Campaign for the neologism "santorum"

Campaign for the neologism "santorum" refers to the efforts to promote the use of the word "santorum" as a neologism. This campaign originated in response to statements made by Rick Santorum, a former United States Senator and a candidate in the Republican Party presidential primaries. The term was coined by columnist and gay rights activist Dan Savage in 2003, following Santorum's comments on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Savage asked his readers to create a definition for "santorum" to challenge and critique Santorum's views on homosexuality. The resulting definition, which links the name Santorum to a sexual by-product, was intended as a form of satirical protest.

Background

Rick Santorum made several controversial statements regarding homosexuality and same-sex marriage that were widely reported in the media. In an interview with the Associated Press in 2003, Santorum compared consensual homosexual acts to bigamy, polygamy, incest, and adultery, arguing that they undermined the traditional concept of marriage and family. These comments sparked significant backlash from LGBTQ+ rights advocates and others who viewed his statements as homophobic.

The Campaign

In response to Santorum's comments, Dan Savage, a well-known columnist and LGBTQ+ rights activist, initiated a campaign to create a "new definition" for the senator's last name. Savage's goal was to associate Santorum's name with a negative sexual connotation as a form of protest against his views on homosexuality. Savage launched a website where he hosted a contest asking his readers to propose definitions for the word "santorum". The winning entry defined "santorum" as a neologism related to a specific sexual by-product.

The campaign gained widespread attention and the new definition of "santorum" quickly spread across the internet, appearing on various websites, blogs, and social media platforms. Despite legal and public relations efforts by Santorum to counteract the campaign, the neologism became a well-known example of internet activism and a notable case of political protest through language.

Impact and Legacy

The campaign for the neologism "santorum" had a significant impact on Rick Santorum's public image and political career. The association between his last name and the neologism became a persistent topic in media coverage and public discussions, especially during his subsequent political campaigns. The case has been studied as an example of the power of internet activism to influence public perception and political discourse.

The campaign also sparked debates about the ethics of using language and the internet as tools for political protest. Critics argued that the campaign was a form of personal attack that detracted from substantive political debate, while supporters contended that it was a legitimate form of satirical protest against what they saw as homophobic policies and statements.

See Also

• Political activism
• Internet activism
• LGBT rights in the United States
• Freedom of speech