'As for "faggot", the term was commonly used during my grade school years in Maryland (50's-60's) as a favorite epithet hurled by both girls and boys and usually preceded with "You fucking".'

Well, that surprises me, but I suppose I must stand corrected - and I should have known better than to make sweeping generalizations. I would be curious to hear from other Americans on whether they ever knew this term to used commonly by girls/women ... ?