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| Saturday, 28 April 2007 | ||||
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All minority groups are easily classified, prejudiced because of these classifications and thus bound by social labels that can be hard to escape. However, as my muse I shall look specifically at how labels attached to gay men and women can be potentially damaging. I shall not, however, travel the path of the abolition of gay related labels, I do however believe that for the gay community it is necessary to revolutionise how we define ourselves and certain labels are important in this definition. The first port of call really should be how we as gay men and women utilise these labels. In the case of feminism, why is to be female seen as demeaning? Childbirth does not weaken the female sex, surely it strengthens it and differentiates between masculine gender roles? I do not discredit the importance of feminism and as much as I am an advocate of equality for all, believe that in the same way gay has become a potentially crippling label, so too has feminism, which through caricature has been given a negative image. Perhaps though it is the gay man who cripples himself in touting his gayness? In identifying with the gay label we all pledge, in a way, our allegiance to a set of codes given to us by wider society. However, being labelled gay is no different than being labelled straight; it is simply in how that label is used that the difference lies. For example, a gay man may feel he has been overlooked for a job due to his sexuality, where the employer has favoured a straight candidate instead. However, personal prejudice aside and the fact that sexuality based discrimination is illegal in the What I hope to illustrate here is that the gay label really does not define us in any way other than our sexual preference. Society may have in the past convinced us that by being gay we were less qualified for certain job roles, however, great work has been done to abolish this prejudice. The greatest revolution in attitudes must therefore come from the gay community itself. We should recognise that our sexuality has little bearing on anything other than our choice of partner. It would be naïve of me to ignore that prejudice exists and that discrimination is still a problem in the workplace. Yet if we do not adapt the gay label then these prejudices can only be strengthened. Greater impetus should be placed on individual merit in all walks of life if we are going to break the shackles that bind us as gay men and women. There is great debate currently amongst the LGBT community on the introduction of a new “Queer” label. I shall place my own neck on the line to suggest that this is an obscenely bad idea, purely because of the negativity surrounding such a label. Far more abusive to me than being called “Gay” would be to be called “Queer” and for this reason I would always reject the association. Furthermore, this latest label does little to the progress of greater equality; it adds nothing to the existing definitions and in my opinion shall only confuse wider society. Yes, lately there has been great debate on how “Gay” has become widely used to mean bad, or rubbish, yet “Queer” does little to solve this problem. The debate around the “Queer” label, interestingly is one coming from within the LGBT community, many universities are using it more and more and therefore the blame for any misuse of its meaning can be placed nowhere but on our own shoulders. I am not suggesting that a new label should be discarded, nor am I suggesting that we need to overhaul how we define and classify ourselves. However, what I do suggest is that we cease using our sexuality as an easy excuse for any difficulty faced. Perhaps my opinion is one of privilege? I beg to differ, I have been discriminated against I am sure, yet never for my sexuality. This is not because I have been lucky, it is because my sexuality is only one part that makes me whole. Yes, across the world there are gay men and women still needing social liberation, it is still illegal to be gay in Middle Eastern countries; yet, these are countries for which time will hopefully assist in their evolution towards a more liberalised society. If I am privileged, it is the same privilege I share with each of you as a member of a Western society, a privilege paid for by generations before us, a privilege for which I am eternally grateful. Let us think to the future and to repaying this debt owed to our liberators. Let us redefine how important the gay label is, let us use it as a positive label bearing significance to part of our individuality. Be proud of being labelled as gay but see it as part of your character, let it not dominate nor subtract from all that you have to offer. It is with this outlook that perhaps we can move forwards and achieve the greatest equality one of the equality of the individual. Only registered users can write comments.  Add as favourites (85) |  Quote this article on your site
18-07-2008 19:36 I personally do not like to display my orientation amoung my school, friends, and society in general. I just come to people as I'am. Not that I have a problem with people who display, and put out their orientation. I just have my own personal beleifs. When I join the United-States Marines I obviously cannot display it amoung my co-workers. Registered 10-11-2007 12:57 I wouldn't say an attracting to the atypical societally accepted gender is a small thing. No kids, no grandkids, present day minor and occasional major persecution, I think some people like to down play it all. I see very little insulting about people using the term 'gay' to describe something rubbish or bad. In this context the term's usually used to describe objects other than humans, so confusion between the two meanings is highly improbable; after all, no one's confusing 'fair' being fair skinned and 'fair' being just. Registered 13-09-2007 04:07 01-08-2007 13:07 I agree 100% with everything this column says. I agree that having a "queer" laybel instead would do almost nothing in differentiating us. We are who we are and thats who we need to be, no one else only us. Registered 14-07-2007 02:34 I don't like the gay label very much, mostly for political purposes. I'm very conservative and very Republican, and people find that very hard to believe since I'm also very gay :P Guest 30-06-2007 16:43 I totally agree with you in how many gay people allow the gay label to overcome themselves and determine who they are. You are firstly yourself, your favourite colour; animal; subjet in school, and ect. Being gay is only a small part of wo anyone is. Nevertheless it has a colossal effect on our lives effecting many future choices for us. For the lose of better words, it is similar to introducing yourself, you always say your name first and let ppl get to know who you are, being gay shouldnt be one of the first thigns that you share being so minuscule to the rest of your pearson. I guess what I am trying to get at is dont let being gay define your life but who you are as a person including being gay shape your life. Guest 27-06-2007 05:19 "We should recognise that our sexuality has little bearing on anything other than our choice of partner." "I beg to differ, I have been discriminated against I am sure, yet never for my sexuality. This is not because I have been lucky, it is because my sexuality is only one part that makes me whole." alot of people include their sexuality in everything they do mannarisms/style... why? idk. straight individuals accept gender roles but it seems that certain gays do not, why again? idk? why do some people have to make their sexuality so prominent in their lives when it is not nesesary, i think when you do this your setting yourself up for discrimination and i have no pity for people who seem to want attention. Guest 20-06-2007 15:14 05-06-2007 00:02 i think the whole thing i f up because labeling is stupid because when you see a guy thats gay people go he is so gay or hes a fag or hes a queer but when you see a straight guy you dont say hes straight or he likes girls not guys not only i hate when people think being gay is gross because when you love some one you love them male or female and not only that when people think of gays they think of sex they think of 2 penis's or 2 vaginas and that its gross when its no different than a vagina and a penis its horrible that peiolpe think this way and so you now what i also say that gay people should be proud to be gay it is who you are but i think i know for my self that i would never ever CHOOSE to be gay because of all the harrassment i get but i am proud i am gay ill admit i like guys bodies i m gay and i am attracted to a guys penis i am not called gay for no reason but thats not what defines me as gay and as someone once told me every one Is "gay " because if you were to tell a guy if you were watching porn would you want the guy to have a small penis or a big penis they would say big and same with a women thanks for reading and remember its not wrong to be gay its being proud Registered 03-06-2007 05:32 Exactly! I couldn't agree more, gay teens think that they have to define themseleves by waring a variety of, "gay" clothes. Its absolutely ridiculuous. If anyone needs confidence you should listen to the song Beautiful by Christina Aguliera. And remember you dont need to define yourself wear whatever you want, act the way you want, and listen to whatever you like! Registered 02-06-2007 18:25 22-05-2007 09:15 20-05-2007 01:35 "What I hope to illustrate here is that the gay label really does not define us in any way other than our sexual preference. Society may have in the past convinced us that by being gay we were less qualified for certain job roles, however, great work has been done to abolish this prejudice. The greatest revolution in attitudes must therefore come from the gay community itself. We should recognise that our sexuality has little bearing on anything other than our choice of partner. " i agree. :D Registered 19-05-2007 22:45 labelling is wrong, we are all one..and if i was religious..i wud get into the whole "we are all children of god shit" ...but be proud to b gay..its who u are..and if u are descriminated for it..so be it...just be strong and dont reconize it as a bad thing...after all..if people kno..u obviously had the strength to come out..so whats stopping u frum just letting what ppl say go rite? Registered 08-05-2007 18:38 i\'m really glad to have read this article...I have argued this time and time again at my own high school. I think the most damaging aspect of labels and stereotypes is that it can have a very serious and indeed dangerous impact on impressionable adolescents who are trying to identify with themselves. For example, suppose little Bobby wakes up one day and realises he likes the boys. However, he also likes auto mechanics, cares little about fashion and would rather play baseball than go to the mall. He looks to the gay community for support but sees that this community has for the most part adopted the stereotype of the world outside the gay community. The result may be deteriorated self-image and a loss of self-identify. Registered 08-05-2007 11:57 i agree with willotter we dont need labels we are what we are our sexual prefrance is only a part of us who we chose to love and care for is totaly up to us and we dont need a label to tell us Guest 08-05-2007 11:02 I don't think we need to classify oursleves for the benefit of society. I think that the idea of sexuality should be discarded and we do what the anicent greeks did and basically just have sex with anyone. Registered 02-05-2007 22:03 Why do we use any word to describe ourselves? Because of the strong emphasis of Western culture and religion. Sexuality, of any kind, particularly homosexual, and hetero- while unwed, has been viewed as sinful and hell-worthy in Western culture, yet in Eastern cultures such as ancient and Feudal Japan, sexuality has only been seen as an act. In fact, more as a responsibility and a thing used for social standings and alliances and such. Registered 02-05-2007 16:35  ur right. But I belive in the end we should not use labels at all. The world lets itself be bond by lables and we should brake free of lables the only cause confrotation and problems to an issue. Everything is not just black and white and easy to lable. Nothing in the world should be labled. "Waht is in a name A rose by any other name is just as sweet" "Tradgedy of Romeo and Juliet" I belive in that and thanx Willam Shakspare for giving it to the world. So like i said i don't we should let ourselvs be bond by labls. NO one should race religon or sexual oriention. This is just my thoughts.Registered 01-05-2007 18:12 I don't think that the communtiy should use such things to label us. Such as politcis. Some Republicans support gay rights, and some Democrats do not support gay rights. Two, the way we dress does not say who we are. Just because a guy knows what's in and what isn't does not make him gay. And if a guy has no idea what style is, it does not make him straight. The same applies to women: if a woman wears buisness suits to work and overalls when she's working at home and doesn't wear makeup, does not make her a lesbian. If a woman wears dresses and makeup does not sake her straight. Nothing decides whether you are gay or straight, it all depends on you, what you think. Don't go by what others say. If you are straight and act gay, and vice versa, don't change yourself because of what other people say. In the words of the great VC (Vitamin C) "Do what you want to do." Guest 30-04-2007 16:47 A very interesting well critten column... However I think you can get too hung up on titles. "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other word would smell as sweet." - Shakespeare, (a gay idol ). Of course not advocating the use of clearly offensive words.... but perhaps more crucial than the word is how says it and how. Plenty use the expression of "Fag Hag", yet to call someone a "Fag" is so very bad. Its a tough one. "A gay by any other word would be as fabulous." - Popsicle Registered 29-04-2007 11:39 I see all of peoples comments as applicable on the issue except the one about register! It does not sound appealing to call on "Queer" as it has such negative connotations and most feel is a backward step but it is imperative that we fight back at the culture of discrimination and use these words not necessarily to criticize ourselves but rather to take the teeth out of these words. Imagine if everybody who was LGBT used the words "Queer" to describe oneself then the word would carry so much hate! The points about our sexuality only being part of who we are is also strkingly true and furthermore we as LGBT individuals should rather define the LGBT lifestyle and not let it define us. I am so glad to hear the next generation talking with so much wisdom and intelligence. It gives me hope and faith that our future is not as gloomy as most see it. The LGBT generation defining the globe! Registered 29-04-2007 00:32 as much as i enjoy reading your articles and find them personally accessable, do you not think on a website aimed at teenagers a lot of people will be alienated by your vocabulary and style? just a thought. i also dont like the idea of being called queer. it has definite connotations of 'the other', suggesting that gay people are 'queer' when measured up to the prototype - the hetrosexual. Registered 28-04-2007 23:56 I know I wouldn't want to be called "queer" just because to me, that sounds as though they are saying you are weird, or completely different from them... I don't like people calling me "gay" either, not because I am not homosexual, but because my name is Logan, and that is what people should call me. Sexuality doesn't make you who you are, it simply helps you to find someone you will enjoy being with.. in one way or another... Registered 28-04-2007 22:33 Well, 'cute', in case anyone in here isn't aware, actually means something along the lines of 'ugly, but interesting'. Point: Connotations and meanings differ. That, and English is spoken in how many different countries now? And how many different cultures have English speakers? And then sub-cultures? Queer, is just a word. Some people think it's a negative word. Some people thinks it's just one of those words like 'little'. Not good, not bad - just a simple word used to describe something. So. Queer. Not quite your usual thing. Queer doesn't mean drastically abnormal. It just means different. But not in the same sense as odd. Or weird. No, queer is a much friendlier word than those. Why we use queer? Let's see... Fag, dyke, lipstick lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, gay, hetereoflexible, flexual, bi-curious... Or, you can just say, "I'm queer" and it can be any of those, something else, or whatever. Queer is like the self-word. Basically, queer just means not 100% straight. And, before everyone attacks me and insists that just because we're not straight it doesn't mean that we're different... Um, did you have to come out? Why? To make people aware that you're not straight. It's not that we're different. Sexualities vary so much that you can't really have a different sexuality, as long as you have your sexuality. And even if you don't have your sexuality you have a lack of one, which, in itself, is defined as a sexuality. But, there is a usual sexuality. Hetereosexuality. It's not the norm or anything, it's just usual. i tell people that i'm 'queer'. Because, i'm somewhere between lesbian and bisexual, or something, but not quite. See, i wouldn't go as far as to call myself a lesbian - there's a boy on the scene at the moment - but, generally, i'm just not attracted to boys, so, i wouldn't call myself bisexual either. So, i just say 'queer'. Registered 28-04-2007 21:39 I cannot believe that anyone in the gay community would wish to be known as 'queer'. What a terribly backward step! Guest 28-04-2007 21:14 great article... being gay doesnt define a person, it only defines one very small part of ones life. -----evan------ Registered 28-04-2007 19:23 I think the word Gay will stop being negative in some time, because it's primary definition is happy  . Queer however means strange, weird and that there's something off about something  . Why can't Queer and gay just change places? Queer is a negative word by definition, gay isn't.  I think that if people don't like something they should try educating themselves about it instead of labeling it. Registered Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 |
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