Okay, so my second issue is derogatory slang for the LGBT community. It is my belief that words only have as much power as we give them. The way to conquer these words is to strip them down to their original meaning and only that (will post those below), although the entire taking back the words thing is awesome, too. Fantastic idea, in my not-so-humble opinion.
Back to the original meaning:
dyke or dike 1 (daɪk)
— n
1. an embankment constructed to prevent flooding, keep out the sea, etc
2. a ditch or watercourse
3. a bank made of earth excavated for and placed alongside a ditch
4. ( Scot ) a wall, esp a dry-stone wall
5. a barrier or obstruction
6. a vertical or near-vertical wall-like body of igneous rock intruded into cracks in older rock
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queer
[kweer] Show IPA adjective, -er, -est, verb, noun
adjective
1.
strange or odd from a conventional viewpoint; unusually different; singular: a queer notion of justice.
2.
of a questionable nature or character; suspicious; shady: Something queer about the language of the prospectus kept investors away.
3.
not feeling physically right or well; giddy, faint, or qualmish: to feel queer.
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faggot or esp ( US ) fagot 1 (ˈfæɡət)
— n
1. a bundle of sticks or twigs, esp when bound together and used as fuel
2. a bundle of iron bars, esp a box formed by four pieces of wrought iron and filled with scrap to be forged into wrought iron
3. a ball of chopped meat, usually pork liver, bound with herbs and bread and eaten fried
4. a bundle of anything
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fag
1 [fag] Show IPA verb, fagged, fag·ging, noun
verb (used with object)
1.
to tire or weary by labor; exhaust (often followed by out ): The long climb fagged us out.
2.
British . to require (a younger public-school pupil) to do menial chores.
3.
Nautical . to fray or unlay the end of (a rope).
noun
6.
Slang . a cigarette.
7.
a fag end, as of cloth.
8.
a rough or defective spot in a woven fabric; blemish; flaw.
9.
Chiefly British . drudgery; toil.
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(this one is just for fun)
gay
[gey] Show IPA adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb
adjective
3.
having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
4.
bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
5.
given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season.
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Now, I don't know about you, but the next time I get called a dyke, I am going to look at the person very confused and tell them that I am not a levee. The next time someone tries to call you a fag tell them they are mistaken, you are not, in fact, a cigarette. The words only have the power we give them, so let's give them none what-so-ever.
love,
Alice
