Unhappiness over gay ruling

This follows a complaint lodged by Cecil Janse van Rensburg about a regular feature on the University of Pretoria's radio station, TUKS FM, hosted by DJ Konstant de Vos, in which listeners are asked to call or SMS about whether a person's behaviour is “gay” or “ok”.

According to its statement, the BCCSA refused to uphold the complaint, saying, "the word gay was not used to refer to homosexuality, but according to widespread current usage of the word amongst young people, to a carefree attitude and unjustifiable statements."

It objects to this statement when the word gay, as a noun, is described and defined clearly in the Oxford dictionary as “a homosexual person, especially a man.”

SA GLAAD also takes issue with findings that "the broadcast was not intended to injure, that it was not malicious or mala fide" when the word usage very clearly defines the word "gay" - a word used to describe homosexuality since the 1960's - as the polar opposite of what is considered "ok, good or acceptable.”

The organisation finds it relevant to ask which dictionary the BCCSA is using, and how it arrived at this verdict, which in essence dictates that it is perfectly "okay" to use the word "gay" to describe anything negative, "not okay" and in particular "stupid"?

“We are highlighting the harm done by inferring that a person is ‘stupid', simply based on inborn characteristics such as their sexual orientation - by attempting to change the meaning of a term used to describe an entire community of people to mean ‘stupid' - or worse,” states Christina Engela, a member of the board and press and media liaison.

“Leading off this point, we would like to note that referring to people or things as ‘gay', meaning ‘stupid' should be no more or less offensive than calling people ‘black' or ‘white' to mean ‘stupid' or ‘bad'. This verdict is a very irresponsible and insensitive slap in the face to our community. This is yet another case of human rights and equality laws in South Africa not being adhered to and failing those whom they were intended to protect.”