this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2023
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Is it offensive to say someone 'became' gay? (self.asktheworld)
submitted 1 year ago by SeahorseTreble to c/[email protected]
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From what I've read, gay people were born with the predisposition to eventually find out they're gay (usually), and gay people don't 'become' gay. They might come out or start engaging in related behaviours.

Watching a Quebec series from 2014 called Serie Noire, one of the characters complains that his girlfriend has become a lesbian, after he finds out she's cheating on him with a woman. He remarks multiple times about how he's distraught that she has become a lesbian and it's probably played for comedic effect. Of course the issue shouldn't be that she's a lesbian (or bisexual) but rather that she's cheating on him and isn't interested in him, but he also calls it "becoming" a lesbian, describing it as a somewhat random event/decision rather than a reveal about his partner.

Just wondering, would this be considered offensive today? Thanks

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago

I think the writers are using that kind of language to show the personality of that character. He doesn't want to admit (or can't see/believe) his girlfriend left him because he was a bad partner, and so explains it by saying she became a lesbian. By doing this he absolves himself of any blame, fault, or responsibility for the relationship failing.