What’s In A Word?

familyfaggot.jpg
Now that Isaiah Washington‘s getting all proactive and shit, meeting with GLAAD and GLSEN to come to terms with his not so latent homophobia, our country’s again considering the appropriateness of newsworthy epithets. You may recall during the Michael Richards scandal that news organizations bleeped out the word nigger, referring to it as “The N-Word”.

Well, it seems the same’s happening with Washington’s flippant use of “faggot”. Via Americablog comes word that The New York Times has refused to print the word “faggot”. Discussing their editorial decision, CNN’s Glenn Beck and radio talk show host Dave Glover had an interesting exchange…

Transcript from yesterday’s show:

BECK: Dave, what is the — what is the controversy? One of the guys called another guy a naughty name.

GLOVER: Yes. Basically you have Isaiah Washington, who’s one of the stars of the show, who referred to one of his co-stars during a heated argument as a derogatory term for a gay man that starts with “F”, rhymes with maggot. Did it a couple more times after that. And do you like how I did that?

BECK: Yes.

GLOVER: And…

BECK: Do you know that The New York Times wouldn’t even print — I mean, we can say the word. We`re having an adult conversation here. Wouldn’t even print the word “fagot [sic].”

GLOVER: Right.

BECK: Wouldn’t print it. I find that amazing.

The kids at AmericaBlog insist Beck’s deflating faggot’s defamatory content and seems to think they’re courting a boycott.

CNN and ABC are fooling themselves if they don’t think there’s going to be a massive advertiser boycott of both networks very soon. And as a veteran of such boycotts, I can’t imagine any advertiser is going to want to stick with a show, or a network, that uses and tries to diminish the abhorrent nature of slurs like “faggot.”

Yes, we agree that “faggot” inflicts loads of harm, but it seems to us that it’s better to get it out there rather than using euphemisms and code. Children won’t know what the “F-word” is anymore than they’ll know what “the N-word” is unless we tell them and explain why it’s so bad. It’s sort of like sex – once you dismantle the mystery, it’s just bodily fluids and a whole lot of clean-up.

It’s interesting to note, however, that Beck refuses to say nigger later in the conversation. This censoring, we think, softens his message. And, of course, makes him a total hypocritical pussy. If he’s going to use “faggot”, he might as well say “nigger”, “kike”, “spic” etc.. Equal opportunity and all that…

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated