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Pittsburgh blogger, Sue Kerr has written , in my opinion, a really wonderful post about local station KDKA’s coverage of the recent Larry Johnson/Twitter slur issue. She writes:

My objection is primarily is that this slur was about homophobia.  Johnson dropped the bombs because it is socially acceptable to use that language in a derogatory way.  Derogatory is also what has happened to the term homosexual which has been coopted by the wingnuts to marginalize and reduce our community to our sexuality, rather than integrate us based on our humanity.  We talk about anti-Semitic slurs, racist slurs, sexist slurs, etc.  In doing so, we recognize that that slur itself is rooted in intolerance, oppression and fear, not the identity of the target. Its the beliefs of the one who slurs.  It is Mr. Johnson’s lack of respect for homosexuals (and the rest of us in the LGBTQ community) that motivated/permitted the f-bomb, not the fact that we exist. (Emphasis added by me)

Right on Sue!

Sue and I have had some exchanges about words, meaning and the importance of how and why we choose the words that we do, and I really value the work she is doing here. As Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people continue to seek full equality, there will be greater visibility for both the GLBTQ communities issues as well as visibility for the homophobia and resistance out there. I think this is an important role that bloggers can play by highlighting and dialoguing about how more traditional media as well as new media portray this growing public discourse. Read her entire post by following the link below.

Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents :: “Homosexual”: Sometimes you just have to have a conversation.