I give up there's only so many times you can repeat yourself and not get annoyed when people don't get it.

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"It is down to a growing climate of political correctness. It is curbing freedom of speech."

*Nods* I dont love what he said, but it makes sence for him to say it to connect with teens.

I see what Marcella is saying. In my personal opinion as I posted earlier I don't agree with G.P Taylor yes people do have the right to say what they want but I just felt that him being a preist he has a certain responsibility as to how he represents himself. Like I always say there is a time and a place for everything. I tend to curse like a sailor sometimes and once my boyfriends Mom told me I was being rude. However I was in the company of an adult and I have a right to freedom of speech (and she's sworn worse then me sometimes). But I would never even say (insert swear word here) around children. I think you have to use your judgement. And obviously some people feel differently. And I still think he was disrespecting J.K Rowling and her work.

Um...Who's G.P.Taylor?

He's not a priest. He was one but he isn't now. He quit because of a heart condition. He didn't use vulgar language though. That's why I can't understand the offence. He was simply saying there's more to children's lierature than Potter and he's right, there is.

Well that is your problem; why you want to change peoples view, just respect them, no everyone is going to think like you!

ok hold up one HARRY POTTER IS NOT GAY! and two THAT GUY IS WACKO!!!!!!!!!! HE HAD NO RIGHT!

It's not a matter of opinion. He was quoting a TV show. If anybody's being offensive it's the producers/writers who wrote that line, not him! I've explained what he meant but if you want to think something else that's down to you. But 'not the only gay in the village' AREN'T his words.

Ok well in the article it quoted him saying

"I didn't set out to offend. I'm a priest and I'm very careful about not offending people."

And is referred to as Reverend Graham Taylor. I didn't see it written anywhere he was no longer a priest so I assumed he still was. And I just didn't find the Harry Potter gay comment funny. Maybe cause I'm not british.

Hmmm yeah. The article I have said he no longer belongs to a parish but I guess he retains the title. But seriously, I don't think he literally meant he was gay. It's hard to explain but it is a well known catchphrase in this country and as such isn't viewed as offensive. The show it comes from challenges political correctness.

Ok that makes sense cause I don't watch Little Britain I've never even heard of the show.

But whatever onto other topics and Goblet Of Fire news.

It'smore confusing than I first thought. But it's generally not viewed as offensive; even an article on Yahoo retracted their statement that he was being homophobic soooo I think that indicates it was all a misunderstanding.

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But seriously, I don't think he literally meant he was gay.

I think he meant it (the term gay) in the slang form (As many teens use it), as in it was weird or not cool or something. For example, if I were to turn to the T.v., point at it, and say "My T.v. is retarded." I wouldn’t be saying my T.v. has a mental illness. I might be referring to the fact that it isn’t working right or something. The same thing might go for his gay reference, it’s meant in slang, not literally. Some people might find the reference to something as retarded or gay as offensive. But I could be wrong.

^ No, he didn't. The reference was a line used in a comedy show by a gay character, "I'm the only gay in the village." Hence meaning I am the only one. HP isn't the only kids book out there. It's not like saying, "That sucks. Or, 'You're sad'. or something.

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^ No, he didn't. The reference was a line used in a comedy show by a gay character, "I'm the only gay in the village." Hence meaning I am the only one. HP isn't the only kids book out there. It's not like saying, "That sucks. Or, 'You're sad'. or something.

Ah. Ok, thanks for clearing that up *Actually gets it now*.

*sighs*

You didn't read the article did you?

Or maybe you took it literally. He.Is.Not.Saying.HP.Is.Gay.



No. He wasn't using the phrase 'gay' as slang terminology. That would have been offensive.

People, please. There is a first post for a reason. All the way back on the first page it was established that "the only gay in the villiage" is a quote and reference to the British Television show Little Britian. It is now available on DVD here in the US. If you rent it (I'm not going to say buy because it's just not some peoples cup of tea), and watch it, you'll run into the big guy wearing skin-tight, short outfits that sometimes look as though they're made from rubber. He 'comes out of the closet' to his parents, all dramatically and awaits for the discrimination and disagreement that never comes. When he is told about there being other gays in the villiage, he insists that (name) is not a gay, but merely acts it, and always insists that he's "The only gay in the villiage" thus, the quote GP Taylor used. It caught the students' attention and drove home the point that like the big guy in rubber clothes, people like to pretend JK is the only childrens author, often times bad mouthing or completely ignoring other authors (I've yet to read a positive article about another childrens author) but there ARE other children's authors and there are other children's books out there. Much like there being other gays in the villiage. The teens (for that is the age-group addressed here) would make the imediate conection.

As Emma has said, this was not meant to go beyond the UK, where the phrase is in wide useage and the audience would understand it. It's hard to be a PR move when 90% of the people wouldn't understand it, and given the reactions of HP Fans on here, it obviously wouldnt be a bright one. Maybe we all need to take a step back and stop looking for ulterior motives, not everyone is out to get PR and not everyone needs PR.

What does "excitable" mean? Were the Reverend's words getting the students angry and were about to riot? Was there ever a threat to life or property? If not, then the school owes him an apology. Anyone who may have been offended, (being an HP fan, I was), shouldn't get mad. Get even. :evillaugh

I think it means rather than falling asleep they were actually interested in an assembly, for once. *remembers what it was like to be in years 8 & 9*

well, i can see where he would think that the "jokes" are appropriate for kids, [even though they arent]. ive been to britan and it seemed like.... i dont know, and i dont want something i say to be taken the wrong way by people from britan. i <3 britan, its my fave country, but... id ont nkow

probably that they were surprised he knew the show and had the guts to use a phrase. Heaven forbid a guest speaker get the kids more interested than the teachers can.

No, she's not trying to change people's views, she's just showing people where they're assumptions are wrong. He is not calling HP gay, he is quoting a television show, there is a difference between wrong and offensive. Example:is it wrong for PETA to show a dead cow on a poster and say that wearing dead skin is disgusting? No, that's their right. What's offensive about it you may ask? Simple. I suffer from psorisis, which means I wear dead skin daily because my skin cells reproduce too quickly to fall off, so, I find their phrase very offensive. Another example: Is it offensive to not turn in your taxes? No, of course not. Is it wrong? Heck yeah! See, difference.

He took the phrase off of a television show geared for their age group. He also used "pee" and "bogey" and "bum" given the ages he was talking to, that's mild to what they would use on a daily basis.

Please, everyone. Though the phrase "children" is being used, please realize that these are Teenagers we're talking about.

You can say it, we are perhaps a little more open/liberal. But then that's the British sense of humour all round really, which is why so many British comedy shows aren't well reiceved in the US. We're well known for sarcasm and satire and irony and some people just don't get it.

Amen to that!

I love British humour, I really think my being born in the US was a mistake. Maybe it's my job to fix everyone over here.

"Oy! You! Stop being so bloody sensitive!" *makes them watch hour after hour of Little Britian, Bo Selecta, Benny Hill and Monty Python..........to start*

*ties and duct tapes mother to chair* "Yes, mother, you too!"

*stands guard like a Roman soldier*

I personally think it was a joke. But honestly, I think we'd all love Harry the same even if he WAS you know what (which we know for a fact that it's not true, but still). It was just a little misunderstanding.

I can kind of see where he's coming from. It wasn't very smart though. I do agree with him about the freedom of speech thing however.

I completely agree with Emm....It was only a joke afterall...well it comes to verbal faux pas I'm guilty! at times.