"I’m gonna do the most controversial thing in hip-hop. Ya’ll heard it first. And I’mma just show you that words don’t mean s**t. I’mma make an album called ‘I’m Gay,’ right. Now I’mma tell you why I’m the first person to do it in hip-hop and why you’re the first people to know my reasons. I’m just gonna tell you. So many people be worried about what people mean and definitions of words and s**t… Now I like women, I love women, you feel me. But within yourselves, no matter what you do, it doesn’t matter, it’s like live life. You’ve only got one life to live. Be happy. - Fuck the hate."
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, however, issued a somewhat nonsensical statement admonishing Li'l B for... I'm not sure what?
"'As a lyricist, Lil B knows that words matter,' a spokesperson for GLAAD told XXLmag.com. 'Slurs have the power to fuel intolerance. We hope that Lil B’s album title is not just a gimmick, and is really a sincere attempt to be an ally. He has the platform and the voice. We hope he uses it in a positive way.'"
Um. Is "gay" a slur now? I didn't think so. Maybe GLAAD should stop throwing three massive awards shows a year patting celebrities on the back for not being douchebags and start working on actually being relevant. Or has Gay Inc. decided that we can't use "gay" anymore?
Back2Stonewall has a video of Li'l B's announcement at the link.
[Back2Stonewall]
From what I hear (on the bus, in restaurants, coffee shops, and other public places) "gay" as in, "that's so gay," is in fact a slur.
ReplyDeleteI usually count the number of "them" (typically young men joking with each other, so my odds are not often good) and decide whether I want to introduce myself and say, "no, *I'm* gay. Whatever that was you were trying to put down, find a better word for it."
But I think you're basically right, that GLAAD isn't doing anything more than huffing and spitting because they want some attention, too. Pthththbpt.
GLAAD has a good mission, but is sadly, kind of out of touch and pretty ineffective.
ReplyDelete