"Freethought" = Gay?

[jkizer]

The secular student group at my university uses the word "Freethought" in its name. When mentioning my membership in that group, I've had several people (including my best friend, an atheist, and another close friend, a Christian) tell me that, because of the word "Freethought," it sounded like "a gay club." Maybe I'm missing out on something obvious here, but...how the hell do you get "gay" from "freethought?" Has anyone else had a similar experience? Can anyone explain it?

[Loren Pechtel]

Anything not on the straight and narrow must be all the various evils!

[trunks2k]

Sure they didn't mean "gay" as a negative descriptor? I's a pretty popular words nowadays to describe something that is unlikeable. Like, "Those clothes are so gay"

[jkizer]

Originally posted by trunks2k
Sure they didn't mean "gay" as a negative descriptor? I's a pretty popular words nowadays to describe something that is unlikeable. Like, "Those clothes are so gay"

Hadn't even thought of that...although my best friend followed up his initial assessment with, "Yeah, you probably meet every week and have lots of gay sex," and my other close friend was pretty clear in her usage of the word...but that might explain some of the other cases. Thanks for the reminder.

[Enlighten Me]

It sounds as if they misconstrue "freethought" to mean "open to alternative lifestyles, including homosexuality." I would say they are simply ignorant about the real purpose of the club, and fortunate to be able to learn about it from you!

[Doctor X]

jkizer:

Maybe they have noticed you wear highheels and hang around in "fern bars?"

--J.D.

P.S. Belated welcome to the forums!

P.P.S. As the Enlightened Lady states, too many people conflate opinions they do not agree with. I am a bit surprised that your friend thinks it refers to "gay." Perhaps some homosexual/lesbian groups use "freethought" in their name, but I am unaware of it.

[Carlos]

Someone who was not aware that "freethought" is associated with secularism could interpret it literally and think it means open to different ideas. The presumption could be that those ideas are not well accepted by the public at large. So, think of some idea that is not well received, take the opposite stance - that could be "freethought."

Gays and lesbians have far greater visibility as a group than do non-theists. While most people in a university environment are aware of the G&L community and the issues that are important to them, many have never met a non-theist or realized that we too associate as a group and have similar concerns.

[The Other Michael]

freethought = libertine men and scarlet women?

cheers,
Michael

[Godless Dave]

free thought = free love?

(If only)

[Rhea]

Never ceases to amaze me how incredibly narrow and ininformed one can make one's world if one just hugs jesus hard enough.

[veniceboy]

I've never heard "freethought" equated with "gay". It's pretty funny though. I think it is more a reflection on where college students' minds think about- any club someone would want to join not involving sports must be some kind of sex thing!