"That's so Gay" Comment Launches Obligatory Lawsuit

I know I've said that on a playground or two in my time, and I'm sure many of us have said that or something equally as ignorant in our younger years. It's a dumb phrase that used to have no real meaning. Alas, lest not a single word be uttered without somebody getting offended. And when they do, it's up to somebody in charge to embrace a shiny new "zero tolerance" policy and take unreasonable actions. Case in point:

In a 2002 incident at Maria Carillo High in Santa Rosa, CA, Rebeka Rice responded with that very statement after some classmates, who were questioning her being a Mormon, proposed the question- "Do you have ten moms?" Ah the innocence of childhood inquiries.

Rice then landed in the principal's office with a warning and notation in her (use deep scary voice with echo effect) permanent record. This in turned caused her parents to respond with a lawsuit claiming that the school had violated their daughter's First Amendment rights. What a surprise.

Hypocrite alert: The other students were not disciplined for criticizing her religion as a Mormon.

Last week Rice, now 18, testified about the 2002 incident. She informed the court that the phrase means "That's so stupid, that's so silly, that's so dumb." "That's so gay" has never been used to reference anyone's sexual orientation, that'd be so gay.

School officials claim they responded properly on their strict stand against discrimination against gays. Last year the school had to deal with a couple of morons who where paid to go all "Matthew Sheppard" on a fellow student. School officials failed to say where they stand on "yo mama so fat" jokes since the students of fat mothers have yet to come forward.

Rice's parents are fighting to have Rebeka's record cleared of the incident and are seeking unspecified damages. Superior Court Judge Elaine Rushing will issue her ruling in April. A gag order prevents the two sides from discussing the case.

Over time certain words have evolved and taken on new meanings. "ghetto", "queer" and "nigger" have all gone through this. Whether you're offended by this or not would depend on you and your own personal convictions. It also depends on how big a deal the media wish to make of it. This by no means gives everyone a free First Amendment pass though- we've got to employ common sense too. When its people like Isaiah Washington- sure, go ahead and freak out. You're allowed to. His actions warranted it. But is it really fair to prosecute for common everyday banter?

You PC lunatics are soooo dead!

Sources:
Associated Press, "'That's so gay' comment leads to lawsuit" Fox News
URL: http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/0228sogay28-ON.html

Leo Morris, "Razzle dazzle", The News Sentinel
URL: http://blogs.fortwayne.com/opening_arguments/2007/03/razzle_dazzle.html

Lisa Leff, "Lawsuit Raises Questions About Putdown" Guardian Unlimited
URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6447822,00.html