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Unfortunate usage: “The Pride Parade is great fun, isn’t it? We should have a straight pride festival”.
The Gay Pride movement grew out of a fight for the right to exist without persecution, not as a celebration. Advocating for “straight pride”, even when offered in terms of support and appreciation for Gay Pride events, causes offence.
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2. “Wheelchair-bound”
Unfortunate usage: “Kanye West told a wheelchair-bound fan to stand up at his gig…”
As Meriah Nichols on TheMighty.com points out, nobody is “bound” to wheelchair.
The wheel actually liberates the person who rides in it – it’s enabling, it’s access.
The correct term? Wheelchair user.
PA WIRE
PA WIRE
3. “Rapey”
Unfortunate usage: “Your new moustache makes your looks SO rapey”
Using rapey as an adjective for a person, place or thing is not okay. Keep rape references in context or else you risk making a serious crime trivial.
Unfortunate usage: “That new character in OITNB is so hot, I’d turn for her”
Associated Press
Associated Press
Sexuality is not a choice, so saying that you would or could “turn gay” for someone is offensive.
5. “Some of my best friends are…”
Unfortunate usage: “Some of my best friends are black”
This is a phrase often used in an argument in an attempt to claim knowledge about a particular group within society, but noting that they have friends in that particular group which therefore absolves them of homophobia or racism or similar. It doesn’t.
See also: “I’m not racist but…”
There are folks who still don't understand that if you hear "Some of my best friends are…" coming out of your mouth, it's already too late.
Unfortunate usage: “Oh I like things tidy, I’m a bit OCD”
OCD is a serious and debilitating condition which goes far beyond wanting things to be a bit neat. We all have our quirks but living with OCD can obstruct people from living their lives in a normal way.
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7. #NotAllMen
Unfortunate usage: “#NotAllMen rape you know. Don’t tar us all with the same brush”.
Dismissing an issue like violence against women perpetrated by men with a “not all men” argument does just that; it dismisses the issue, and it derails it.
Thursday 14 November, 2024
Thursday 14 November, 2024
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7 offensive sayings some people don't realise are offensive
1. “Straight pride”
Unfortunate usage: “The Pride Parade is great fun, isn’t it? We should have a straight pride festival”.
The Gay Pride movement grew out of a fight for the right to exist without persecution, not as a celebration. Advocating for “straight pride”, even when offered in terms of support and appreciation for Gay Pride events, causes offence.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
2. “Wheelchair-bound”
Unfortunate usage: “Kanye West told a wheelchair-bound fan to stand up at his gig…”
As Meriah Nichols on TheMighty.com points out, nobody is “bound” to wheelchair.
The correct term? Wheelchair user.
3. “Rapey”
Unfortunate usage: “Your new moustache makes your looks SO rapey”
Using rapey as an adjective for a person, place or thing is not okay. Keep rape references in context or else you risk making a serious crime trivial.
4. “Go gay/turn gay”
Unfortunate usage: “That new character in OITNB is so hot, I’d turn for her”
Sexuality is not a choice, so saying that you would or could “turn gay” for someone is offensive.
5. “Some of my best friends are…”
Unfortunate usage: “Some of my best friends are black”
This is a phrase often used in an argument in an attempt to claim knowledge about a particular group within society, but noting that they have friends in that particular group which therefore absolves them of homophobia or racism or similar. It doesn’t.
See also: “I’m not racist but…”
6. “OCD”
Unfortunate usage: “Oh I like things tidy, I’m a bit OCD”
OCD is a serious and debilitating condition which goes far beyond wanting things to be a bit neat. We all have our quirks but living with OCD can obstruct people from living their lives in a normal way.
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We couldn't find this Tweet
7. #NotAllMen
Unfortunate usage: “#NotAllMen rape you know. Don’t tar us all with the same brush”.
Dismissing an issue like violence against women perpetrated by men with a “not all men” argument does just that; it dismisses the issue, and it derails it.
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We couldn't find this Tweet
People are talking about ‘turning gay’ for this girl, and it’s not going down well>
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OCD offensive sayings straight pride turn gay