Use of the Word "Homophobic" as Slang

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/18/18 at 1:28pm

Apparently, some enjoy using the word "homophobic" as negative slang because it's super cute or funny.  The topic arose in The Cher Show thread because someone said a photo posted of Cher looked "homophobic", which caused questions and confusions.  When opinions were raised and a discussion ensued, there were complaints to keep the thread on topic (though it's not like there were interruptions to numerous on-topic posts, anyway), so I pose the question here.

Use of "homophobic" as negative slang for anything related to LGBT: Yay or nay?

I'm firmly NAY.  

[TheSassySam]

Posted: 7/18/18 at 4:47pm

I literally said on the mic at a drag show last week that, "Mother Nature is being homophobic with this humidity." and got a great laugh. 

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/18/18 at 5:05pm

I have no particular objection to it, MisteMatt, other than it don't quite get how it would generally "work."  I can see it being funny in a drag show, SassySam, but can't see it "reading" in most contexts and doubt it will or should catch on.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/18/18 at 10:12pm

How is this even a thing? Lame.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 7/19/18 at 2:25am

I think one or two people appearing to do it in a thread on a theater discussion board probably doesn't constitute any sort of societal change so not sure at this point at least, any sort of referendum is needed.

[KFC1991]

Posted: 7/19/18 at 7:57am

I see gay Twitter do this all the time. I think it's cute. Another variation, which would probably be considered far more offensive to most, is "he/she can say 'faggot'."
For example: The lady sitting next to me in the plane offered me some cookies. She can say "faggot."
Or: This Taco Bell Crunch Wrap Supreme is so good, it can say "faggot."

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/19/18 at 9:48am

Another variation, which would probably be considered far more offensive to most, is "he/she can say 'faggot'." 

That's just disgusting.

[robskynyc]

Posted: 7/19/18 at 10:59am

it all started here.

 

skip to 3:49

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6Y5xLvYdMM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/19/18 at 11:16am

I confess that my friends and I do this. For example we'll say things like "He doesn't know who Patti LuPone is?  That's homophobic." or "They didn't bring me honey with my tea.How homophobic".  It's very tongue in cheek, and we don't do it in front of people who won't get the joke.  I'd never do it on a public forum like Twitter (or go on Twitter, for that matter).  

Also, I could watch that video of Coco playing Grand Theft Auto forever.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/19/18 at 11:29am

A genderqueer drag performer acquaintance just used it to snarkily describe a list of best movie musicals on my FB newsfeed. I see nothing wrong with it and I don't see how it reduces the severity of homophobia, and "homophobic" isn't a slur. I would say it's even more innocuous than, say, "grammar Nazi."  It's a tongue-in-cheek way to describe something minor that nevertheless crimps gay style or culture.

And it has already caught on. Just apparently not here.

Updated On: 7/19/18 at 11:29 AM

[John Adams]

Posted: 7/19/18 at 1:30pm

I don't think it's an example of slang. 

I think it's hyperbole for comic effect. I like it a lot! 

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/19/18 at 1:38pm

 

This thread is lesbophobic.

 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/19/18 at 3:08pm

It might very well be!  I don't know what words mean any more.  When this use of "homophobic" was described on the other thread as the LGBT community "reclaiming" the word, I realized that perhaps people just use any word however they like because they actually don't know the definitions of...words.  Might a's well ju'st add apo'strophe's before the letter "s" in every word while we're at it...ju'st becau'se.