Homophobic Slurs in the 21st Century

Prashasti Tripathi

As we embrace modernity, we bathe ourselves in proclaimed acceptance of those all around us while still allowing age-old tradition to seep through. Tradition is what grounds us, helping us make sense of the modern world and holding onto the morals and values that make us who we are. Nevertheless, the fast-paced environment we live in calls for alterations in tradition, ensuring our words still find the right home. Ritual, at times, becomes more about the importance of what it used to mean than what it means today. With the increasing awareness and visibility of the LGBT+ community, the use of homophobic slurs has doubled, under the excuse of it being acceptable in accordance with traditions.

Some commonly used homophobic slurs in English include but aren’t limited to - ‘f*ggot’, ‘dyke’, ‘lezza’, ‘tranny’, ‘shemale’, ‘c*ntboy’, etc. Those who find these words nothing more than “dark humour” or “just a joke” are misconstrued to believe words don’t have far-reaching consequences. One may even argue that such slurs are similar to the use of any cuss word, which might be offensive to some but just an expression of speech for someone else. However, these slurs are more than simply a word.

The most commonly used slur is the F-slur, thrown around futilely with no regard for its true meaning. An urban legend says that the word was historically associated with the burning of a stack of wooden sticks. In the late 16th century, the word faggot was reserved as a derogatory and abusive expression for women - particularly older women. This is yet another example of how tightly wound together misogyny and homophobia or femmephobia are in our modern understandings of oppression. It’s typically the derision of women that people fashion onto seemingly effeminate men. This is unsubstantiated; the emergence of the slang term in 20th-century American English is unrelated to historical death penalties for homosexuality.

Another common slur is ‘tranny’ - a derogatory term used to shame transgender members. It is also used to mock someone for ‘appearing trans’ - showing qualities traditionally unacceptable in their birth-assigned gender. ‘Dyke’ is a word associated with lesbians, especially masculine-presenting women who like women. The etymology - though obscure - appears to have arisen from the word bulldyke, which crudely means masculine c*nt. Male properties were derived from the aggressive nature of a bull, and dyke seemingly literates to the vulva, forming a term used to stereotype and belittle queer women.

Not a slur, but an equally homophobic phrase is “That’s so gay.” On its own, the phrase isn’t derogatory; it’s the usage of the term and its connotations that cause harm the same way a homophobic slur does. The phrase stigmatizes queer people and uses their identities to describe something undesirable or amoral. This phrase has marked its appearance by shaming men for taking part in stereotypically feminine activities or simply showing affection. It’s also been used to shut down real emotions and valid issues faced by many, merely branding the individual as ‘gay’, seemingly a derogatory term in people’s minds. This assumption makes queer youth feel as though their very identities or feelings are something to be ashamed of.

Many members of the LGBTQIA+ community have begun to reclaim many of these slurs. The process of reclamation is transferring the power these words hold back to the community. Reclaiming slurs is the ability to associate these slurs with yourself and find no shame in being who you are. It is a form of resisting oppression, unwilling to let these slurs hold power over you, decreasing the negative connotations associated with a word and enabling a sense of self-ownership. To each and every LGBT+ member out there fighting against all odds to be themselves in the truest sense - we see you, we hear you, and we cheer you on.

SOURCES:

• https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/words

• https://thetamnews.org/20049/opinion/can-i-say-the-f-word/

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Homophobic_slurs

• https://www.stonewall.org.uk/sites/default/files/tackling_homophobic_language_-_teachers_guide.pdf

• https://www.endinghiv.org.nz/articles/culture/why-straight-people-shouldnt-throw-around-the-f-word/

• https://thedailyaztec.com/91951/opinion/reclaiming-slurs-is-a-form-of-resisting-oppression/