Is "pansy" a homophobic slur?

[QC]

Poll question: Is "pansy" a homophobic slur?

One of the school board members in Panama City (where I live) was quoted as saying that he was terrified during the incident (as anyone would be) thought he is not a "pansy."

Do you believe that this remark qualifies as homophobic?

[GodlessBiker]

1. I've seen it used here.

[Taverner]

2. Holy Ancient Slur Batman!

Yes it is, but it hasn't been used widely since the fifties

[MineralMan]

3. It is, unless you're referring to the flower.

I've always considered it a slur when applied to people.

[Ozymanithrax]

4. Only if you are not talking about the flower (spelled pansey)

Pansy Parkinson (one of 'arry Potter's school mates), http://www.flickr.com/photos/confetta/sets/72157604133138186/">The Pansy Craze (which is a historical reference), or some other legitimate use of he word.

(http://ishouldbelaughing.blogspot.com/2009/10/lgbt-history-month-pansy-craze.html)

[MineralMan]

9. Actually, the flower is spelled pansy, too, most often.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansy

[Ozymanithrax]

11. Dictionarily true. n/t

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Yes, from W-A-Y back.

Hell, my Grandfather's generation used that one.

[dave29]

6. yup.

learned that the hard way: ignorance until corrected. Felt like a jack-wagon. (Not sure if that is a slur of any variety yet)

[guruoo]

7. I always believed it was used to cast a person as being 'weak', 'wimpy', 'submissive', etc.

on edit: Whether used in homophobia or not, it is still a slur nonetheless.


merriam-webster:

Definition of PANSY
1
: a garden plant (Viola wittrockiana) derived chiefly from the hybridization of the European Johnny-jump-up (Viola tricolor) with other wild violets; also : its flower
2
a usually disparaging : a weak or effeminate man or boy b usually disparaging : a male homosexual


The Online Slang Dictionary:
pansy

* weakling; wimp.

You are such a pansy.

by Khristy, AR, USA, Jan 14 2000 (Edit definition)
* a wuss, weak, 'gay', a word used to insalt a person. Also panzi.

That kid is such a Panzi

by Sara, FL, USA, Oct 17 2002 (Edit definition)
* a male scared to do anything that a male, or in extreme cases female, would normally do with ease (see also wuss).

He is such a pansy.

by david w., Acworth, GA, USA, Feb 20 2003

http://onlineslangdictionary.com/definition+of/pansy

[Mnemosyne]

8. I had a friend named Pansy; she used her middle name until HS. Then there are these guys:

Pansy Division! Awesome punkers!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1256531/

But yes, generally it has always been used as a slur by assholes.

[pgodbold]

10. If he has to tell you he's not a pansy I suspect he is in full bloom. nt

[PoliticAverse]

12. Pansy?

http://www.pansydivision.com/Pansy_Division/Home.html

[Uben]

13. You can call me Pansy if you like..........

...just don't call me for a donation!

Where I grew up, "pansy" meant a slacker, light-weight, weakling and I never considered it to mean anything homophobic. Lord knows there's enough slurs for that.

[Mike 03]

14. Trying to be completely objective, as a writer who loves colorful words, Yes, I

had to vote that the use of the word Pansy qualifies as anti-gay, and it is one of a handful of words that I would never use again after having been awakened by my experience here on DU.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. The context matters, but most of the time yes

[Smarmie Doofus]

16. I'll skip this one altogether.

I would've said "yes" a couple years ago. But words change... gradually. Meanings shift over time.

Could be that in his head, "pansy" means a person who is delicate , easily frightened, panicky. That *was* the way we were typed.

I'm not sure that's the case anymore.

Like old age and "sissies", homosexuality is "not for pansies".

Everybody knows that by now.... don't they?