The following is from www.GLAADBlog.org:
WWE Chairman Uses “G” Word on National Television
August 26, 2009 by Ted Rybka, GLAAD’s Director of Sports Media
On the most recent episode of WWE/RAW, which airs Mondays on the USA Network, Vince McMahon belittled a pair of Cirque du Soleil performers’ outfits by saying, “Those masks are really gay.”
McMahon is the Chairman of the Board of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
The episode included a birthday celebration for McMahon that included Vegas showgirls and the aforementioned Cirque du Soleil performers. As the performers bounced into the wrestling ring on springboard-type stilts, McMahon utters, “Those masks are really gay,” and later, “Just what every man wants on his birthday.”
McMahon here wasn’t implying the performers were gay, however, he used the term in a derogatory manner. It’s just another example of how people throw around the word “gay” derisively.
This came from the leader of a $500 million-plus organization who holds a lot of power in what he says and what he does.
The WWE’s website states, “WWE is committed to family-friendly, PG content across all of its platforms including television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing.” However, off-handedly using “gay” in a derogatory manner is anything but family-friendly.
WWE programming reaches 16 million viewers each week. McMahon needs to understand that the words he uses and how he uses them can greatly affect people’s lives.
GLAAD is reaching out to McMahon and the USA Network.
