[MaggieL]

Originally posted by dhamsaic

You would not, for example, hear me speaking anything like that to impressionable minds.

All minds are impressionable. And they're not divided into neat little compartments by impervious walls.

I understand (and agree with!) most of what you're saying; all I'm saying is that it does not fit the position that I am currently in...
Some of my better friends growing up were African American. I can't say that I still keep in touch with those people...
Like I said, I use "fag" mostly on my sister or Paul - because they understand that to me, it doesn't mean "homosexual male", never has and never will.

You can't honestly claim to have laundered the word of that meaning, either in your friend's minds or your own. Examine what you say you mean by that word (that special personal meaning that has nothing to do with "homosexual male"), and then why you use that word to express that meaning. "It sounds funny" isn't a complete explanation, it shirks off *why* you think that word "sounds funny", and the dissonance behind it that provokes you to laughter.

I really do understand what you're saying, and I really do agree with it. I'm not even saying it doesn't apply to me - it does. But I've engineered myself a situation where I can speak freely with a select few and not worry about that.

"I'm not saying it doesn't apply to me...execpt in this little pocket of immunity I've created for myself." Well, congratulations on yout true tolerance and self-percieved immunity. But I think you're kidding yourself. Your "some of my best friends" speech fails to convince, no matter how many times you repeat it.

Gay people themselves aren't immune from homophobia; internalized homophobia is one of the biggest emotional challenges facing many queer folk today. If they struggle with it, how can you claim to be free of it just because you're wearing a "some of my best friends.." button?