Making homophobia cool again

Gay-bashing and fag jokes seem to be making a comeback. Is the tide of political correctitude finally receding?

Polite society has overtly shunned homophobia for at least a quarter century now, but apparently if you really really despise someone, well, it’s OK to call them a fag.

I’ve noted this tendency before. How do intelligent people like Colbert and others justify queer slurs to get an easy laugh? It’s enough to put me off watching their stuff, and if they’re doing it and their audience finds it amusing, then maybe we haven’t made the kind of progress these past few decades that we thought.

That ultimate bastion of mainstream liberalism, the New York Times, is now in on the gay-bashing.

Oh, look how clever we are!… we called out Trump and Putin as gay lovers!!! Aren’t we just sooo witty!

Well no, you’re not, actually.

Do you seriously think garbage like this hurts Trump or Putin? No, but it helps make life more difficult for innumerable young people who may be struggling with their identity. They’ve got more than enough on their plates without the NYT legitimizing their ostracization.

What’s next?

Perhaps the n-word will make a comeback?