So-called “minister of Twitter” Tau Henare has today taken to the social networking platform to criticise a teacher who wants to ban using the word gay in a derogatory manner.
“I see in the DomPost there is a story that using the word gay is derogatory & hurtful & you not to use it at WHS. what a gay story.” Mr Henare tweeted this morning.
Warren Bowers, who is a teacher with a masters degree on homosexuality in education told The Dominion Post that too many New Zealand children use ‘gay’ as a negative colloquial term, and that teachers tend to ignore it.
Since posting his thoughts, Mr Henare has been widely criticised by members of the public, with one user saying it was a homophobic slur.
Twitter user @reedfleming said “With homophobic slurs like that, your account is becoming more like a parody by the day, except you really ARE that pig headed!”
Nicola Wood tweeted to Mr Henare “I find it offensive. It’s just like someone saying “That’s so Maori” to say something’s bad – would you be offended by that?”
Richard Girvan tweeted Mr Henare to tell him it was “very derogatory and offensive and contributes to a pervasive homophobic culture in this country.”
Mr Henare thought Mr Girvan’s comments were “bullshit”.
He then went on to say users who criticised him needed to get over it, calling one a liar, and tweeting to another “You think too much of yourself.”
Media commentator Russell Brown has also weighed in, advising Mr Henare that “when a voter politely takes issue with something you say, your first response should not be to insult them and call them a liar” .
Mr Henare insists the word should not be banned, but seen in context.
“[It] depends on the context. And therein lies the danger of banning words. You shouldn’t and you wont.”
3 News