Dire Straits Song No Longer Censored in Canada

A full 27 years after the song came out, Canada has decided that Dire Straits’ hit “Money for Nothing” is now appropriate for radio airplay, according to the Associated Press.

The British band’s song includes what many critics called homophobic lyrics — along with racist and sexist ones — so after a complaint in January of this year, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council said it was unacceptable for uncensored airplay.

The council concluded, “Like other racially driven words in the English language, 'faggot' is one that, even if entirely or marginally acceptable in earlier days, is no longer so.”

After a public backlash to that ruling, the council has changed its mind, saying Wednesday that while the homophobic slur in the song is inappropriate, it must be taken in context. The majority of the council's panel felt the song “used the word satirically and not in a hateful manner.”

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/09/01/Dire_Straits_Song_No_Longer_Censored_in_Canada/

Especially that one lyric "Give guns to the Queers." Of course how would the willingness to give LGBTs a means of self-defense for free be offensive?