I'll throw another consideration into this debate.
It started off as just being homosexual, then it was being gay. Now there are about a dozen different options, including one I saw on internet news sites, called "pansexual".
Seriously, give it a rest "intersex" people out there. Just be what ever you want to be and stop putting names and labels all over it, and then being "outraged" when we yawn and say we don't really give a crap about what your sexual preference/body definition/favourite term is about your particular fancy.
What about the term "queer"? It used to mean "strange" or "different".
Their is actually a term "QUILTBAG" (no, I am not making this stuff up!) forWhere did I find the quote? The http://queerdictionary.tumblr.com/ Queer Dictionary! yep, it's a thing!QUILTBAG is an acronym. It stands for Queer/Questioning, Undecided, Intersex, Lesbian, Transgender/Transsexual, Bisexual, Allied/Asexual, Gay/Genderqueer.
OK, so what is my point? How far away is queer from freak? I would say not really much of a stretch. So, if the term freak becomes tomorrows term for yesterdays "queer", then must we all stop referring to our favourite players as footy freaks for fear of offending a bunch of QUILTBAG's?
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Back on topic, I still think 2 weeks for saying 'gay" is an over reaction from the NRL who just wanted to be seen to be doing something. If they didn't bring it up to make a point, no one would have probably even noticed.