WORD CHOICE

When Is It OK To Say “Faggot”? Thirty Gay Men Respond To The Word

Screen Shot 2015-07-16 at 11.21.33 AMIs there ever an acceptable time and place to use the word “faggot”?

We’ve certainly had more than a few lively debates on the subject, and there doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer.

Related: Sam Smith OK With Being Called “A Faggot” Just Not “Fat”

For those who’ve only experienced the word as a sharpened weapon, perhaps it’s best to let those wounds scar over without the risk of reopening them.

Related: Die Antwoord Calls Drake A “Massive Faggot” On Instagram, Then Deletes It

And for gay people who feel empowered by reclaiming it, dare we say — reveling in their faggotry — we wouldn’t dream of trying to contain their freedom from the word’s oppressive history.

Below, watch 30 gay men asked to react to “faggot”:

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