Don’t Use That Word
“You fucking Faggot,” every now and again I play this scenario in my head, just waiting for that moment when they call me that word. The moment I try to be myself and allow the world to see me as I really am, and someone uses the term faggot in disgust to describe a character of my person. I picture my reaction as such:
“Excuse me, you do not call me that. You wouldn’t call me a Nigger; so why would you think it would be okay to call me a faggot.”
I’d throw verbiage in their face in hopes to disrupt there thought process; however, if this doesn’t stop their insults toward me, I see the conversation continuing.
“Do you even know where the word faggot comes from?” As I wait for some possible under-educated response to fall from his/her tongue, waiting for the chance to educate. “The term comes well before the Salem Witch Trials, way back in the 14th century. They would use gay men and women as kindle to keep fires going for accused witches. The term is disgusting and demeaning to anyone you call it.” Yes, people of the LGBT community were burned like kindling back centuries ago, but whether they were used as kindle as they burned the witches is not as clear. It is more of an etymological urban legend, but still an act believable by people who want everyone to think and act the same way. Unfortunately, the situation ends at this moment, and I have yet to play it out further since I have only a few choices left if my words are not enough to shut this person up. Those being to accept humility or if I am forced too, I will engage physically to defend my right as a human being, neither are ideal.
Thankfully, I have yet to reach this type of situation. The sad part is that at some point in my life this is still a highly probable situation in this day and age. Things are slowly getting better, but its two steps forward and one step back. It is progress, slow, but it is change non-the-less. Let help others see past the teachings of a generation that called AIDS a cure for the “gay pandemic.” If we want to see change we must help push people into the right direction, or at least inspire others to open their minds as well as their hearts because what becomes divided is not a permanent separation.
