It used to offend me, but now I just don't care. I say it on impulse sometimes, but I usually just replace the word 'gay' with 'lame'. When me and my friend hang out sometimes we say 'That's so hetero!' as a joke. It's not really an insult to the heterosexuals, but it's still funny.

Yes and I correct people. It's used in a way usually that is condescending towards homesexual people. I've never seen it used in an neutral or positive content.

I love how your friend gives it back to them!.

I have homosexual friends that don't get bothered by the saying "That is gay", they use it sometimes too. I think your friend is just sensitive, but you should still respect them and not use the term if it upsets them. It is silly to fight with a friend over something like the use of a word.

Also:
I have to disagree slightly, although it is not really related to racism, it can be offensive to some people. Christmas is originally about Christ being born, so replacing the "Christ" in the word may offend some Christians. It's sort of like some people being happy to get presents and such, but they fail to reconise how Christmas came to be.
((Sorry if that got a little off topic, I just thought I should point it out.))

So, using that logic, only Christians should celebrate Christmas?

That's not even taking into account that the Christians stole the holiday fair and square from the Pagans, right?

All of that, however, is beside the point. Saying "x-mas" and making a few people upset is not the same as insulting an entire group of people by making their title synonymous with negative words and connotations.

I don't think that "wow, that's so gay" means the same as homosexual. I think it just means it's stupid. I don't know why people get offended at that, my ex boyfriend who is gay would do the same thing.

It does offend me, and whenever I hear someone use the word gay in a degratory manner it just show their IQ rivals my shoe size; and mind you I have small feet.

People could say "That's aweful." "That's crap." Etc, but no, most of those jerkfaces have to go out of their way and say the word that nowdays describes homosexuals.

You don't have to be overly logical to realise that when you hate something and you call it gay, you also pretty much state that you hate gays.

I have mixed feelings about the use of the word "gay".
Having lived with two bisexual LGBT advocates for a year, any semblance of using "gay" to mean stupid was squashed out of my system.
I know there are people with delicate sensibilities, and quite frankly, anyone who gets offended by a word must really have nothing else wrong in their life.
However, there are many members of the LGBT community who feel that using the word gay in a derogatory sense is just as bad as calling someone by the n-word (everyone knows what I mean), or saying any one of the generally agreed upon "explicit words" (being the f-word, the b-word that rhymes with itch, the s-word, etc. etc.). That's just how some of them view it.
The argument given to me by my two roommates is that as long as people spread ignorance and hate with the derogatory use of the word, then they wouldn't gain acceptance in the overall society. Something like that.

We are not getting offended by a word sweetie, you can call me gay all you want I'd just smile and nod my head. However, if that word is used in a degratory sentence that's where the problem arises. There's an incredible difference between saying "I'm gay." and "Holy shit, what the hell is wrong with the weather, it's so effing gay!"

And words piss off people daily, how would you feel if someone called you a cunt? You'd be offended, does that mean you have nothing else wrong with your life? I doubt so.

I think I might have worded my answer weirdly, I'm talking about when people latch on to single words that offend them (usually these words are quite mild, for example, one lady who was shopping at the grocery store got wildly offended when the cashier said he had a brain fart). Also, calling the weather gay, and calling someone "an effing gay" are two different things. I don't personally like when people refer to the weather in this fashion, but the statement in itself is not derogatory to the person. I don't really like the use of the word gay in describing something as being stupid, but grammatically speaking, the meaning of the word changes from being about a group of people to describing something in another fashion. The word gay has gone through many evolutions. We don't see the words lesbian, transvestite, or transexual being used as a word with double meaning, they only have one meaning.
I am aware using words in a derogatory fashion DO offend, such as, in your last example, if someone were to call me a cunt. I don't get offended much, though; I am more deeply hurt when someone wold describe my flaws in detail rather than glossing them over with a single, overused word.

Well, even though 'gay' meant something else BEFORE it became a universally homosexual term, it isn't right to use the term on a level where it means 'stupid' or anything else involving negativity.
Think about the way you are using the term - have you said it in a negative or positive way? This may be the reason why he's offended - because you are using a term that describes his way of life in a negative way.
Either way, I wouldn't use the term 'gay' in front of him. He may believe that you are subconsiously not accepting his choice to like other men. I'd just talk to him - these issues are pretty sensitive.

What does 'gay' describe now and days? What is the main definition? People are trying to justify this, how have you tell me the MAIN fucking definition now and days? I don't give a fuck about 30 years ago. I want to know what it means today! Let me help you out. It means homosexuals. "We will not allow gay marriage between the same sex people." Isnt that how society defines gay? Well. If it is okay to say "Well thats gay" then I should be able to walk around this site and say things such as "Goddamn nigger weather is pissing me off right now." "Wow, that cloud is such a spic. It keeps raining" "My dog is being a cross-eyed rice picker. He is really pissing me off" and there shouldnt be a single fucking report against me. If you can use a term use to identify a group of people to describe something. I should be able to use: Nigger, cracker, white trash, cross-eyed rice picker, spic, gringo, rag heads etc.. and there should not be a single person offended. When in reality it will offend someone. So to be fair to everyone why not be more constructive with your descriptiveness. unless of course you are a racist conceited person who doesnt care about anyone but themselves. Continue using it.