 informal, often offensive foolish, stupid, or unimpressive:he thinks the obsession with celebrity is totally gay

noun

• a homosexual, especially a man.

I've heard the word Gay thrown around as a negative a lot lately. Not by Spouse and I but by the under 12 crowd. I've heard the term used in a negative way (see 4 above) so much lately that I lost my temper the other day and snapped. Losing myself in a tirade that Rosie O'Donnell would be proud of.

I got tired of the word being used as a negative thing. I reminded the under 12 crowd that people who are Gay are all around us. They are our teachers, coaches and friends. Members of our family are gay- and you may not even know it. That rock star and actor you think is so cool? GAY. G.A.Y. Gay or not all people deserve our respect, so I strongly suggested that the word not be used to describe something negative-or used as a personal insult.

I've heard the word used less and less in my presence after my little rant, I know that it isn't used in my home in a negative way and I hope it isn't in your home either. If Gay is a negative thing in your world, do us all a favour and keep that to yourselves. Keep little Jimmy or Bobby in check and remind them that regardless of what you may think is wrong or right, using that word as an insult is lazy. Our language has so many better words to use to make someone cry. (insults- an ongoing battle, on the mom list of things to address)

I'm pretty confident that most of the under 12 crowd is still unsure of the true meaning behind "being Gay", as parents we try to inform them as best we can-I hope we are doing our Gay friends and coworkers, family and community members a service. And although I can't often control what's happening on the playground  I can control what is happening in my own backyard.  

My next war to wage. Retarded. Wait for my rant on the misuse of that particular word. You may want to seek shelter.
 
Even the Queen herself offered her approval to same sex couples today.
So really, there isn't anything wrong with it. Her Majesty says so.