No homo
Encyclopedia
The phrase no homo is a slang
term. It parenthetically
asserts that the (male) speaker of such is not homosexual and is usually used after an utterance that may have given that impression.
slang of the early 1990s. It was used by many to distance themselves from the stereotype of closeted
gay and bisexual men.
In 2011, The Lonely Island
made a parody of the expression with their song "No Homo
". The song begins with standard usage of the term and expands to be said after more and more blatantly homosexual statements such as "I've been thinking about fucking a dude/No homo!"
commentator Marc Lamont Hill
encouraged the hip-hop community to stop using no homo in its music. At the same time, Slate
columnist Jonah Weiner suggested the use of the phrase is somewhat more complex. Weiner notes several hip hop artists — such as Cam'ron and Lil Wayne — cultivate an extravagant and camp
public persona
while embracing homophobia thus saying no homo can help expand established concepts of masculinity
, and challenge the status quo
. Nick Catucci, writing for New York
magazine, disagrees with this assessment. In his view, no homo is merely another form of gay bashing
, and to a large extent is used simply because it "just sounds good," and is easily applicable in rhymes. A rapper like Cam'ron, Catucci argues, will use the phrase, and dress in pink, simply to show that he is man enough to get away with it, without being suspected of being gay.
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term. It parenthetically
Parenthesis (rhetoric)
In rhetoric, a parenthesis is an explanatory or qualifying word, clause, or sentence inserted into a passage with which it doesn't necessarily have any grammatical connection...
asserts that the (male) speaker of such is not homosexual and is usually used after an utterance that may have given that impression.
History
The term originated in East HarlemSpanish Harlem
East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem and El Barrio, is a section of Harlem in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Harlem is one of the largest predominantly Latino communities in New York City. It includes the area formerly known as Italian Harlem, in which...
slang of the early 1990s. It was used by many to distance themselves from the stereotype of closeted
Closeted
Closeted and in the closet are metaphors used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and sexual behavior.-Background:In late 20th...
gay and bisexual men.
In 2011, The Lonely Island
The Lonely Island
The Lonely Island is an American comedy troupe composed of Akiva "Kiv" Schaffer, Jorma "Jorm" Taccone, and David Andrew "Andy" Samberg, best known for their comedic music. Originally from Berkeley, California, the group is currently based in New York City. The group broke out due to their...
made a parody of the expression with their song "No Homo
Turtleneck & Chain
Turtleneck & Chain is the second studio album of the American comedy troupe The Lonely Island, whose members are Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone. The album was released May 10, 2011, on Universal Republic Records. Many of the songs on the album debuted on Saturday Night Live as SNL...
". The song begins with standard usage of the term and expands to be said after more and more blatantly homosexual statements such as "I've been thinking about fucking a dude/No homo!"
Criticism
Several social commentators have criticized the use of both no homo and pause in hip hop and in the mainstream. It has been said that the phrases "uphold an unhealthy relationship with homosexuality, a relationship based in fear." Fox NewsFox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
commentator Marc Lamont Hill
Marc Lamont Hill
Marc Lamont Hill is an American academic, commentator, author, activist, and television personality. He currently serves as an Associate Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Hill is also an affiliated faculty member in African American Studies at the Institute for Research in...
encouraged the hip-hop community to stop using no homo in its music. At the same time, Slate
Slate (magazine)
Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...
columnist Jonah Weiner suggested the use of the phrase is somewhat more complex. Weiner notes several hip hop artists — such as Cam'ron and Lil Wayne — cultivate an extravagant and camp
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
public persona
Persona
A persona, in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον...
while embracing homophobia thus saying no homo can help expand established concepts of masculinity
Masculinity
Masculinity is possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man. The term can be used to describe any human, animal or object that has the quality of being masculine...
, and challenge the status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
. Nick Catucci, writing for New York
New York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
magazine, disagrees with this assessment. In his view, no homo is merely another form of gay bashing
Gay bashing
Gay bashing and gay bullying is verbal or physical abuse against a person who is perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender . Such abuse is used also to bully heterosexual persons and persons of non-specific or unknown sexual orientation.A "bashing" may be a specific incident, and one...
, and to a large extent is used simply because it "just sounds good," and is easily applicable in rhymes. A rapper like Cam'ron, Catucci argues, will use the phrase, and dress in pink, simply to show that he is man enough to get away with it, without being suspected of being gay.
External links
- That's Gay: No Homo, October 7, 2009, Current TV.