I am trying to figure it out. I mean here is a guy, who has done a lot for Gay Rights in his home state. He’s done a lot more than just talk the talk, (see comment ‘ Bill Richardson – Who is he? ‘) and yet he made a supposed slur against Gays when he was on the Don Imus show before the guy got axed.

Richardson who has been generally supportive of LGBT issues as governor and has openly been courting the gay vote is still recovering from a gaffe that surfaced last week in which he used a Spanish word last year in a radio broadcast that has a double meaning – that many activists said was a homophobic slur. (source)

To begin with, this happened a year ago. Is it relevant today? I guess, as the guy is trying to become President. It also is important, because double talk is so rampant these days that it would be nice to find out, if it was said. Now the answer is that according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation folk, the word he used was in Spanish, and means ‘faggot’ while his definition is that the word meant ‘gay’ and not in any pro or con manner.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation says the word means “faggot” in Spanish.

In a statement this week, Richardson said that in the Spanish he grew up speaking, “the term means simply ‘gay,’ not positive or negative.” (source)

You know, I went through this personally on a webmaster board. They argued that calling someone ‘gay’ or saying that it was ‘gay’ wasn’t derogatory. However, you know, it really is, when it is said in a manner like it was used here, or in that forum. (see comment ‘What Words Mean‘)

Seems to me, in reading about the discussion, that there is no way that the term was used in a non negative manner. It had to have a negative connotation to it, otherwise why say it? It was said in response to him being accused of not being Hispanic. So he is going to reply in a neutral manner? I don’t think, and this is where I wonder, how serious of a supporter of Gay Rights is Governor Bill Richardson?

If I was to say ‘He is Gay‘ that is defining that person, so yes it is neutral there. However, if someone says to me, ‘You aren’t Jewish‘ and I respond, well you are ‘A Fagel‘ that is not defining that person nicely. By the way, ‘fagel‘ is the Yiddish slang for ‘faggot‘. So no, its not a nice word, nor in that context is being said to be nice. To me, that is no different than what the Governor did in that Imus interview.

Words , and how they are used, does matter. (see comment ‘It is not Hypothetical‘) I think the Governor understands that, which is perhaps why he has yet to accept the invitation for a ‘Gay Debate‘ on August 9th, being shown on LOGO. If he truly believes what he said isn’t derogatory, then he should attend and defend himself. That is what it means, when you want to be taken seriously.

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Bill Richardson Campaign Site