Gay Rights Group Upset With CBC's Use Of The Word "Pansification"
Thursday, January 29, 2009
A gay rights group, called Egale Canada, is upset with CBC's Mike Milbury for coining the term "pansification", and using it at least twice this season. The term was used by Milbury to describe the NHL's current discussion on fighting in the league, but the group doesn't seem to buy that explanation. Via Globe and Mail....
Network spokesman Jeff Keay said neither Milbury nor Cherry intended to offend homosexuals by using "pansification," a derivative of the word pansy.I've always said that if you offend anyone, you apologize and move on, but this is a little ridiculous. Sure the word was developed in Elizabethan Times to describe and effeminate male, but you also have to take into consideration the intent of the person who said it. I can't imagine that the thought of a comparison to homosexuality even crossed Milbury's mind.
"The point is, it was no way intended to be a reflection on or offensive to gay people," Keay said. "I think the colloquial use of the term was something they didn't associate with gay people. The way the language evolves over time, 20 or 30 years ago it would have been seen, reasonably enough, as a direct slur against gay people.
"But I think with usage now, I'm not sure the association is so immediate."
Kennedy wasn't buying the explanation.
"Words like pansification just further the stereotype and perpetuate the homophobic stereotype in our society," she said yesterday.
Gay group outraged by CBC's use of 'pansification' (Globe and Mail)
9 Comments:
What a group of pansies. Grow a pair.
It was always my assumption that a pansy was someone who was soft and/or cowardly. Just give this idiot his Bennigans coupon and gumball already. If I know anything about Canadian leaders, this will shut him up.
Hmmmm, gay people upset because a derivation of the word "pansy" is used to call male hockey players weak. Why would gay people be upset at the idea of a male thought of as weak or soft?
Yes, perhaps so.
Millbury has used that word on NESN on the Bruins Pregame Show as well... at least I'm pretty sure.
What's ridiculous about this is that the ones that are using stereotypes are the group representing gays.
Just dumb.
Milbury just said it during the 1st Intermission of Bruins/Devils.
RE: a 1st period fight: "These guys aren't practicing 'pansification.'"
Well then, I must admit, I never knew that pansy used to be a derogatory word for gays. Like GMoney, I always thought it just meant someone who was weak and scared.
Stupid fags.
Hmm, a gay person being emotionally out of control, in Politically Correct Canada, no less.
A shocker!