During last night's "Real Housewives of New Jersey" reunion show part 1 (viewable here), the wives discussed the use of the term 'that's so gay' by one of the husbands in an earlier episode.
We want to first commend Danielle and host Andy Cohen for pointing out what 83.1% of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) youth told us in the 2007 National School Climate Survey of more than 6,000 LGBT youth: 'That's so gay' is offensive.
The 83.1% of LGBT students said the term caused them to be bothered or distressed to some degree. Oh, and by the way, 99% of LGBT students had heard the term in school.
As the Housewives themselves pointed out: it's everywhere. But that doesn't make it OK to say.
GLSEN has partnered with the Ad Council to educate teens, many of whom use it without even realizing what they are saying (that gay=something bad), about just how offensive the term is. The campaign is called Think B4 You Speak and features TV PSAs with Hilary Duff and Wanda Sykes. The spots can be viewed at http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/.
You may have seen them airing around the country (or referenced by Dane Cook in his stand-up routine).
So what's wrong with the term? Well, aside from the fact it's demeaning, such language is pervasive and fosters a hostile climate for LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT. Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students said they'd been harassed at school in the past school year, and 60.8% said they feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation.
To borrow from one of the TV spots:
Imagine if who you are were used as an insult. When you say "that's so gay" do you realize what you say? Knock it off!
Check out Andy Cohen's blog about the show.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
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9 comments:
One of my teachers were just talking about this in one of our recent classes at school, and I didn't understand it then, but I understand it now, I see it can be offensive and I sincerely apologize to the LGBT community!
It's worse in the UK, I hear that phrase thrown around at least 3 or 4 times a day. As part of the LGBT community, it gets pretty tiresome hearing it. It's not that I particularly find that people are being harsh about it, they just aren't thinking. And the few I've managed to explain it to hardly say it anymore, and when they do, they cover their mouths and apologize. I think we all know it isn't an intended insult, but it comes out that way. Just maybe find a different way to say something sucks?
Do LGBT people really think that they can stop such a widespread thing? And why can't they just disregard these remarks?
u can just disregard the remarks, but they can still be hurtful, maybe we can't stop it, but at least we r trying 2 change, so maybe one day there will a little less discrimination in the world, which will make the world a better place, which should be everyone's goal.
I think that if people are offended by words they deserve the offense. It's just a word, deal with it. I'm not gay, but if someone said something intended for something bad that involved something about me, I wouldn't care. Like I said, it's just a phrase. "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"
being gay, lesbian, trans-gender, or bi is not a good thing. So i will always use and say 'thats so gay' in a derogatory manner.....
If saying "that's so gay" harasses then that's okay because homosexuals are not normal, and this is what Roman Catholics believe.
Is it bad that Im gay and I say "thats so gay"?
Not all Roman Catholics believe that. Being gay. lesbian or Bi isn't something that is chosen by the person. I'm straight but I have no problem with the LGBT community...and I'm a Roman Catholic.
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