Misappropriating the Language

Some folks are not happy with the way the homosexual community has misappropriated their name:

Three islanders from Lesbos—home of the ancient poet Sappho, who praised love between women—have taken a gay rights group to court for using the word lesbian in its name.

One of the plaintiffs said Wednesday that the name of the association, Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, "insults the identity" of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians.

"My sister can't say she is a Lesbian," said Dimitris Lambrou. "Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos," he said.

"Lesbian" is not the only word that has an unwelcome makeover. "Gay" used to mean happy and was quite often used in song lyrics:

"Don we now our gay apparel" (Deck the Halls - this is now often sung as "bright" instead of "gay)

"The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home
'Tis summer, the people are gay;" (My Old Kentucky Home - the Kentucky state song - not that there's anything wrong with that )

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away." (Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas)

That part of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas has had to be rewritten. You now usually hear it like this:

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide bright,
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight."

Substituting "gay" for "homosexual" just sounds to me like somebody is trying to overcompensate for something. Given that they always seem to be complaining about something, maybe they should have gone with "cranky" instead of "gay".


Mark Steyn suggests that the folks in Gay, MI will be watching this lawsuit very carefully.