It’s a famously “reclaimed” slur: Dan Savage used it positively for decades. But there is some dispute- in particular, it seems that many older gay men still have a strongly negative view of it, whereas younger crowds seem generally more accepting. As a Millennial, but not really in “the community,” I still find it off-putting when it’s used positively.
I’ve heard that there’s some queer vs gay tension as well that people that ID as queer are turning “fag” back into a slur, but I have no clue to what extent this is an actual phenomenon instead of outrage-bait.
Yes, I agree it’s used not-that-rarely within the gay community. This is very similar to the n-word situation, and I don’t think is very material to whether it’s a slur or not.
If a gay person called me a fag, I’d update that they were more edgy than me. If a straight person called me a fag, I’d update that they were a bigot (and/or very socially inept and in need of a talking to).
It’s a famously “reclaimed” slur: Dan Savage used it positively for decades. But there is some dispute- in particular, it seems that many older gay men still have a strongly negative view of it, whereas younger crowds seem generally more accepting. As a Millennial, but not really in “the community,” I still find it off-putting when it’s used positively.
I’ve heard that there’s some queer vs gay tension as well that people that ID as queer are turning “fag” back into a slur, but I have no clue to what extent this is an actual phenomenon instead of outrage-bait.
Yes, I agree it’s used not-that-rarely within the gay community. This is very similar to the n-word situation, and I don’t think is very material to whether it’s a slur or not.
If a gay person called me a fag, I’d update that they were more edgy than me. If a straight person called me a fag, I’d update that they were a bigot (and/or very socially inept and in need of a talking to).