Ralph, his children, his church, and everyone he knows, are homophobic (they disagree with homosexuality [how can you disagree with a noun?], think it's morally wrong, and say so publicly). The DJ may or may not be, and probably shouldn't have been fired. [disclosure - i know nothing about this incident or these people other than the two letters transcribed below] "Lesbian," in and of itself, is not a hate word or an insult. The intent of the speaker and the impact on the target are what's important.
I was just today reading something about this - "it's never a matter of how you're being insulted as much why you think you are. Mention, say, "sexless anoraks," chances are people either recognize it doesn't apply to them and ignore it, or...they get insulted. You know? The [insult] is only insulting if it's agreed upon by both [parties] that it's insulting." Is she fat? Is she a lesbian? Mentioning true facts is not hate- speech. [BTW - Rosie O'Donnell has said that she noticed that "fat" is always the first in whatever long line of insults someone is using on her, I find that interesting] Sorry for the longs post, just some thoughts I had to share. --- In [email protected], "Ellen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Oops that was supposed to be "a radio DJ in Boston WAS FIRED > because..." Here is the letter he is replying to: > Power of words (and radio stations) > November 8, 2006 > > I AGREE that John DePetro is rude and, in Grace Ross's words, "wildly > inappropriate" ("Talk host gets snidely personal, then gets hook," > City & Region, Nov. 3). Still, after reading about what was reported > as a "derogatory remark," I was surprised to find out later that one > of the words he had used for Ross was accurate: lesbian. > > I am a lesbian. I am also a Jew. I love these words. To me they speak > of pride and identity. I also love the words black and white. They > keep me honest about who I am. Yet often when I use them in my > classroom, that is, when I refer to myself as white or another person > as black, students cringe. > > In a society where many are disadvantaged by virtue of an aspect of > their identity, words become weapons, and what should inspire pride > in an individual becomes a badge of shame. > > DePetro revealed homophobia on his WRKO show by linking his disdain > for Ross to her sexuality, and for that he was rightfully fired. But > let's not follow his lead. If lesbian -- or Muslim, Jew, black, or > Latino -- become slurs, he wins and bigotry rules. These are > beautiful words; let's use them well. > > > > > --- In [email protected], "Ellen" > <ellengoodman6@> wrote: > > > > A radio DJ in Boston because he called the MA Green Party > > gubernatorial candidate a "fat lesbian." Here is one Boston Globe > > reader's reaction to this incident: > > > > Fired for homophobia? That's fascism > > November 16, 2006 > > > > WHILE I agree that John DePetro went too far in his comments on > Grace > > Ross, what disturbs me more is Gina Fried's Nov. 8 letter, "Power > of > > words (and radio stations)," in which she wrote that DePetro "was > > rightfully fired" for revealing homophobia on his WRKO talk show. > > > > Since when should people be punished for being homophobic (assuming > > the word means that one disagrees with homosexuality, thinks it's > > morally wrong, and says so publicly)? Using that definition I am > > homophobic and proud of it. My church is homophobic; my children > are > > homophobic; everyone I know is homophobic. So what? To say that we > > should all be punished for our beliefs is the worst kind of > fascism. > > It's un-American. > > > > Heaven help us if the world of Gina Fried ever becomes a reality. > > > > RALPH FILICCHIA > > Watertown > > > > > > I will post separately the letter to which he is replying; I don't > > recall reading it so I will have to find it. > > >
