Funny, but try as I might, I cannot keep my mind from finishing the headline with a certain word — gay. The phrase is so pervasive in our society — part of our vernacular, especially in American school hallways soon to be teaming with another year's students. As commonplace as "shut up" or "whatever" in teens' conversations, "that's so gay" is tossed around without a thought, but not without effect.
Recently the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), along with the Ad Council, launched a back-to-school "ThinkB4YouSpeak" campaign that tackles the homophobic remark. The campaign is focused on building awareness with students and school administrators about the prevalence and destruction of homophobic language and harassment in schools and communities. More thoughts and images of the striking print ads available after the jump.
This campaign is both timely and relevant. I wished we had, had it at my own school, where racial and other cultural slurs were addressed with the strictest discipline, while comments like "That's so gay!" rarely raised an eyebrow. Why the disparity? Largely, I believe it's a lack of awareness and understanding that more than half of students hear homophobic remarks often in their hallways, while 9 out of 10 LGBT students report being harassed last year in school. More than one-third of LGBT students have even been physically assaulted.
GLSEN offers schools training on LGBT issues and personal intervention during incidences of anti-LGBT behavior, resources for adminstrators drafting policies against anti-LGBT bullying and information on Gay Straight Alliances (which continue to be of issue at some schools). Check out the many campaign elements at www.thinkb4youspeak.com, including the ABCs of LGBT and gender expression, stories and videos of LGBT youth, pledge and e-cards.
We all however can help eradicate this thoughtless saying and the use of other homophobic remarks by a) not using those terms ourselves (it's done more frequently than you think) and b) be out front about our lives and our feelings with others. I can't tell you how many times friends who I know support and love me have let the "That's so…" comment slip in my presence. Their face upon realization of what they've just said and hurried apologies go great lengths in helping them understand the power of their thoughtless use of the phrase. They in turn become our champions and together we all are elevating the conversations and respect of the LGBT community.
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