Have you ever been walking through the halls of BTMS, scurrying to get from your 4th period class to your 5th? As you’re walking into class you hear students yelling from down the hall about something that’s “so gay”.  Maybe you just brush it off. Perhaps you snicker to yourself, finding the high pitched voice they said it in to be quite funny. It’s quite a funny thing in 2023, usually used between friends as a joke and is said hundreds of times a day. But when does this become too much? When do the words turn from friendly to malicious?

“Where does the F-slur come from?” -Anonymous

The F-slur originates in the early 1900’s. It had originally meant feminine but it took a dark turn when people started using it to speak about Gay men and Lesbian women. Long before this, in the 1500’s the word meant kindling, the reason it began to be used as a word to describe the LGBTQIA+ community was because if it was found out that someone was gay they would be burned at the stake and used as kindling. The history of homophobia goes back far longer than most would expect, it has gone on for too long and it’s about time that we advance past the medieval times. Don’t be homophobic kiddos.

“When is it appropriate to say the f-slur?” -Anonymous

While saying the F-slur is not very cool, some people do have the right to say it. Similar to the N-word it is only okay to be said by certain people. People of the LGBTQ+ community have been reclaiming the word, instead of using it to harm people they use it to empower themselves and others.

“When was the F-slur used most throughout history?” -Anonymous

The F-slur has been used a lot throughout history and has led to so many different problems. Many people even say that the f-slur is equivalent to the N-word.

“What are passes and can you use them?” -Anonymous

In short terms, it is never okay to say anything like the F-slur or N-word. With or without a “pass” it is never okay. Passes are when a person of a certain race that has a specific slur that is often used to describe them tells another person (of a different race) that it is okay for them to say the word. Passes hold no power, the one person who gives a pass does not speak for everyone within the community.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but these words really hurt me.

Some other resources you can use to continue your education on this matter are;

1. The Fa-Word: An Insulting Slur in the Spotlight
2. Is it ever OK to say the word ‘fag’?