It was a common thing to call other kids as a mild rebuke when I was growing up. There are many ways to act like a faggot that do not involve being gay. Ironically that word is considered far more hateful today than it was. It was almost innocuous once.

There were several gay teens there last Christmas when I said something about my brother being a tremendous faggot. Good natured brotherly ribbing. Their heads could have been on swivels, they turned so fast.