"Simpsons" hit for not-so-gay crack »
Posted By JamesMarcus 1 year ago in Arts & Entertainment
A gay-rights group is demanding an apology from a cartoon character on "The Simpsons" for uttering a homophobic slur on the show's Halloween episode.
Nelson Muntz, the goofball bully on the hit Fox show, set off a firestorm Sunday night by insulting his nerdy classmate Milhouse Van Houten by saying, "That's so gay."
While Nelson's verbal poke at Milhouse was meant to get laughs, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) responded with a rebuke. "Nelson's use of 'that's so gay' in a negative way is not surprising considering that 90% of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth say they hear the term used this way frequently or often at school," the group said in a statement. (You can hear the controversial comment yourself in the video below, at 15:45.)
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JamesMarcus
James Marcus is a writer, translator, critic, and editor. He is the author of Amazonia: Five Years at the Epicenter of the Dot-Com Juggernaut and ...
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smithichie1 year ago
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spongerobbComment removed: Hard Banned3 Replies
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gippokunnlComment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned
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slate1 year ago
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xxsweetestsin51 year ago
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Instead of saying "that's so gay", maybe the LGBT community would prefer "that's so fierce." Also, gay is defined as happy as well. Since it has a double meaning, then really no one can claim anything. Get over it or start a program in schools, where children say that frequently, so that they can learn which speech you find acceptable or not. Finally, NO this is not the same as saying the "N word," which only has one meaning and means something so far worse than "that's so gay" can ever mean! It's ridiculous how this can make people get up in arms. "That's so gay!" The funny thing is, in this context it has no correlation to the gay you're thinking of... it almost has a completely new meaning! So gay went from being happy and did people riot when the first person changed it to mean a form of sexuality. Blame it on that person for not considering it already had a meaning. Maybe that person would have made up a whole new word. Lesbians have their own word, transgendered people have their own word, but gay people use a word already in use. Now if you're thinking my argument is being blown out of proportion, that's what I think about yours! (response to all the people up in arms)
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lvrofwolves1 year ago
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My Son, who is gay, just asked what I was watching and I told him, he watched it and said 'is that it??????" I said yep! he just walked away going whaaaaaaa........
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seriously, a homophobic slur against a make believe grand pumpkin by a cartoon character that's a bully??? whoopdedooo! some need to get a grip. That set off a firestorm??? wow -
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willottica1 year ago
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There's a deeper problem here than a single use on a TV show.
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"That's so gay" is used all over the place to negatively describe things or situations. This use of "gay" does not match any of the old definitions, and therefore is likely an expression (conscious or subconscious) of revulsion towards homosexuals. The use of the phrase is extremely common in elementary schools long before children understand what "gay" means. So for years, children are bombarded with the equation of "gay" = "bad/stupid".
Enter young Johnny, who's just starting to realize he's a little different from the rest of the kids. Every time he's heard the word "gay" used, it's in a negative way. Think he's going to have an easy time accepting who he is? If he admits he's gay, does he have to think of himself as bad/stupid? Will others think of him that way?
I think the point here is that the Simpsons had an opportunity to open a discussion about how this word is used negatively and repetitively, and they just accepted that use.
This use of 'gay' is perhaps one of the most damaging, because it's done without malicious intent. People don't realize the psychological impact of the message it carries (gay = bad). The situation has absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality yet by calling something 'gay', the offender takes a pot-shot at the situation AND at homosexuals. -
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scorp67111 year ago
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You know these people are sooooooo stupid. Are you gay or Homosexual? A word only has negative meaning if those that are offended by it give it the power to do so. The GLSEN just empowered the word that much more by protesting its use. The first and true meaning of gay has nothing to do with homosexuality. So choose not to be gay be homosexual.
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finrirxComment removed: Hard Banned
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elizabefal1 year ago
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The Simpsons, Family Guy, etc. are all adult cartoons that unfortunately have been pushed more and more by the liberarl media on young children. Parents and guardians need to be very proactive! Now this episode may have been late at night, but many of these shows are now shown during prime time. Also, so many of these shows insult alot of Christians and adults. Parents, know what your young ones are watching. There is even an inappropiate cartoon rated pg7 on Cartoon Network. It's about a bunch of teenagers in a camp. It's extremely vulgar. Not for young kids. Sad! sad! no morals
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cat2004kjk1 year ago
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rjr57981 year ago
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Hey people: It's a cartoon Grow the hell up. Are all of you still living in grade school? He pulled my hair, She pushed me, I'm going to tell mommy on you. GROW UP PEOPLE. I am so sick of reading about this kind of immature crap. Get a real life. No one here cares about your grade school problems. What a bunch babies.
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percherondad1 year ago
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It's just another example of how common speech in a society can be offensive. People used to use the word "jew someone down" to mean get the price down. When Jews began to object that it was offensive the term came into disuse or at least public disuse.
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Gay people need to stand up not only for their rights but be vigilant in making sure that public ridicule is taken as commonplace. In the political atmosphere of the past few years, taking potshots at gays and muslims has been politically acceptable. Maybe now that we have a President who comes from a minority background, we can get people to stop using the minority du jour as the current punching bag of bigots.-
spongerobbComment removed: Hard Banned1 Reply
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shaneandmeg23361 year ago
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I dont believe the current president will do anything for the matter, i personally believe he isnt going to "take care of" the african americans, gays, or jews no more than the rest of the people in this country. These people are not minorities anymore, people need to stop acting like they are special becuase of color or ethic background. I have a gay friend that says "thats so gay" all the time and i bet had he been here to write on this blog he would agree that this is completely retarded! Oh i better watch myself, they will want that sentence pulled next.
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lostlenore1 year ago
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As a proponent of same-sex marriage and equal rights for people of all sexual orientations, I've never liked the way some people use "gay" as a negative adjective. But if this group is going to complain about "The Simpsons" they need to take "South Park" to task too because they use that phrase all the time. You can't legislate language, but we should all strive to be respectful of people of all kinds.
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percherondad1 year ago
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I totally agree with lostlenore.... We can legislate language but we shouldn't be promoting hate and stereotypical behavior as well.. The fact that young people call everything they don't like "gay" should be used as a teaching tool, not applauded.
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soncoatmemphis1 year ago
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Does anyone remember the nonsensical incident when David Howard used the word "*****rdly"? If not, check out Wikipedia. Also, rent BRINGING UP BABY for Cary Grant's use of the word "gay." Don't we have enough real problems to deal with without making words part of the national debate, too?
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xtcss20001 year ago
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not for nothing, but this country has to many pc (politicaly correct) groups its so ridiculous. this shouldnt have to be explained but its an every day term with several meanings and in the show its meaning wasnt malicious. So maybe you shouldnt watch a show basiclly designated for todays pop culture society. and if your so offended by it just change the chanel like anyone else would do, GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
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vor1 year ago
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I don't recall much of reaction to the Metro-Sexual episode where all the men began acting and dressing like gays because of watching "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" a show featuring gays who are pretty stereotypical. Much raunchier than anything you would see on "The Simpsons" and the use of the word "gay" was constant. Kyle was mocked for not being "gay enough". Kenny wore a pink suit with a fur collar. Cartman worried about an exfoliant breaking out his neck.
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All of this PC absurdity must be from the extremes. This is the way kids talk to each other. Believe it or not! Actually I would think this would be very tame. The Simpsons have long supported gays, for that group, or anyone else, to take offense at this is non-sensical. Regulating what is and isn't "free speech" is far more dangerous.
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percherondad1 year ago
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These particular words are just symbols of peoples bigotry and insensitivity. We shouldn't encourage that. We all know the epithets for all of the minorities who have come to Amercia at one time or another, spic, wop, mockie, heeb, etc. etc.... Most people have stopped using those epithets, and have at least stopped using them in public. There are only two groups currently who are fair game.... muslims, and gays. and we need to put a stop to that , because there are gay young people who are seriously hut and threatened by what some people think is harmless commonplace parlence.
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taraski61 year ago
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I am a white male. Why is it that I can turn on just about any given comedy and see everyone rippin on white people about how they talk or how they dress(just some examples) and this is funny and alright? i"ll tell you why, because we white people are not so sensitive. We think that these mild jibes are funny and entertaining. This is why we watch TV!!!
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grgjhn4301 year ago
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They are really grabbing at straws here. The more socially acceptable their lifestyle gets, The harder it is to find something to bring attention to themselves. Everyone in every walk of life and of every lifestyle choice can find something on any show if they look hard enough. I watched that episode and didn't even notice that it was said until this group pointed it out. Be careful. Bringing things like this to the publics attention will set you back. What struck me was not the fact that the Simpsons said it, but the fact that this group was offended by it. Just live your life.
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italymeetsdixie1 year ago
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Percherondad, I support the rights of the gay, lesbian, and trans-sexuals, but this America and regulating speech is never going to go anywhere. Arguing with the masses about every injustice is futile.
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We need to work on the big things and then spead outward. -
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MotiGui1 year ago
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I am white middle class, go right ahead and rip. Just remeber that the source is considered and that makes all the difference. On any electronic medium such as this, the insults are easily sent to magnetic purgatory with the flick of a mouse button - as someone else posted a few days ago.
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shaneandmeg23361 year ago
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maybe its just the fact that the middle class white people understand the fact that its a joke and not meant to be taken in the way that this has been taken. Have you ever heard the phrase "thats so white"? Its a phrase that pretty much means that you suck at what it is your doing, but whites have never asked people to stop saying this phrase, why becuase its FUNNY! Fun fun fun, where would i be without fun! People that do this completely take the FUN out of life, maybe everyone should think like white middle class americans! The world wouldnt bit*c over stupid things
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