FAGGOTDYKEQUEERLEZZIE This week has been declared by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network as No Name-Calling Week, a week to ponder the impact of words and to review anti-bullying strategies, not just for kids and students but for everyone. We, ourselves, have been taken to task for our flip and casual use of certain slang – perhaps rightly so, perhaps overreaction. Personally, I (Kate) identify as “queer” and “dyke” way before I get around to the word “lesbian,” and I have a good idea that it offends some folks. Ownership and reappropriation of language is something in which I strongly believe but is an argument for another day (or a long blog post). For now, consider the power of what we say and the implication behind it. The network hosts a website (www.nonamecallingweek.org) loaded with some powerful info and food for thought. See the Gay Place Blog, austinchronicle.com/gayplaceblog, for more.
This article appears in January 30 • 2009.