I posted the other day about rapper Azealia Banks, and it seems the controversy has caused her record label to drop her. Some might see that as a positive outcome and enough, but not me. THe linked story from Queerty details the ongoing issue.

In spite of, or may because of, the tweeting tumult, Azealia’s feathers remain unruffled: “Really not as moved by this f word thing as u all want me to be. As a bisexual person I knew what I meant when I used that word. And I meant what I meant when I used that word. You human beings have bigger life problems then what I think about some played out gossip dude…..”

Perhaps as queer people, we still have such a reaction to the word “faggot,” that the real issue is glossed over. Most troubling to me, and missing from the Queerty story is any outrage for telling others they should kill themselves.

Things got heated between Banks and Hilton over the weekend after the gossip queen said Banks’ “attention-seeking ways are pathetic and hurtful”, prompting the 21-year-old Harlem native to call Hilton a “messy faggot” who “should just kill yourself.”

I really doubt that this was the first time Hilton has been called a faggot, and I am sure he has a pretty thick skin- he has been pissing people off for years, and has received no shortage of backlash. But telling someone they should kill themselves is way over the line. As far too many queer and disenfranchised youth commit suicide, why is it that such comments go unchecked?  Perhaps not unchecked. We don’t know exactly why the label dropped her. But there really is more to this story.

Supposedly Azealia Banks is a bisexual, recognized by GLAAD:

GLAAD commends all those who bravely stepped out of the closet this year. Each liberating announcement is crucial in decreasing the stigma still attached to being LGBT. We also recognize the courage of Azealia Banks (rapper),

But even GLAAD got too caught pup in the word faggot, to speak out against the calls for violence, and in my opinion, this is a real disgrace.

If you don’t like my word, “supposedly,” let me explain. I’m wondering what got Hilton into a tizzy in the first place about Banks? For someone who was heralded as “decreasing the stigma still attached to being LGBT,” is this really the way someone who is LGBT would act, even towards a low-life gossip guy? If anyone ought to be sensitive to the dangerous and hurtful words, “kill yourself.” you would expect someone who has come out to understand.

Music and performing artists serve as role models for our youth, and rap especially strikes a note for today’s youth. For an “out” artist whose words have great meaning to youth to show so little respect for life, and so easily tell someone they should be dead is unacceptable.

Azealia Banks Reportedly Loses Record Deal Over Perez Hilton Twitter Feud / Queerty.