Perez Hilton Defends Use of Gay Slur

Perez Hilton is openly and happily gay. And he feels that he has every right to use gay slurs in order to defend himself and to inflict harm on others. Who's to argue with that approach? Well, GLAAD, for one. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has demanded an apology from Hilton, who says that one will not be forthcoming.

Hilton explained, "I wish none of it had happened. I can't take it back. I did what I thought was best at the moment to stand up for myself in a nonviolent yet still assertive way. Clearly, I am not homophobic. Also, I am not nor have I ever claimed to be a spokesperson for the gay community."

You really have to respect his position, even if you don't entirely agree with it. Members of minority groups use the most hurtful racial and ethnic terms to demean members of their own groups - as well as others who don't even belong to those groups. Slurs, in our society, have become non-violent weapons of choice, although they often end up inciting violence, as GLAAD correctly points out.

The altercation at the center of this controversy occurred at a late-night Toronto club when will.i.am apparently confronted Hilton about some comments made about the Black Eyed Peas on Hilton's blog. Some sort of exchange occurred between members of the Peas' entourage and Hilton and the blogger eventually called will.i.am the gay slur.