QUOTE(Krimpet @ Wed 2nd September 2009, 10:05pm)
In general, using a word like "gay" as a noun, instead of an adjective (e.g. "a gay person") smacks of archaicness or intolerance, at least to my ears - they're no longer a "person," but "a gay." Compare "the blacks," "the Jews," etc.
I'm not sure about this. Seems like if somebody wanted to really express intolerance, they'd make it clearer by using a different set of nouns altogether, no?
My impression is that the user in question holds strong prejudices but is also to some extent biting his tongue.
But generally speaking, English speakers use adjectives as nouns all the time (ESL speakers more so but I digress). In my ears at least, to speak of Gays or Lesbians or Straights or Bisexuals or Jews or Blacks or Whites or Hispanics or Asians or Canadians or Italians or whatever seems neutral enough at face value, these after all being the generally accepted words associated therewith.
An interesting discussion along these lines can be found on
this CFD wherein the title "American Jews" was preferred over "Jewish Americans". Certainly many people (mostly Americans I think) do hesitate to use "Jew" as a noun—as if it were inherently some kind of slur—the decision to rename the category appears, to varying degrees, self-appellative.
Now obviously I'm not saying there should be a category called "American gays" (granted I'm not entirely sure we need categories intersecting nationality and sexual orientation to begin with) but if that's how
people who are both American and gay ever wish to be collectively called I couldn't see arguing against it either, not based on semantic instinct anyway.
Further one may also note that
several LGBT organizations (
PFLAG,
PLAGAL,
GLIFAA,
COLAGE, etc.) do use "gay(s)" as a noun. It would be laughable to suggest that they are wrong for naming themselves so (any more than the "United Negro College Fund" at least).
To be honest I think the use of a definite article is what's really throwing people off. If somebody says "
the gays" a typical (though possibly naïve) response might be to ask "which gays?" rather than to just assume the speaker means "well all of them, of course".