Debate: Should people use the word "Gay" as a derogatory adjective?
Side: yes, its not hurting any body.

Sure, I'll try answering as well as I can."Would you explain to me, and all other participants of this debate, why homosexuals are adversely affected by terms that denote their sexual preference, yet heterosexuals do not exhibit the same adverse reactions by terms that denote their sexual preference?"When does anyone use a word denoting heterosexuality to mean something negative? I guess I just don't understand this one. Maybe if you fill me in I can give a better answer.The terms that are descriptive or definitive (denotation or connotation) of both hetero-sexual behavior and homo-sexual behavior do not confer negativity. Any negativity that is conferred by the use of those terms is conferred only by the intent of the speaker. The terms themselves can not bare the burden of both a definition and an insult. (Pardon the compressed statements!)I think we both can agree that the issue at hand is not a matter that is resolved by word meaning. The issue we are attempting to address is more appropriately resolved by not investigating the terms themselves, but rather by addressing the intent of the person using the terms. And as a consequence of such, my judgment is that homosexuals should care not about the usage of the word ‘gay’, but should rather care about the intent of the speaker. Premises: The term ‘gay’ is not derogatory. Only the intent of the speaker is derogatory when the term gay is used outside its meaning. Yet, if someone does use the term outside of its meaning we cannot universally infer that derogation is intended.My answer to my questions: Some homosexuals are easily offended by the illiterate usage of the term ‘gay’. Heterosexuals are not offended by the illiterate usage of terms that definitively denote their sexual behavior."Furthermore, would you also explain why heterosexuals must modify their mannerisms to be more acceptable of gays, yet homosexuals do not modify their mannerisms to be more acceptable of heterosexuals?"I didn't realize that there was an issue with homosexuals being unaccepting of heterosexuals. If there is such a problem, then homosexuals should definitely be courteous and accepting towards heterosexuals as well. If I said anything to suggest otherwise, then I was mistaken. Did I say anything like that?If you did assert anything that is similar to my question I am unaware of it. My request was spurred by my curiosity and assessment of your level-headed arguments. The questions of gay-marriage and gay-adoption seem to be issues that are nearly irreconcilable. The gays want the straights to allow gay-adoption and gay-marriage, yet the gays will not accept the nature of heterosexuals that precludes their ability to accept gay-such and such. The underlying problem as evidenced by this is briefly summarized by affirming: Gays are accepting of heterosexuals until they can no longer accept the consequences of the heterosexual nature which negatively impacts the wishes of the gay populace. Yet, the heterosexual is the only party at fault."If blondes can learn to accept the use of “Blond” as a derogatory term, then why are homosexuals incapable of accepting ‘gay’ as a derogatory term; and as a consequence of such, the heterosexual is asked to refrain from using the term ‘gay’ as a derogatory term?"I think you have a very strong point here. Assuming Homosexuality is as genetic as Blondness, why should gays have more trouble having their name associated with stupidity than blonds? I think the answer might be that gays have been systematically oppressed throughout much of history (many gays targeted in the holocaust, killed as sinners by religious fundamentalists, etc.), while blonds have not been discriminated against as a group to such an extent.Sure, Blonds have been the butt of jokes for a while, but they're also typically White, and therefore members of a group that has historically been pretty dominant. I guess it seems to me that being joked about doesn't quite compare to being persecuted by Nazis and the like. Maybe that's why it's easier for them to accept it than it is for gays?Having previously affirmed my position on the term ‘gay’ as a non-derogatory term, I want to address this question through the category of humor.Blonde gays can readily laugh at blond jokes, but blond gays cannot readily laugh at gay jokes. As a culture, we accept the oftentimes very humorous jokes about dumb-blonds, but it is a taboo to consider the humor of gay-jokes. If gays can learn to laugh at themselves concerning blond-jokes, then gays can too learn to laugh at themselves concerning gay-jokes. FTW, I don’t dislike gays because they are gay, I dislike the inconsistency and hypocrisy that is regularly associated with gay desires. The same is true when the parties are heterosexual.