Read on Twitter
why not all members of the LGBTQIA+ community can say “faggot”, a thread by a gay male:
lets start out with the meaning nd origin of the word! the slur originated as a term used against men who (a) were not masculine or (b) were attracted 2 other men. this slur was used towards gay men nd transfem individuals 2 imply we were “failed men”.
“but who can say this?” – its simple! if youre mlm, nblm OR transfem, it’s your slur 2 reclaim! (mlm meaning bi men, gay men, pan men, etc.)
“but i was called a faggot, why can’t i say it?” – think of it this way, if a white boy was called a nigger, would he automatically be able 2 repeat the word? no! just because youre CALLED a slur, doesn’t give you the right 2 reclaim it.
“why would you reclaim a slur?” – in my opinion, ppl reclaim slurs 2 take the power away from them. as a black person, i use the n word pretty often in my daily vocabulary because it’s since been reclaimed as a term of endearment. same as the f slur nd any other slur.
“but slurs r just words!” – you’re correct, they are words but theyre words that have hundreds of years of opression tied 2 them. theyre words that were used nd still are used in a negative light nd should ONLY be reclaimed by those who they were made 2 oppress.
thank you 4 taking the time 2 read this thread, i hope i made some sort of sense nd i hope that i was able 2 educate you in some way, shape or form!
