Which members of the queer community are allowed to say queer slurs? Who is allowed to say the D-word? The F-word? The T-word?
These are the hot questions on everyone’s mind after a Twitter thread on why “non lesbians” shouldn’t say dyke gained some attention on Sunday. The thread goes into the history of the slur and reasons those outside of the lesbian community shouldn’t say it.
“I will repeat, this slur origins from LACK of attraction to men AND attraction to women,” reads the thread. “The slur was created to specifically put down lesbians for their attraction and lack of attraction. This doesn’t mean it couldn’t be used against any other sexuality’s but this is the origin… The slur dyke was used to oppress lesbians for their lack of attraction to men and attraction to women, so why would a non lesbian say a slur that by definition means lesbian?”
In the replies to the thread, a Twitter user tagged Willam and Trixie Mattel, two RuPaul’s Drag Race queens who are known for using the slur. Mattel has yet to respond to the thread, but Willam replied to the user and defended their past use of the word. Check out some of Willam’s replies below:
After some back and forth with other users, Willam apologized for their use of the word and vowed to stop saying it. Along with an apology, the Star Is Born actor posted a notes app statement explaining their history with the word and why they felt comfortable saying it in the past. You can read the full statement here.
So what do you think of the controversy? Should all members of the queer community be allowed to use the lesbian slur? Should it only be reserved for gay women? What did you think of Willam’s apology? Vote in the poll below and let us know your thoughts of the touchy subject down in the comments.
Oh please, Mary. How are we supposed to keep up with the constantly changing “labels” of what is considered politically correct. I can’t with all this. I give up.
The word has been in use to describe a butch woman* for at least a century. It was “taken back” by the lesbian community in the early days of the the Gay Movement. Now if some bristle at it’s use, it would be my guess that they are ignorant of their own history.
It is just as triggering to some women as “queer” is to some men. If one gets erased, then both need to go.
*Dike was used to describe a sharp dressed man in the mid 18th century. One possible etymological path would be that it was applied to a woman that dressed “manishly”.
This PC bullshit is tiresome, they need to stop trying to erase our culture. Soni Wolf, was a mentor of mine and is rolling in her grave. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office declined to register the “Dykes on Bikes” name and logo because officials there considered “dyke” a derogatory term, she worked with a team of lawyers to win the right to use the title. Later, Dykes on Bikes filed a friend of the court brief in another group’s Supreme Court case that eventually resulted in a decision striking down the office’s power to reject names it deemed derogatory. She refused to consider dyke a dirty word to be taken offensively when used within the community. Hell if someone outside the community shouted dyke at her she would answer, “That’s Mr. Dyke to you” or “Yes I am. Can I help you?” She gave me the nickname “Dyke Tyke”, a play on fag hag, because I was the only boy working in a lesbian bar and went to all the softball games. I’m as Queer as a 3 dollar bill and according to Wendy Chapkis an Honorary Lesbian. If you call me a faggot, once I get off my knees I’m either going to give you a hug or punch you in the face.
This is the silliest nonsense I’ve heard in a long time. Chill out, all you word-police people, and learn about Lesbian and Gay culture by reading the seminal book by Lesbian pioneering writer, Judy Grahn, “Another Mother Tongue.” If anything, the moniker “dyke” is an honorific. God, the younger generation of dykes don’t know nuthing.
The word “queer” is a slur. Yes somebody else decided it is OK to label me with that word. Those same people decided we could no longer be GLBT we now had to be LGBT, (or LGBTQ). And now we’re not supposed to use the word “Dyke”. Of course they can go ahead and have a Dyke March but god forbid I as a male should be able to use that word.
Sorry, but I’m going to use the word “dyke” because for the past 30 years, it’s been perfectly OK within the gay & lesbian community to use it. If someone now has her panties in a bunch because she don’t like the word, tough titties.
Queer is BAD but Dyke is OK? Panties? Titties? Gentlemen I give you male privilege.
PS Dykes on Bikes first rode at the front of Gay Pride in 1976 so the word has been part of the common vernacular for over 40 years. Queer Nation was founded in 1990 so “queer” has been “perfectly OK” for 30 years
And the point flew over your head.
Please enlighten me on your interpretation of his point
I do not see gay and bisexual men in the poll… Again an attempt to erase gay and bisexual men and replace them with the disgusting term queer. Well, at least change your motto to queer. Sex. Life. Otherwise you lie and deceive. And, you probably already understand why I will never spend a penny on something advertised on an anti-gay site like yours.
This is the most absurd thing to complain about. People are dying in droves daily and THIS is what you choose to fight about? Newsflash: gay men don’t go around screaming dyke this and dyke that. In fact the only time we actually say it is when those bad ass bitches on bikes come roaring through. We applaud them and thank them. It’s because of them we know the parade has started. Time for another drink. Relax. It ain’t that serious.
They have been using label Dykes on Bikes for years. No one complained about it for years, so why now? And gay men have been calling each other some kind of derogatory name in jest or affectionately for just as long. If they’re saying it amongst friends, they shouldn’t complain when others do the same.
One of the stupidest questions I’ve heard. Lesbians have been known to call their gay brothers “faggots”. If they use derogatory names, they better be prepared for the same. It goes with the territory.
Preach Anonymous!!! totally agree.