We already asked whether Details, a magazine for str8 bois, can get away with using the word “fag” in a stab at humor. But how about The Onion?
Always there for a good gay laugh, The Onion‘s latest is “Let Us Identify The Faggots And Then Inform Them Of Their Status,” an op-ed that argues it’s time to “clearly identify who the faggots are” and then “inform said faggots of their faggot status.”
Funny! Get it?
Except writer “Jack Polanski” isn’t talking about the gays. Just the sissy boys who deserve to be called “faggots.”
To be clear, I am not referring to male homosexuals—although they certainly count as faggots and are probably among the most faggoty of all the faggot categories. I am speaking of that most nefarious breed of know-it-all mama’s boys who think they’re better than you and threaten to destroy the comforting self-image you’ve spent your whole life constructing to conceal your deepest fears and vulnerabilities.
So what to do about them? Get violent!
Faggots are known for getting their asses kicked. Should you suspect that someone you encounter is a faggot, the best strategy is to push him in the chest and ask, at a high volume, the following question: “What are you, some kind of faggot?” This will immediately alert the non-faggots around you that there may be a faggot in the area. If the would-be faggot responds to the challenge with anything other than a counter-shove accompanied by yelling, then you know that you have positively identified an authentic and verifiable faggot.
And in closing:
Because we don’t have the time or the inclination to deal with your shit, you stupid fucking weak-ass fag. So fuck off, faggot, and go back to faggot-land where you belong.
Given this is the very type of humor South Park engaged in — making fun of the F-word by using it to refer to something else in a derogatory manner, all under the guise of sarcasm — we’re curious whether GLAAD is going to demand The Onion issue a retraction and apologize, like they did with Comedy Central (to hilarious results).
After all, not doing so would be a double standard — something GLAAD chief Jarrett Barrios knows something about. So we asked GLAAD if there’s a press release coming; we’ll let you know what we hear.
We know, we know: We’re getting a little picky here. If we highlight one thing that should grab GLAAD’s attention, surely there are hundreds of others every week they could go after. And that’s sort of the point. While other activist groups are the first to red flag an incident and mobilize their supporters, GLAAD is regularly late to the game — when they bother to show up at all.
Jhon
The Onion has written and said some things in the past that I thought were a bit offensive or homophobic, but I don’t think this is one of them. It seems pretty clear to me that they’re making fun of people who go around calling others “faggots.” It wasn’t really clever enough to be funny, but it wasn’t offensive either.
RomanHans
The Onion is so clearly pro-gay it’s a shame to bother them. Their op-ed piece, “Why do these gay men keep sucking my dick?” is one of the funniest things ever written. While using the word “faggot” is questionable by a closeted publication like Details (especially when followed by two pages of stereotypes), it definitely isn’t here.
Steve
I am reminded of a story. A young man, about 20, finally ‘comes out’ to his family, including his grandmother. He had delayed this conversation because he was worried that they might disown him. His grandmother listens carefully, and then replies, “Good. We were worried that you didn’t know.”
Brent
Yeah, the Onion is on pretty firm ground here. They make fun of anyone and anything that is stupid, like homophobia and masculine insecurity. And political correctness hysteria. Thank GOD they’re not a politically correct doucherag like all the rest.
Keith Kimmel
The above four commenters already made all the points I would have made here.
Tommy Marx
The Onion has always walked a thin line, more often than not with hilarious results. I loved the morning show piece on costumes to buy for your effiminate son – I laughed so hard.
I get your point – GLAAD sucks and is one of the worst of the Gay Inc. businesses – but The Onion rocks.
jason
Sometimes parody can cross the line, thus losing its effectiveness. The Onion may be trying to parody homophobes but I feel it’s crossed this line.
Just as an aside, I don’t often read The Onion, but I’m interested to know if it uses the word “nigger” as profusely.
Brent
Jason: no, they don’t. This is because lawyers for the frickin’ american community don’t have a sense of humor.
AndrewW
The Blogs do a much better job of calling out these incidents than GLAAD ever has or could. Maybe if this was 1989 we might have a good reason to support GLAAD, but it’s 2009.
Unless GLAAD finds something productive to do, 2009 should be their last year in business. We could use the $20 million they waste spent on something productive or at least more important.
Josh
People like to toss around the term homophobia, as if its something that is real. Fear of gays is wordspeak. Sometimes individual actions are just repulsive. Adam Lambert was repulsive, it made not difference whom he sleeps with. But of course Lambert tosses out homophobia and discrimination rather than take responsibility for how he acted.
Fag and Faggot are terms that do not simply apply to gays. There usage is not exclusive to that. Queer seems to be a now a name of affection, gays do not own words. The gay communities need to acknowledge feelings other than there own, which is a large problem.
Adam
It’s a shame that gay Americans are no savvier than straight Americans when it comes to satire. (I’m looking at you, Queerty.)
sal(the original)
well these inconsiderate jerks who dont realize this word for some gays was probably the last word they heard before they are beaten to death!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
sal(the original)
its not a funny word,if i hear that word on the street i change,why?cause ive been through too many moments where this word was not used to lead to a laugh but some blows at me
Isaiah
I like Details Magazine.
Lady Ga-Gasp
The Onion is funny. Details is douchy. End of story for this faggot.
Justin
The Onion is amazing. The specific article would have lost its hilarity had the word “faggot,” been substituted with something else. Reading the article it can clearly be ascertained they’re not making fun of gay people at all. They’ve done similar articles making fun of racists and anti-Semites.
Gay people have a lot of enemies on this planet. The Onion is not one of them.
hephaestion
This is satire. Satire is great.
What bothers me is the many periodicals, movies, and TV shows that use the word “gay” to mean “lame.” “Juno” did that and I felt that GLAAD should have called “Juno” on letting it’s heroine use “gay” as a derogatory term.
Mike
Uppity faggots.
Re – wait for it – lax.
TikiHead
I’m glad we’ve all ignored Josh to this point: that worthless piece of trolling homophobic shit — oh, come on your face Josh, that was satire!
(yeas, Josh, we’re ‘their’ with you!)
Emily
Considering how in the end, the article just shows people why it’s such a terrible word, I think The Onion can be given a pass here. C’mon, this is one of the most consistently pro-gay publications that actually targets a broad audience. This article helps our community.
headbang8
I’m a faggot. Faggots are good. I’m proud to be a faggot.
Take the word out into the light, let the sun shine on it, and it will stop looking so dangerous. Disarm the word.
We did it with “queer”. Now do the same with evey other slur.
This piece is clearly anti-faggophobe. The Onion is on the side of wimps, pussies and dorks. Whatever their sexual orientation.
I dream that someday there will be wimp neighbourhoods full of wimp bars and wimpily renovated apartments. Where the openly dorky can read a book in public. And once a year, hold Pussy Pride.
Ryan
Man, Queerty. That is weak. They’re not at all making the same point as Douth Park. They’re just full-on making fun of idiotic homophobes. I would encourage everyone to read the whole column instead of the trollish excerpts cherry-picked by Queerty. Its abundantly clear who the object of ridicule is, and its not us.
Josh
Tikihead, as you have nothing of substance to disagree with, you go for a rude attack. Tikihead when you are repulsive, as your remarks are, don’t expect others to be required to be accepting of your actions, just because you are gay. OK?
hardmannyc
Keep throwing that spaghetti at the wall, Queerty. Someday, a strand will stick.
dumb
i love the Onion but this just wasn’t funny or clever. in fact, it was stupid. satire? flop.