By KRISTIN BEAL
The Gateway, U. Nebraska-Omaha
UWire – “Dude, I love you guys. No homo.”
As I was walking across campus the other day, I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation between a few guys. They were talking, laughing and discussing how excited they were to have an upcoming class together. Then I heard the aforementioned phrase.
Seriously?
Maybe I’m not as informed as everyone else, but that was the first time I’d ever heard someone declare “no homo” after a statement. So I did the natural thing and Googled it.
Apparently it stems from the early ’90s rap scene, where it entered the hip-hop lexicon thanks to rappers like Cam’ron. It became more mainstream in songs with the help of Lil’ Wayne.
Nowadays, it’s commonly uttered by people (usually men) all over the place, including some men on this very campus. As soon as I took note of the phrase, I began hearing it in more and more places. My own brother admitted it’s a common statement in his high school. When I asked him why that was, he responded, “It’s just something everyone says.”
I have only one question then.
Why?
Why is it necessary for a guy to say, “No homo!” after he says something that may have given a homosexual impression? Assuming the person you’re talking with knows you well and is your friend, why would they need clarification that something you just said was not meant in a homosexual context?
I just don’t get it. A YouTuber I ran across in my online research by the name of Tessa Violet makes a very good point. It’s not like when I’m rubbing my dog’s belly I say, “Boo, you’re just the cutest little thing. No bestiality.” Isn’t that something that is just implied?
Maybe there’s some macho, testosterone-fueled aspect at play here. Perhaps some guys are afraid that declaring something that could be misconstrued as homosexual somehow diminishes their manliness. Cue the “No homo.”
And I would just like to digress for a moment and point out here that a gay male is still a man. It’s not like he magically transforms into a woman or anything. I know homosexual men that are superior athletes, eat mountains of food, watch SportsCenter and do whatever else falls under the definition of being a “manly” man.
Whether it’s insecurity or just a derogatory pop-culture phrase that’s being mindlessly tacked onto a sentence, I just don’t like “No homo.” It baffles me.
Telling someone you’re familiar with that you love him or her shouldn’t need clarification. Based on your already acknowledged relationship, it should be obvious what kind of love you’re exclaiming. Plus, you don’t see gay couples walking around telling their significant other “I love you. No hetero.” That just sounds stupid, because their relationship is obviously not of that nature and it needs no clarification.
In addition, “No homo” is terribly offensive. It has a homophobic ring to it, almost like it is derived from a fear of being associated with homosexuals.
So, next time you find yourself about to utter “No homo!” just think about why you’re saying it. What exactly are you afraid will happen if you don’t? Will your reputation be corrupted forever if you don’t add those two little words?
Will you “defend your manliness” and let your homophobia and insecurities get in the way? If you decide to say “No homo,” just remember this article. If it doesn’t make any sense in the context of your conversation, then don’t waste your breath.
Simple as that.