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"That's So Gay"


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Posted

In Largo, Florida, the City Manager has been fired after he revealed his plans for a sex change operation. In Santa Rosa, Ca, a student disciplined for saying "that's so gay" has sued the school over it.

 

‘That’s so gay’ prompts a lawsuit

Student sent to principal’s office insists it was not a homophobic putdown

 

 

Updated: 6:41 p.m. PT Feb 28, 2007 (AP)

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - When a few classmates razzed Rebekah Rice about her Mormon upbringing with questions such as, "Do you have 10 moms?" she shot back: "That's so gay."

 

Those three words landed the high school freshman in the principal's office and resulted in a lawsuit that raises this question: When do playground insults used every day all over America cross the line into hate speech that must be stamped out?

 

After Rice got a warning and a notation in her file, her parents sued, claiming officials at Santa Rosa's Maria Carillo High violated their daughter's First Amendment rights when they disciplined her for uttering a phrase "which enjoys widespread currency in youth culture," according to court documents.

 

Testifying last week about the 2002 incident, Rice, now 18, said that when she uttered those words, she was not referring to anyone's sexual orientation. She said the phrase meant: "That's so stupid, that's so silly, that's so dumb."

 

But school officials say they took a strict stand against the putdown after two boys were paid to beat up a gay student the year before.

 

"The district has a statutory duty to protect gay students from harassment," the district's lawyers argued in a legal brief. "In furtherance of this goal, prohibition of the phrase 'That's so gay' ... was a reasonable regulation."

 

Superior Court Judge Elaine Rushing plans to issue a ruling in the non-jury trial after final written arguments are submitted in April. Her gag order prevents the two sides from discussing the case.

 

A confusing set of terms

Derogatory terms for homosexuality have long been used as insults. But the landscape has become confusing in recent years as minority groups have tried to reclaim terms like "queer," "ghetto" and the n-word.

 

In recent years, gay rights advocates and educators have tried teaching students that it is hurtful to use the word "gay" as an all-purpose term for something disagreeable. At Berkeley High School, a gay student club passed out buttons with the words "That's so gay" crossed out to get their classmates to stop using them.

 

Rick Ayers, a retired teacher who helped compile and publish the "Berkeley High School Slang Dictionary," a compendium of trendy teen talk circa 2001, said educating students about offensive language is preferable to policing their speech.

 

"I wouldn't be surprised if this girl didn't even know the origin of that term," he said. "The kids who get caught saying it will claim it's been decontextualized, but others will say, `No, you know what that means.' It's quite talked about."

 

Rice's parents, Elden and Katherine Rice, also claim the public high school employed a double-standard because, they say, administrators never sought to shield Rebekah from teasing based on Mormon stereotypes.

 

Daughter singled out, parents say

In addition, the Rices say their daughter was singled out because of the family's conservative views on sexuality. They are seeking unspecified damages and want the disciplinary notation expunged from Rebekah's school record.

 

Eliza Byard, deputy executive director of the New York-based Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, said nearly nine out of 10 gay students her organization surveyed in 2005 reported hearing "That's so gay" or "You're so gay" frequently.

 

"It bothers them a lot," Byard said. "As odd or funny as the phrase sounds, imagine what it feels like to be in a setting where you consistently hear it used to describe something undesirable or stupid, and it also refers to you."

 

She said it is OK to discipline students for using the phrase after efforts have been made to educate them.

 

"The job of a school is to deal proactively and consistently with all forms of bullying, name-calling and harassment," she said.

 

Jordan Lorence, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal organization, agreed "That's so gay" carries a negative meaning and said he would not want his children to say it. But he said formal discipline is not the answer.

 

"Reasonable people should say, `Let's put a stop to this kind of search-and-destroy mission by school officials for everything that is politically incorrect,'" he said.

 

 

*******************

 

Transsexual Official Faces Firing in Florida

 

 

By TERRY AGUAYO New York TImes

Published: March 1, 2007

MIAMI, Feb. 28 — Steven B. Stanton has been the city manager of Largo, about 25 miles west of Tampa, for 14 years. But he is now facing dismissal after his plans to have sex-change surgery became public.

 

The City Commission placed Mr. Stanton, 48, on paid leave on Tuesday night after voting 5 to 2 to begin the process of firing him.

 

Mr. Stanton had recently confirmed that he is a transsexual and announced his sex-change plans after an area newspaper reported that he was receiving hormone therapy in preparation for the operation.

 

About 500 Largo residents attended the commission meeting Tuesday, and commissioners have received hundreds of e-mail messages, most supporting the resolution to fire Mr. Stanton, which was introduced by Commissioner Mary G. Black.

 

“I do not feel he has the integrity, nor the trust, nor the respect, nor the confidence to continue as the city manager,” The Associated Press quoted Ms. Black as saying.

 

Mayor Pat Gerard, who voted against removing Mr. Stanton, said he had been “a pretty fierce defender of the city.”

 

“He is a great city manager and would have continued to be a great city manager, and we didn’t give him that opportunity,” Ms. Gerard said. Andy Guyette, a commissioner who voted to fire Mr. Stanton, said he backed him until learning that he had shared his secret with some city officials, who offered support.

 

Mr. Guyette said he feared Mr. Stanton, who supervises about 1,200 employees, could not lead the city without favoring his supporters.

 

“I’d second-guess every decision he made,” Mr. Guyette said. “There was a lot of hiring and promoting and firing and every one of them could have been influenced by this whole scenario.”

 

Mr. Stanton could not be reached for comment.

 

Under the city charter, he has the right to request a public hearing to appeal the decision before commissioners meet to confirm their vote. If the removal becomes final, Mr. Stanton will receive a severance package including a year’s salary, $140,000.

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Posted

RE: Transgender Rights

 

I felt bad that the transgender story got second place in my thread, but Daddy was wiser and has featured it today in his news section.

 

An interesting quote from the article Daddy cites: ``If Jesus was here tonight, I can guarantee you he'd want him terminated,'' said Pastor Ron Saunders of Largo's Lighthouse Baptist Church. ``Make no mistake about it.''

 

Terminated? Yeah, Jesus would want this deviant killed like a bug in a McDonald's. That's why he created him, you know. So redneck Baptist preachers could have some sport!

 

Last week, not by design, I attended a legal conference on transgender rights and got educated as to many of the issues they face. It was an eye-opener. This case in Florida may be a blessing in disguise (thank you, Jesus!) as it seems to present a great legal case for transgenders. The guy had 14 years of good service and is terminated only when he confronts his sexual identity. Largo gets the same person as city manager, albeit in different clothes. What's to complain about?

 

Let them know what you think by emailing [email protected]

Posted

RE: Transgender Rights

 

> Largo gets the same person as city manager, albeit in different clothes. What's to complain about?

 

 

Unless it's Miss Peavey, the town archivist, who refuses to use the Staff Ladies Room any more, and sues for pain, suffering, and constipation.

Posted

>>Personally, I'm going to start saying, "That's so straight!"

>

>>I hope it catches on... :p

>That is so funny Rick! I hope it does catch on! :-)

 

 

Oh Rick, that is just so straight. It'll never catch on.

Posted

>Here's your lesson, deej:

>

>That's so straight = That's stupid

>

>straight-acting = masculine

>

>Got it now?

 

 

It seems to me, the major moving force to have your line become part of the American lexicon, that the phrase That's so straight is not only that's stupid but also stupid in a particularly straight way so for example That is so unfashionably stupid

That is so unrefinedly stupid

That is so unrepentantly stupid

That is so neanderthally stupid etc.

 

Correct me if I am being so straight.

Posted

>That's

>so straight is not only that's stupid but also stupid in a

>particularly straight way so for example That is so

>unfashionably stupid

> That is so unrefinedly stupid

> That is so unrepentantly stupid

> That is so neanderthally stupid etc.

 

P-Kow, you know I can't resist replying you but after this, let me get to sleep! I have to be on a flight in a few hours. :p

 

OK, the examples you give perpetuate the unfair negative stereotype that straight guys have no fashion sense and are uncouth. I think "That's so straight" as a movement and a political force must be purely about stupidity and nothing more. :)

Posted

Post it on Wikipedia....you can even define it. Then it will be official. And we can all have links to it in our bylines. It will overtake the internet. You will be famous! :D

Posted

Without attempting to be even slightly ironic, may I point out that the homosexual community only recently co-opted the term "gay" from the mainstream vocabulary where it meant light and frivilous. It quickly gained currency as the preferred term for homosexual behavior and characteristics, and entered the common lexicon. This happened less than 40 years ago. My son (age 15) assures me that "That's so gay", which is in constant use, doesn't mean homosexual, but rather "that's idiotic". Apparently the attitude is also that if the homosexual community doesn't like it they can lump it. I seems that the politically correct police have a tough time trying to deal with an ever changing and fluid language. Oh well.

Posted

>the homosexual community only recently co-opted the

>term "gay"

 

It may go back a little further than that. Some scholars believe the use of "gaie" as a self-elected label for a homosexual subculture was originated by thirteenth-century Provençal troubadours.

Posted

RE: "That's So Gay";

 

>My son (age 15) assures me that "That's so gay", which is in

>constant use, doesn't mean homosexual, but rather "that's

>idiotic". Apparently the attitude is also that if the

>homosexual community doesn't like it they can lump it.

 

Another case of the erudite class of teenagers deciding on the standard of behavior. I would guess your son is not gay and therefore not in a position to have to decide to "lump it" or not. Apparently that's so retarded or don't be a retard was offensive enough for people to actually tire of hearing it. My guess is this additional use of the word gay, to the now accepted use of gay as to referring to homosexuality, will outlive this year's linguistic blip.

 

The reason people no longer refer to a gay old time, a gay affair or gay apparel is related to having their meaning disconstrued, not that gay no longer means upbeat and fanciful.

 

You might ask your son, does anyone refer to themselves as being "so gay". I am curious if it is used as self-deprecating as well as insulting.

Posted

RE: That's So Gay

 

>You might ask your son, does anyone refer to themselves as

>being "so gay". I am curious if it is used as

>self-deprecating as well as insulting.

 

P-kow, I was just trying to think of a good reply to EWC but I don't need to because you hit on the perfect argument to anyone who says that "That's so gay" has nothing to do with gay people. If it really only means "dumb" or "idiotic," then why don't the people/kids who use that expression use it on themselves? You never hear them say, "That was so gay of me" or "I'm so gay" because gay still means homosexual and it's still something that kids are taught is bad or to be feared or loathed. If the expression were "That's so black," would anyone really believe it was just referring to, say, a crayon color and not a race?

Posted

>the use of "gaie" as a self-elected label for a

>homosexual subculture was originated by thirteenth-century

>Provençal troubadours.

 

Did they have a version of Wayland Flowers and Madame back then, too? :p

Posted

>>thirteenth-century

>>Provençal troubadours.

>

>Did they have a version of Wayland Flowers and Madame back

>then, too? :p

 

Stop! You have me imagining the whole lot of them being Flowerses and Madames in competition. A medieval gay "Provençal Idol."

 

Meanwhile, Questions We Never Got to Ask Mister Rogers:

 

Could Madame have been the inspiration for the puppet character Lady Elaine Fairchild in the Land of Make-Believe?

 

Lady Elaine:

 

http://www.rockmegently.com/images/elaine.jpg

 

Madame:

 

http://www.puppet.org/museum/pix/78.jpg

Posted

RE: "That's So Gay"

 

AdamSmith, since Madame provided me more laughs and entertainment in a different time, I hope you won't mind that I resized her for forum format. I'm sure however she'd be delighted knowing that today she was larger than a web forum. :7

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/chgo/madame.jpg

Posted

RE: "That's So Gay"

 

>AdamSmith, since Madame provided me more laughs and

>entertainment in a different time, I hope you won't mind that

>I resized her for forum format.

 

Not at all. "Honey, I shrunk the Madame!" :+

 

P.S. An acquaintance was on a gay cruise once where La Flowers was the hired entertainment. Reportedly spent most late evenings alone at the bar quietly weeping into his brandy alexanders.

Posted

RE:That's So Gay

 

> Reportedly spent most late evenings alone at the bar quietly weeping into his brandy alexanders.

 

He certainly put a lot into his performances (and I'm not just talking about his hand either). I understand that, in later years, he was able to hire someone to come weep into his brandy alexanders for him.

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