[78-L] Gay?

[David Weiner]

As someone who's gay AND homosexual, I don't know how you can say the word
was "stolen" - it's been used in its "current" meaning for over a century in
some circles - in the last half-century it has moved to the mainstream in
that meaning.  Aren't there hundreds of words out there with more than one
meaning? (Like "blue" the color and "blue" the feeling?) And "homophobic" is
not a fear of men in toto- it's a fear of gay men!

Dave W.

DAVID BURNHAM wrote:
> Earl wrote:  
> 
> (I'm not using 
> "gay"--I'm gay, but not homosexual--an example of a word being stolen)
> 
> In the old 78 recording of "My Old Kentucky Home", I'm sure Foster wasn't
implying that in summer the African-Americans are homosexual.  (I always try
to include a reference to a 78 in any posting.)
> 
> But talking about stolen words, doesn't "homophobic" really mean a fear of
men?  I'm really asking because I don't know - if it doesn't, what does?
> 
> db
> _______________________________________________
Actually, it was I who wrote that. What I'm objecting to the modern 
pilfering of the English language to supply euphemisms for certain 
practices that are frowned upon by some. Conversely, if I describe 
myself as "straight", that doesn't mean I'm not a homosexual, but that 
I'm honest.

Have you noticed that people who live normal lives are often described 
in negative terms, e.g. non-drinker, non-believer, non-smoker, 
non-driver etc?

       Julian Vein

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