Well "society" in Canada doesn't view us negatively. Gay Marriage has been allowed in Ontario since 2003, and nationwide since 2005. Gays in the military have been allowed since 1992. In 1986 sexual orientation was added to the Ontario Human Rights Code as prohibited ground for discrimination, and to the federal list in 1996.
I live in Ontario, the quickest of our provinces to adopt gay rights. Everyone I meet (even in the small town(s) I used to live in) has no problem with me being gay and sees it as a non-issue. Many schools around where I grew up even include discussion on sexuality in early Sex-Ed classes as young as grade 6 (sex-ed starts in grade 5).
Yet despite all this "that's so gay" is still used. I have yet to hear a single person use it towards an actual gay person. Teenagers use it on each other yes, but when one of them does/wears/says something stereotypically gay, by saying "that's so gay" which in and of itself is somewhat true based on what the media shows people "gay" is, making its use on people (at least where I'm from) even more harmless than its use on objects.
I also disagree with your point that they were likely saying the porcelain chef LOOKED gay. No offence but thats kind of ridiculous.
And as I've stated (ad nauseum) the reason I see sissy as offensive and gay as not, is because sissy is used offensively TOWARD gay people, where gay is not (save for your experience in hearing it used as such, but where I'm from I've never heard that)
As far as stereotype that's where all insults/derogatory terms come from. We use stereotypes to insult a demographic because we're too lazy to think of insults for each individual.
And no, in my posts sissy is being used with one definition "1. an effeminate boy or man" whereas gay has the double-meaning of "homosexual", or "stupid"
And if society didn't look negatively on those who were "lame" once upon a time that word would have never became a synonym for stupid. But we seem to be okay with this one for some strange reason.
But seeing as there's clearly no changing anyone's mind, if you want to think "that's so gay " is homophobic go ahead. I'll look at gay bashings, executions and imprisonment in the middle east, and USA's clear lack of equality rights for gays as homophobia. Too bad nobody makes commercials about those.
Ta-ta
