Why ABC and Dustin Lance Black Fought So Hard to Use That "F" Word on TV

Dustin Lance Black is about to rock the TV world with a beautiful, inspiring, incredible story. We Will Rise is a new show on ABC that focuses on the story of the gay rights movement, from its inception during the Stonewall Riots in 1969 all the way up to the present day. During ABC's panel at this year's Television Critics' Association Winter press tour, Black had plenty of profound quotes about why this is such an important story to tell, but one particular revelation seemed especially striking. When asked if ABC had placed any limitations on the project, the answer was a resounding no. What's interesting, though, is ABC helped Black fight to include a controversial word that will surely ruffle a few feathers. He wanted to make sure When We Rise would include the word "fag."

"That's a word I've heard. Certainly, it's a word that LGBT people generations before me heard."

"There were no limitations from ABC. . . . I will say ABC actually stood up and fought for me because I don't know how hard and fast a rule it is or law it is, but it certainly is a rule you are not to say 'fag' on television," Black explained. "And I said to the lawyers at ABC, 'I don't know how we do this show authentically without saying "fag,"' because that's a word I've heard. Certainly, it's a word that LGBT people generations before me heard. And they stood next to me and fought for us to be able to say that word on television so that this experience was authentic in that way. So, if anything, ABC helped to push the boundaries a bit so that it didn't feel inauthentic."

In a present-day context, the word "fag" remains controversial. The term has evolved from its usage as a slur and has been reappropriated by the gay community as a term of endearment to strip away its harmful implications. Whatever feelings you may have about the word's modern muddled context, though, it is vital it appear as the slur it once was in a story about the LGBT's fight for civil rights. Dustin Lance Black hit the nail on the head: without it, the story would be incomplete. The experience of the audience would ultimately not be authentic. So, while it might seem incendiary to use "fag" on a historically family-friendly network and while there will almost surely be blowback in response, I believe the decision should be met with full support.