MetaChat - AskMeCha: Is the term "straight" homophobic?

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18 October 2007

AskMeCha: Is the term "straight" homophobic? →[More:]It doesn't seem like there's much rallying about this at all, but I can't help but feel that saying a hetero person is "straight" implies that the GLBT* community is crooked (thereby using language to alienate and resist the normalization of the gay community).

Now, I realize that there could be a sense of pride in being crooked and nonconformist, but it's definitely not something that everyone in the community would want to be associated with.

So, what do you think?

post by: spiderskull at: 19:38 | 20 comments

I don't it implies much of anything about either group, if only because (I think) the origin is more tied to drug culture than gay culture, and it goes pretty far back into the 20th century.

Also, for what it's worth, it annoys me when my fellow gay folk refuse to use the word "straight" when giving directions, as in "Go forward at the stop sign." I mean, come on people. That's just stupid and petty.

posted by mudpuppie 18 October | 19:41

I don't *think* it implies....

I think fully half of my comments today were correcting other comments.

posted by mudpuppie 18 October | 19:42

It's an interesting thought, but we'll need a new slang term then. All the ones I can think of either pejorative ("breeder") or boring ("hetero"). As a full blooded heterosexual man I demand something with ZAZZ to describe my sexuality.

posted by Lentrohamsanin 18 October | 19:43

As a full blooded heterosexual man I demand something with ZAZZ to describe my sexuality.

Howzabout 'otherfucker?' (y'know..as opposed to samefucker).

posted by jonmc 18 October | 19:47

You could say you're flamboyantly hetero.

I don't think "straight" is more interesting than "hetero." I'd say the opposite, really -- "straight" is about as vanilla as it gets.

I wasn't aware that it originated from the drug culture. Maybe it's a drugophobic term.

posted by spiderskull 18 October | 19:51

"straight" is about as vanilla as it gets.

As someone who enjoys the occasional vanilla cappuncino, I find that remark flavorist!

posted by jonmc 18 October | 19:52

There is or was a pro-gay group called Straight But Not Narrow.

posted by desjardins 18 October | 20:02

I remember the "Straight but Not Narrow" as a slogan on lapel buttons from the "No On 9" fight against the OCA (oregon citizens' alliance) back in '91-92.

Heh.. The middle-aged white-guy "college daze" nostalgia may now commence...

posted by Triode 18 October | 20:15

When I went to the Really Big MeFi Meetup, I got a name tag that said "Hi, my name is __________, and I could overthink a plate of beans. That said, I really like jon's suggestion.

posted by pieisexactlythree 18 October | 20:21

Go fuck your other.

posted by jonmc 18 October | 20:24

Sadly, my other is probably fucking another by now, for all I know.

posted by pieisexactlythree 18 October | 20:30

I like otherfucker too, but when said aloud to describe oneself, it comes out a little wrong.

Personally, I'm ambiguously straight.

posted by me3dia 18 October | 21:39

Now that I think about it, spiderskull, I see what you mean. On the other hand, nothing's really offensive unless someone gets offended by it.

I always liked the term "Allied".

posted by muddgirl 18 October | 21:51

Who are you calling an otterfucker?

posted by wendell 18 October | 21:55

[NOT FLAVORIST]

posted by rhapsodie 18 October | 22:30

Go fuck your other.

Would love to, jonmc...but I'm not a shiksa goddess.

Breeder and het are the slurs I've heard used rather than straight.

posted by brujita 18 October | 23:54

Don't trust your gaydar. Vet that het.

posted by cortex 19 October | 00:34

Bent was the antonym. It might be mostly UK slang though.

posted by TheophileEscargot 19 October | 01:51

Let the straight out of the gate and veer to queer, my dear.

posted by safetyfork 19 October | 06:10

How about we call 'em "squares," since it's cool and "now" to be gay?

posted by Hugh Janus 19 October | 08:21

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