here is the context of his comments: http://www.bostonist.com/archives/2006/11/05/since_when_did_john_depet ro_become_a_beauty_critic_anyway.php
He didn't simply say "Grace Ross is a fat lesbian." --- In [email protected], "lovett1979" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > 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" > <ellengoodman6@> 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. > > > > > >
