My Kinda Gay-Basher
In that 1977 Oui interview Mickey Kaus dug up, Arnold uses the word "fag" with all the animosity of somebody describing "that guy in the blue car":
"Recently I posed for a gay magazine, which caused much comment. But it doesn't bother me. Gay people are fighting the same kind of stereotyping that bodybuilders are: People have certain misconceptions about them just as they do about us. Well, I have absolutely no hang-ups about the fag business; though it may bother some bodybuilders, it doesn't bother me at all."
The fact that Arnold comes off, in this interview, as the antithesis of somebody who hates (or even feels uncomfortable about) homosexuals -- and remember, this is 1977!! -- doesn't stop a handful of idiots from using the interview as a platform for painting Arnold as some gay-slurring regressive. Luckily, we have Matt Welch (yet another talented Los Angeles writer and thinker you can't read in The LA Times) to set the record straight:
So for Schwarzenegger -- his sport's top athlete -- to defend gays against unjust stereotyping 26 years ago, is far more remarkable than the fact he used a word that was not, at the time, widely considered to be "a vulgar epithet," as Los Angeles Times columnist Tim Rutten recently described it (without using the actual word).Yet the news stories about the Oui article were filled with "fag"-bashing. "In an interview with an adult magazine 26 years ago," the Washington Post wrote, in a typical lead, "actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, now the leading Republican candidate in California's recall election, described participating in an orgy, said he smoked marijuana and referred to gay men as 'fags.' "
Other reporters and columnists openly doubted Arnold's tolerance, for example in the San Jose Mercury News: "He also said he harboured no prejudices against gays, although he referred to them as 'fags.' "
Meanwhile, on the Web, such bloggers as Robert Garcia Tagorda (boomshock.blogspot.com) were digging up 10-year-old articles about Schwarzenegger's involvement with various gay-rights groups, such as Hollywood Supports. And the candidate continued to profess support for gay adoption and civil unions, unpopular positions in the state and (especially) national Republican parties.
Also realizing that English is not Arnie's first language, and remembering that his command of the language in 77 wasn't what it is now, it's entirely possible that he heard the word among the metalheads in the gym being passed around freely and didn't realize it was considered offensive.
We also have to realize, too, that we use the word in our own speech. A woman who hangs out with gays -- Tammy Faye Messner -- is often called a "fag hag." A certain genre of theatre, comedy about homosexuality, is known as "fag humor," and I know some gays who refer to each other as "fags" and "queers."
Personally, I'm against all uses of the term and don't think being homosexual gives me some kind of special privilege of calling someone a fag, but taking offense when a straight person calls me that. If it's offensive to one, it's offensive to all.
And I feel the same way about the word "nigger." I don't feel black people should call each other that, all the while taking offense should a white person use it.
I remember once, when I was in the army, I was up early to use the gym on a Saturday morning and waiting in line outside a gym. There must have been at least twenty of us in line, but by strange coincidence, I was the only white person I could see in the line, but I was toward the end, and probably didn't see everyone.
Finally, when the doors opened, we began the tedious process of presenting our military IDs and started to sign in. Then someone behind me (a black person) said, "Sign de books, nigguhs!" and the line erupted in laughter.
I wasn't even faintly amused. Had I said that, regardless of my intent, I would have been met with hostility. But apparently, it's okay for black people to call each other an offensive term.
No, it isn't.
Patrick at September 7, 2003 6:52 AM
Context is everything with these words. "Fag" is sort of campy, familiar, affectionate, etc, if it's coming from someone who isn't hostile to gay guys. I love how Arnold's talks about "the fag business"! Some nights when I'm out there peddling my jiggly white ass, that's exactly how it feels.
Lena Cuisina at September 7, 2003 7:48 AM
Amy -- Thanks for the heads-up to that fantastic Matt Welch piece. Is he a fag? Lena
Lena Cuisina at September 7, 2003 12:16 PM
No, but he's very handsome.
Amy Alkon at September 7, 2003 1:46 PM
To each his own. I think "homosexual" or "gay" is fine. "Lesbian" also works for me. But I won't use "fag" because the term is intended to be offensive per the dictionary. I guess I'm going to have to agree to disagree with Lena and Amy on this one.
Patrick at September 7, 2003 1:51 PM
Patrick -- Fag or no fag, we love you anyway. So you like the word "homosexual"? You probably know that some people are on a crusade against it, claiming that's its clinical tone harkens back to the days when homosexuality was conceptualized as a form of male hysteria. Of course, I think it's fine. Clinical is kind of hot... lab coats... latex gloves... ooh la la...
Lena Cuisina at September 7, 2003 2:44 PM
The use of the word "Fag" seems to be innocent enough. I agree with the consensus here. I'm sure he'd never use it nowadays. In Australia, they use "fag" for a cigarette...I think it might be a cultural thing in some areas. Perhaps that's what he was told to say.
Besides, I would never hold someone accountable for something they said over twenty years ago. I'm sure everyone says stuff when they're young and stupid that they later regret. Still being young and stupid, I just have to speculate on that.
zambonigirl at September 8, 2003 9:27 AM
There's a consensus here? What are you agreeing with? I don't agree that fag is ever appropriate, unless you're giving a textbook explanation of examples of hate speech.
I can't imagine that it would be acceptable for me to call a black person a nigger, regardless of how affectionately I might mean it. Anyone remember Marge Schott and her reference to her "million dollar niggers" and her insistence that she meant it affectionately? Marge, SCHOTT UP!
Patrick at September 8, 2003 5:41 PM
Assuming you're white, Patrick, and given the history of race relations in the U.S., I'd definitely agree with you that it's not acceptable for you to use the word "nigger." And I must admit that I'd feel uncomfortable if a lot of heterosexual people walked around casually talking about fags. It might not be hate speech, but it does seem incredibly insensitive and sloppy. And, as a fag, I HATE SLOPPY!
Lena Cuisina at September 9, 2003 6:55 AM