Let's Chill On The Use of the Term "Gay Bashing"

Via Romenesko, someone wonders at the Washington Post web site if the New York Times' reporting on the "velvet mafia" in Republican politics is "gay bashing." Uh, no. (And I believe a search might reveal that I, myself, am an offender on this one). Gay bashing involves bricks, sticks, and...

By Bob Norman

October 16, 2006

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Via Romenesko, someone wonders at the Washington Post web site if the New York Times' reporting on the "velvet mafia" in Republican politics is "gay bashing."

Uh, no. (And I believe a search might reveal that I, myself, am an offender on this one). Gay bashing involves bricks, sticks, and other very harsh objects upside the head. This abhorrent act used to be done quite a bit. Now, thanks to wide media attention and much-needed hate crime laws, it's not that much of a problem (says the guy who isn't gay and getting his head smashed on the sidewalk). But let's not cheapen the horrendous nature of the act by calling every slight against the gay population "bashing." Kapiche?

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Journalist Bob Norman has been raking the muck of South Florida for the past 25 years. His work has led to criminal cases against corrupt politicians, the ouster of bad judges from the bench, and has garnered dozens of state, regional, and national awards.

Contact: Bob Norman