Well, hardly. But it's a contribution. Ish.
Basically one of my acquaintances (let's call him Rob) decided it would be funny to write on one of my straight female friend's arm (we'll call her Anne) "I LOVE GAY SEX ♥ :)" And she seemed initially upset about it. But she didn't take offence about it once she'd washed it off.
But anyway, I got really offended by it. I was like, 'what a prat, writing something like that without thinking who it might offend.' And I really wasn't sure what I should've done. So I spoke to India, and she told me that I should basically go and tell him that next time he should think about who he offends before he does stuff like that; I shouldn't get the teachers involved (I'd seen our Deputy Director of Sixth Form whizz past and thought maybe I should point it out to her, just so they know that homophobic bullying is still an issue, even this high up in the school). But I was all worried about him not taking me seriously. He's kinda like the guy who you expect to just pretend he's sorry and go away and do exactly the same thing again.
So I decided that I would do both, and that's exactly what I did. I went and spoke to the Dep. head of sixth form and said that this had happened, and while the majority of people don't take offence at that sort of stuff, I most certainly do, but I don't want to name names, cos I've sorted it out with the guy involved, and he's apologised (I hadn't yet), but I just wanted to bring it to your attention.
Or words to that effect.
And then I found him coming out of a lesson and I pulled him over and I said "Rob; about what you wrote on Anne's arm." "Yeah," he says slowly. "'I am a short little naughty girl.'" "The other arm," I tell him. "'I love Gay Sex.'." "Yeah, that one. Please don't do it again. I'm sure Anne didn't take offence at it, but I can guarantee you that there are people who do, and I'm one of them. So next time, think about what you write before you write it."
And I walked off, a little grumpy.
He runs after me "LIAM! LIAM!" and I turn around.
"I'm really sorry, I just didn't think. I only meant it as a joke. I didn't mean to offend you at all. I'm just so used to having a laugh about it with other people in my family who are gay, I just didn't think."
I just looked at him, really coldly and said "Clearly. And just because there are people in your family who are gay doesn't mean that every other gay person in the world will react the same way as them, so use your fucking brain every once in a while." And I just left him standing there.
I didn't tell him that I went to the teacher.
Did I do the right thing? Should I have just gone straight to the teacher? Or taken it up straight away with Rob? Or not done anything?
On the plus side, there's now another person who knows I'm gay :D
xxx
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