I don't think Brett Ratner is a homophobe, at least not from the current evidence. He may be an ignorant or thoughtless person, but I no more think he is a homophobe for using the word 'faggot' then I do believe that any of you are homophobes for using the word 'sissy'. Nor do I believe that most of you hold any prejudicial inclinations towards gypsies even if you occasionally use the word 'gyp' (or 'gypped') in everyday conversation. There are words that have highly prejudicial origins that have just happened to become commonplace expressions in the English language. Their original meanings have been lost to time, and they have been accepted as part of normal (if crude) conversation. For much of my lifetime (and I presume much longer than that), the term 'fag' or 'faggot' had a meaning completely separate from its explicit use as an anti-gay slur. It basically had a secondary meaning as a derogatory term that, while perhaps related to certain stereotypes about homosexuals (weak, uncool, etc), was not intended as an explicit put-down of homosexuals. Point being, you can call someone or something a 'fag' without referring to homosexuality. You probably shouldn't, as doing so shows either ignorance of the word's origins or an indifference to its real meaning, but you can.
