#offensive term

Pseudo means fake, so I'm assuming someone who is gay but is considered fake somehow‽ If someone identifies that way, am I a cop to police and fiscalize it‽

Anyways, I'm not sure what you're referring to. Once I answered a question about being half gay (semigay). Not sure if I ever mentioned quasihomosexual. And I believe turigirls and pluralians are welcome to reclaim it.

Beautiful by any name

For the past week, Michigan has been basking in what we once called - and are still tempted to call  - “Indian summer.”

That term is now considered offensive. The American Meteorological Society would like to see it go the way of Chief Wahoo, along with many other “Indian” names and mascots. The Washington Redskins, for example.

The AMS suggests, as an alternative name for the nearly summer-like weather that comes after October’s first hard frost in northern climes, the depressingly vanilla “second summer.”

As for why “Indian summer” is considered derogatory, one theory is that, in the beginning, it meant “false summer” - am implication that Native Americans were deceitful. Think “Indian giver” - another big no-no.

By any name, a beautiful day

If I didn't know any better, I would say that a beautiful Indian summer day descended, out of the blue, upon our patch of earth Tuesday.

After a string of wet days and low temperatures in the 30s, Monday's sunny 77 degrees was a balm for our rain-weary souls.

But I can't call it "Indian summer." The term is now considered offensive because originally it meant “false summer” - an implication that Native Americans were deceitful, as in “Indian giver." (How ironic, given the U.S. Government's history of broken treaties with the Natives).

The American Meteorological Society suggests that we refer to summer-like weather that comes after October’s first hard frost in northern climes as “second summer.” Depressingly bland.

I’m of an age where when I was a kid, queer was a slur and a negative term. So for me personally? I sometimes struggle to accept it as a positive word or a label that someone would like to use for themselves but I am also aware that words can change their meanings and be used for positivity. For me personally? Queer isn’t a word I use lightly and I wouldn’t drop it in casual conversation because I know the negative affect it can have on people but I am old school... 

When I was growing up in the North of England in the 90′s and 2000′s, if someone called you queer it meant you were something weird and negative. I am bisexual and people have thrown that word at me and my LGBT+ friends as a slur, meant to hurt people. But I am also aware that some people have chosen to reclaim that label now to describe a wide range of sexuality or gender identities and they’re free to do so if they feel comfortable with it.

You didn’t use the word with hate in your heart so I wouldn’t stress about it friend. Education is important, so I think learning about the word and both the negative and positive connotations to it can be a good thing. You can just say you didn’t say it with malice and that you didn’t know? And that if they’d like to educate you on why that word hurt them or someone they know that you’d like to understand better. You don’t have to come out to anyone to simply ask questions :)