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-{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes|expiry=March 19, 2009}}
-{{Otheruses|Faggot}}
-[[File:2008-09-27 Fagbug in Durham.jpg|thumb|A [[Volkswagen New Beetle|Volkswagen Beetle ("Bug")]] owner in response to ''fag'' [[graffiti]] spray-painted on her car christened it "The [[Fagbug]]" and embarked on a trans-[[United States|American]] [[road trip]] to raise awareness of [[homophobia]] and [[LGBT rights]] that was documented in a film of the same name.<ref name=vanity>{{cite web |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/online/style/2009/01/fagbug.html#comments |title=The Heartwarming Story of Fagbug |last=Berk |first=Brett |date=January 8, 2009 |publisher=''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]'' |accessdate=July 1, 2009}}</ref><ref name=oscar>{{cite web |url=http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/current/archive/2007/12/19/driven-by-desire-and-her-fag-bug.aspx |title=Driven to Spread Awareness |last=Raymundo |first=Oscar |date=December 19, 2007 |publisher=[[Newsweek]]|accessdate=December 13, 2008}}</ref>]]
-'''''Faggot''''', often shortened to '''''fag''''', is a [[pejorative]] term and common [[homophobic]] slur against [[lesbian]], [[gay]], [[bisexual]], and [[transgender]] ([[LGBT]]) people, and is English [[slang]]. Its pejorative use has spread from the United States to varying extents elsewhere in the English-speaking world through mass culture including movies, music and Internet.
-The term has additional meanings in British English, where "faggot" traditionally means a [[Faggot (wood)|bundle of sticks]] and [[faggot (food)|faggots]] are a kind of [[meatball]].<ref>{{cite news
-|title=The Dangers Of Bad Teeth
-|date=Jan 06, 1914
-|page=2
-|newspaper=[http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/keywordsearch.arc?queryKeywords=The+Dangers+Of+Bad+Teeth The Times]
-|ref=CS34669094
-|quote=A 'faggot' was described as being composed of pieces of meat, with fat and gristle in it. A verdict of 'Death from natural causes' was returned.
-}}</ref> In British English, "fag" is common slang for a [[cigarette]] or for hard work. In some UK [[independent school (UK)|public schools]], [[fagging]] was the name given to the practice where a younger boy (a "fag") acted as an unpaid servant for an older boy.
-==Etymology==
-The word meaning "bundle of sticks" is ultimately derived, via [[Old French]] and [[Italian language|Italian]] from [[Latin]] ''fascis'' (also the origin of the word ''[[fascism]]'').<ref name=etymonline>{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=faggot |title=The Online Etymological Dictionary |publisher=Etymonline |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref> The origins of the word as an offensive epithet for homosexuals are, however, rather obscure, although the word has been used in English since the late 16th century to mean "old or unpleasant woman," and the modern use may derive from this.<ref> Morton (2005: 319); [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=faggot The Online Etymological Dictionary]</ref> Female terms, it should be noted, are often used with reference to homosexual or effeminate men (cf. ''nancy'', ''[[Sissy#Pejorative|sissy]]'', ''[[queen (gay slang)|queen]]''). The application of the term to old women is possibly a shortening of the term "faggot-gatherer", applied in the 19th century to people, especially older widows, who made a meagre living by gathering and selling firewood.<ref>Morton (2005: 319)</ref> It may also derive from the sense of "something awkward to be carried" (compare the use of the word "baggage" as a pejorative term for old people in general).<ref name=etymonline/>
-It is sometimes claimed that the modern slang meaning developed from the standard meaning of "faggot" as "bundle of sticks for burning," presumably with reference to [[Execution by burning|burning at the stake]].<ref name=etymonline/> This is, however, unlikely to be the case,<ref name=etymonline/> and there is no tradition of burning at the stake being used as a punishment for homosexuality in Britain,<ref name=autogenerated1> Morton, Mark (2005) ''Dirty Words: The Story of Sex Talk'' London: Atlantic Books: 309-323; see also: [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=faggot The Online Etymological Dictionary].</ref> although supposed [[Witchcraft|witches]] and [[heresy|heretics]] were burnt to death in many parts of Europe, and were often accused of homosexual behaviour.<ref>Federici, Silvia. Caliban and the Witch. Autonomedia: Brooklyn, 2004. Pg 192, 197</ref>
-The [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]] word ''faygele'', lit. "little bird", is also claimed by some as an explanation for the modern use of "faggot." The similarity between the two words makes it a reasonable possibility that it might at least have had a reinforcing effect.<ref name=autogenerated1/>
-An obsolete reference to faggot from 17th century Britain refers to a "man hired into military service simply to fill out the ranks at [[muster (military)|muster]]."<ref name=etymonline/>
-==Use in Britain==
-Originally confined to the United States,<ref name=etymonline/> the homosexual sense of "fag" and "faggot" has varied outside the context of imported US popular culture. Instead, "[[queer]]", "[[homo]]" or the British term "[[poof]]" still exist as perjorative terms for gay men, particularly among heterosexual youth. However, "fag" and "faggot" still has other meanings in the British Isles and other Commonwealth societies, which have limited adoption of the American usage there.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}
-Use of ''fag'' and ''faggot'' as the term for an effeminate man has become understood as an [[Americanism]] in [[British English]], primarily due to entertainment media use in [[film]]s and [[television series]] imported from the United States. When Labour MP [[Bob Marshall-Andrews]] was overheard supposedly using the word in a bad-tempered informal exchange with a straight colleague in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] lobby in November 2005, it was considered to be homophobic abuse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/news/2005/mpsfaggotabusedisgraceful.aspx |title=MP's 'faggot' abuse 'disgraceful' |publisher=LGBTGreens |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071014224030/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/10/nblair110.xml|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/10/nblair110.xml|archivedate=2007-10-14|title=Panic and a punch-up as Blair tumbles to defeat at the hands of his own party|author=Helm, Toby|coauthors=Jones, George|date=11 November 2005|accessdate=2009-11-21|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>
-==Earliest printed use==
-The earliest known reference to the word with the pejorative meaning in print was in the 1914 Jackson and Hellyer ''A Vocabulary of Criminal Slang, with Some Examples of Common Usages'' which listed the following example under the word, [[drag (clothing)|drag]]: <ref>Wilton, David / Brunetti, Ivan. [http://books.google.com/books?id=pCADvlnbHFQC&pg=PA176&lpg=PA176&dq=%22All+the+fagots+(sissies)+will+be+dressed+in+drag+at+the+ball+tonight.%22&source=bl&ots=Sq0gmd5INd&sig=rmjiZdYGJRzadAacKQsiCrD1P0A&hl=en&ei=5p33Sum4Ksql8Ab30N3zCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBQQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22All%20the%20fagots%20(sissies)%20will%20be%20dressed%20in%20drag%20at%20the%20ball%20tonight.%22&f=false ''Word myths: debunking linguistic urban legends''] Oxford University Press US, 2004. Page 176. ISBN 0195172841, 9780195172843</ref>
-:"''All the fagots (sissies) will be dressed in drag at the ball tonight.''"
-The word was also used by a character in [[Claude McKay]]’s 1928 novel ''Home to Harlem'', indicating that it was used during the [[Harlem Renaissance]]. Specifically, one character says that he can't understand:
-:"''a [[Dyke (slang)|bulldyking]] woman and a faggoty man''"
-==Usage in popular culture==
-[[Image:BenPhelps.JPG|thumb|Benjamin Phelps, [[Fred Phelps]]' grandson and creator of the first "GodHatesFags" webpage, is also from the [[Westboro Baptist Church]] which regularly employ [[picketing (protest)|picket signs]] such as these using ''fag'' as [[epithet]]s. The cited Bible verse [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] 9:13 does not mention ''fag'' or homosexuality.<ref> ''The Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament: Volume 1'' (1992), Warren W. Wiersbe, David C. Cook, ISBN 1564760308, 9781564760302</ref>]]
-There is a long history of using of using both ''fag'' and ''faggot'' in popular culture, usually to denigrate [[lesbian]], [[gay]], [[bisexual]], [[transgender]], ([[LGBT]]) people. [[Rob Epstein]] and [[Jeffrey Friedman (filmmaker)|Jeffrey Friedman]]'s 1995 documentary ''[[The Celluloid Closet]]'', based on [[Vito Russo]]'s book of the same name notes the use of ''fag'' and ''faggot'' throughout Hollywood film history.<ref> ''[[The Celluloid Closet]]''; (1995) [[Rob Epstein]] and [[Jeffrey Friedman (filmmaker)|Jeffrey Friedman]].</ref> The [[Think Before You Speak (campaign)]] has sought to stop ''fag'' and ''gay'' being used as generic insults.<ref> [http://abcnews.go.com/m/screen?id=7328091&pid=26 'That's So Gay': Words That Can Kill] Susan Donaldson James, ''ABC News'', 20 April 2009.</ref>
-; '''In film:'''
-The character of Michael in [[Mart Crowley]]'s 1968 play and 1970 film ''[[The Boys in the Band]]'' has dialogue that includes "Believe it or not, there was a time in my life when I didn't go around announcing I was a faggot"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=69536&category=Quotes |title="The Boys in the Band" (1970) Quotes |publisher=Turner Classic Movies |date=12 November 2009 |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref> and "Not all faggots bump themselves off at the end of the story."<ref>{{cite web|last=Rich |first=Frank |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=352548 |title=The Moviegoer The Boys in the Band opens at the Astor today |publisher=The Harvard Crimson |date=March 18, 1970 |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref> In the 1969 film ''[[Midnight Cowboy]]'', Ratso ([[Dustin Hoffman]]) criticizes the cowboy persona adapted by Joe ([[Jon Voight]]) as "faggot stuff."<ref>[http://www.advocate.com/40/bp_seminalstories.asp "Seminal Stories," The Advocate]</ref> [[Leonard Frey]] played the character "Laurence Faggot" in the 1970 comedy film ''[[The Magic Christian]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/5500/magic-christian-the/ |title=The Magic Christian |publisher=DVD Talk |date=January 21, 2002 |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref> In the 1974 film ''[[Blazing Saddles]]'', [[Slim Pickens]]' character berates his laborers by declaring: "I hired you people to try to get a little track laid, not to jump around like a bunch of Kansas City faggots."<ref> [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071230/quotes "Blazing Saddles (1974)-Memorable quotes," Internet Movie Database]</ref> That dialogue inspired the name of a [[Texas]]-based band called The Kansas City Faggots.<ref>{{cite web|last=Welsh |first=Suz |url=http://thesub-rosa.blogspot.com/2007/08/dancin-around-with-bunch-of-kansas-city_08.html |title=Dancing with a Bunch of Kansas City Faggots |publisher=The Sub-Rosa |date=August 8, 2007 |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>
-; '''In theater:'''
-In 1973 a [[broadway musical]] called "The Faggot" was praised by critics but condemned by gay liberation proponents.<ref>{{cite news |title=US unisex: continuing the trend
-|date=Aug 04, 1973 |page=7 |newspaper= [http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/keywordsearch.arc?queryKeywords=US+unisex:+continuing+the+trend The Times] |ref=CS118061316 |author=Clive Barnes |quote=The theme of The Faggot is set at the beginning which shows ... one man picking up another in a movie house.}}</ref>
-; '''In books and magazines:'''
-[[Larry Kramer]]'s 1978 novel, ''[[Faggots]]'', discusses the [[gay community]] including the use of the word within and towards the community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=faKCFSlFbKkC |title=Faggots |author=Larry Kramer |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref> In its November 2002 issue, the ''[[New Oxford Review]]'', a [[Catholic]] magazine, caused controversy by its use and defense of the word in an editorial. During the correspondence between the editors and a gay reader, the editors clarified that they would only use the word to describe a "practicing homosexual". They defended the use of the word, saying that it was important to preserve the social stigma of gays and lesbians.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.cityofgod.net/courage-seattle/belgau-nor.htm |title=Sodom & the City of God |publisher=Cityofgod.net |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref>
-; '''In music:'''
-The [[Dire Straits]] 1985 song [[Money for Nothing (song)|"Money for Nothing"]] makes notable use of the epithet "faggot",<ref> [http://www.seattleweekly.com/2008-07-02/music/mark-knopfler-a-bigger-gay-icon-than-george-michael/  Mark Knopfler a Bigger Gay Icon Than George Michael? Ten reasons why.] Mike Sealy, ''Seattle Weekly'', July 01, 2008.</ref> although the lines containing it are often excised for radio play, and in live performances by singer/songwriter [[Mark Knopfler]]. In 1989, [[Sebastian Bach]], lead singer of the band [[Skid Row (heavy metal band)|Skid Row]], created a controversy when he wore a t-shirt with the [[Raid (insecticide)|parody]] slogan "Aids: Kills Fags Dead".<ref>Michael Musto. [http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0022,musto,15284,15.html "La Dolce Musto"], village voice, 2000.</ref> The 2001 song "[[American Triangle]]" by [[Elton John]] and [[Bernie Taupin]] uses the phrase ''God hates fags where we come from.''. The song is about [[Matthew Shephard]], a gay man who was killed in [[Wyoming]] for the fact he was gay.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/recount/article/95/ |work=[http://journalism.nyu.edu/pubzone/recount/] |title=Rewriting the Motives Behind Matthew Shepard’s Murder|accessdate=2009-11-23|date=December 08, 2004}}</ref> The 2007 song ''The Bible Says'', which includes the line "God Hates Fags" (sometimes used as an alternate title) caused considerable controversy when it was published on various websites. Apparently an anti-gay song written and performed by an [[ex-gay]] pastor "[[Donnie Davies]]", it was accompanied by the realistic Love God's Way website about his "ministry". Debate ensued about whether Donnie Davies and the outrageous song, which included a few [[double-entendres]], were for real, and whether the lyrics could ever be considered acceptable even in satire. Donnie Davies was revealed in 2007 to be a character played by actor and entertainer. Some [[gay rights]] advocates acknowledge that as a spoof it is humorous, but claim the message behind it is still as malicious as someone who seriously possessed the opinion.<ref name="Washington Blade"> {{cite web | title = The Latest! | date = 29 January, 2007 | url =http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=11101 | publisher = The Washington Blade | accessdate = 2007-02-02}} </ref><ref name="Dan Savage"> {{cite web | title = Dan Savage, "Slog" | url =http://www.thestranger.com/blog/2007/01/donnie_davies_third_times_the_charm | publisher =  The Stranger | date = 28 January 2007 | accessdate = 2007-02-02}} </ref><ref name="Philadelphia Weekly"> {{cite web | title = One Big Conn: When Viral Marketing Misses Its Mark | date = 31 January 2007 | url =http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=13936 | publisher = Philadelphia Weekly| accessdate = 2007-02-02}} </ref> In December 2007,
-[[BBC Radio 1]] caused controversy by editing the word "faggot" from their broadcasts of the [[Kirsty MacColl]] & [[The Pogues]] song "[[Fairytale of New York]]," deeming it potentially homophobic, however the edit did not extend to other BBC stations, such as [[BBC Radio 2]]. Following widespread criticism and pressure from listeners, the decision was reversed and the original unedited version of the song was reinstated, with clarification from Andy Parfitt, the station controller, that in the context of the song the lyrics had no "negative intent."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7149525.stm |title=Radio 1 censors Pogues' Fairytale |publisher=BBC News |date=18 December 2007 |accessdate= 2009-11-22}}</ref><ref> Times Online - [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article "Radio 1 reverses decision to censor Pogues hit"3071042.ece]</ref>
-; '''On television and newsmedia:'''
-In 1995, former [[United States House of Representatives|House]] [[House Majority Leader|Majority Leader]] [[Dick Armey]] referred to [[closeted|openly]] gay congressman [[Barney Frank]] as "Barney Fag" in a press interview.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/power_plays/2002/03/mean.html|title=The Masters of Mean|date=1 March 2002}}</ref> Armey apologized and said it was "a slip of the tongue". Frank did not accept Armey's explanation, saying "I turned to my own expert, my mother, who reports that in 59 years of marriage, no one ever introduced her as Elsie Fag."<ref>{{Citation| last =Rich| first =Frank| author-link =Frank Rich | title =Journal; Closet Clout | newspaper =[[The New York Times]]| date= February 2, 1995| url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE6DF113AF931A35751C0A963958260}}</ref> In July 2006 conservative [[pundit (politics)|pundit]] [[Ann Coulter]], while being interviewed by [[MSNBC]]'s [[Chris Matthews]], said that the former U.S. Vice President [[Al Gore]] was a "total fag", and suggested that former U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] may be a "[[latent homosexual]]".<ref> [http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid35054.asp "When hate speech becomes accepted"] [[The Advocate]].</ref> Coulter caused a major controversy in the LGBT community; [[GLAAD]] and other [[gay rights]] organizations demanded to know the reason why such an offensive usage of the word was permitted by the network. In October 2006, ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' star [[Isaiah Washington]] called his co-star [[T.R. Knight]] a "faggot" on the set during an argument with [[Patrick Dempsey]]. According to Knight, the incident led to him publicly coming out of the closet.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nudd |first=Tim |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20008737,00.html |title=Isaiah Washington's Slur Made Me Come Out - Grey's Anatomy, Isaiah Washington |publisher=People |date=17 January 2007 |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref> Washington made another outburst using the epithet, this time backstage at the [[Golden Globe Awards]]. In January 2007, Washington issued a public apology for using the word "faggot" and went into [[Anger management|rehab]] to help him with what the show's creator [[Shonda Rimes]] referred to as "his behavioral issues."<ref> [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=4ee83ebf-86dd-494c-a015-fd9bdf5f78e2 E! News - Isaiah Enters Treatment - Isaiah Washington | T.R. Knight | Patrick Dempsey<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=November 2009}}</ref> In March 2007 Coulter again created controversy when she made an [[off-color]] joke: "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate [[John Edwards]], but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word "faggot," so I'm kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards ..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256418,00.html |title=John Edwards Hopes to Raise 'Coulter Cash' After Commentator's 'Faggot' Comment - Politics &#124; Republican Party &#124; Democratic Party &#124; Political Spectrum |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=4 March 2007 |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://youtube.com/watch?v=uxgVuB3TyaU&mode=related&search= |title=Broadcast Yourself |publisher=YouTube |accessdate=2009-11-22}}</ref> Her comments using the "f-word" triggered a campaign by a gay rights group and media watchdog to persuade mainstream media outlets to ban her shows and appearances.
-In  November 2009 "[[The F Word (South Park)|The F Word]]", a ''[[South Park (season 13)|South Park]]'' episode aired dealing with the overuse of the word ''fag'', along with its history and how it evolved from a 16th century slang meaning "old or unpleasant woman" to a [[homophobic]] slur into a general insult commonly used amongst American youth.<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=South Park episode guide | url = http://www.southparkstudios.com/guide/1312/ |work= |publisher=South Park Studios | date=2009-11-02 | accessdate=2009-11-02 }}</ref> The four lead characters, all young boys, assert that the meaning remains an insult but refers to [[Harley]] motorcyclists and convince the town to officially change the meaning which is kept despite criticism from the rest of the nation.<ref>{{cite web | first = Michael A. | last = Jones | date=November 06, 2009 | url = http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/should_south_park_get_away_with_using_the_f-word
-| title = Should South Park Get Away with Using the F-Word? | publisher = GayRights.Change.org | accessdate = 2009-11-18 }} </ref><ref name="avclub">{{cite news | author = Genevieve Koski | date = November 4, 2009 | title = The F Word | url = http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-f-word,35013/ | work = The A.V. Club
-| accessdate = 2009-11-07}} </ref><ref name="glaad">{{cite web | date = November 05, 2009 | title = GLAAD protests 'South Park' f-bomb episode | url = http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/11/glaad-protests-south-park-fbomb-episode.html
-| work = James Hibberd's The Live Feed | accessdate = 2009-11-07}} </ref>
-==See also==
-{{Wiktionary|faggot}}
-* [[Breeder (slang)|Breeder]]
-* [[Fag hag]]
-* [[Fag stag]]
-* [[Hate mail]]
-* [[Hate speech]]
-* [[Homosexuality]]
-==References==
-{{reflist|2}}
-==External links==
-{{Wiktionary|faggot}}
-* [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfaggot.html How did "faggot" get to mean "male homosexual"?] on [[The Straight Dope]].
-{{LGBT slang}}
-{{DEFAULTSORT:Faggot (Slang)}}
-[[Category:LGBT terms]]
-[[Category:Profanity]]
-[[Category:Pejorative terms for people]]
-[[Category:Reclaimed words]]
-[[de:Schwuchtel]]
-[[es:Maricón]]
-[[fr:Pédé]]
-[[gd:Gille-tòine]]
-[[ru:Пидор]]
-[[simple:Faggot]]