Reclaiming Slurs

[Guest praisedbeherhooves]

What do you think about reclaiming the disparaging names that both the transgender community and the gay community have reclaimed? For example, queer used to be very offensive. yet now it is a casual term. Yes, it can be used in an insulting matter but most terms for any group can be used that way. For example, gringo (Mexican Spanish term for white Americans) and goy (Yiddish term for gentiles) are both neutral terms in most cases and yet they are sometimes used disparagingly. I mean, it's probably possible to say "You African-American!" in a menacing way. Anyway, a lot of transgender people I know, including me sometimes, refer to themselves as trannies. However, some peopel in the community don't like the term because of its history of being used as a slur against transgender people. Similarly, in the gay community the terms "Sweetie" and "homo" are sometimes used jokingly but they can also be seen as very offensive. The N-word in the African-American community is very controversial too.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

crossdresser = transvestite to me (older generation). Neither word is used now.

Lizzy

[Guest]

In an accepting culture, words like gringo, goy, or crossdresser can just be identifiers without the bigotry that they imply. Just be careful !

Yesterday I saw a license plate that read "T-BABE". Never got a chance to see the driver, but it probably wasn't referring to a t-girl. Nonetheless I liked the term.

Kat

[Guest ricka]

Depends on the context really. Used within an ethnic group otherwise disparaging terms are often used as terms of affection or endearment or playfully without malice. They may mean something entirely different when used by someone outside of that group.

Ricka

[Guest viv]

Got to agree ,,when used in a non offensive way its no problem .

Being Irish I have developed a healthy sense of humor when

it comes to **name calling**LOL.,,luv, Paddy, sorry Mick oops

Viv,,,yep, thats it ,,viv,

[Guest CharlieRose]

I think it's a careful balance you have to strike, because using words like that in a neutral way does take away their power, after all, words only mean what we say they mean, but at the same time, a lot of these words have deeply hurt and wounded other people, and so we have to respect those individuals' pain. I think it can be done, but very slowly.

[Guest Donna Jean]

I think it's a careful balance you have to strike, because using words like that in a neutral way does take away their power, after all, words only mean what we say they mean, but at the same time, a lot of these words have deeply hurt and wounded other people, and so we have to respect those individuals' pain. I think it can be done, but very slowly.

I agree with you, Hon.....well put...

You know if you line up ten "certain ethnic people" (non threatening term..) of the same ethnic, and use a term for them, I'll bet that it would go from insulted on one end to funny on the other with the middle eight feeling different levels about the word....

I think words like "queer" should ONLY be used when it's known without a doubt that it won't offend whoever you address with it. The same goes for any other word.

Steeping lightly.....

Donna Jean

[Guest Kaitlyn88]

I've told my ex that she can call me a crossdresser if she wants. I know she wouldn't use it in a bad way and is helping me out with transition. Although I said don't use it a lot and not really in front of other people and give them the wrong idea. I've always found crossdresser much more offensive. As far a queer goes I don't really mind the word it's how it is used. All it means is that you're different and I'm sure not normal lol. Although only one person calls me that and it's my sister's husband and he means it offensively because he still thinks that I'm a guy and thinks I'm secretly into men because he doesn't get how someone ends up trans. He is a guy that goes around telling eveyone that he needs to be circumcised so that he can't have any more kids and he is already circumcised lol so if he doesn't even understand that much I don't worry about if he just thinks transsexuals are gay guys. He refuses to learn about any of it.