By Kev L. Nadal, PhD (Associate Profsor of Psychology, John Jay College of Crimal Jtice - Cy Universy of New York) When I was a ltle kid, I ed to hear my brothers, s, and iends say thgs like “That’s so gay!” on a pretty regular basis. I would ually lgh along, hopg wh all my might…
Contents:
- "THAT'S SO GAY" IS JT SO WRONG
- WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT “THAT’S SO GAY”?
- WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ‘THAT’S SO GAY’ & OTHER ANTI-LGBTQ+ COMMENTS?
- THAT'S SO GAY
- THE TE MEANG BEHD “THAT’S SO GAY”
- WHY “THAT’S SO GAY!” IS SO OFFENSIVE
- STOP SAYG “THAT’S SO GAY!”: 6 TYP OF MICROAGGRSNS THAT HARM LGBTQ PEOPLE
- THAT'S GAY
- 'THAT'S SO GAY' PHRASE HAS LASTG IMPACT FOR LGBT YOUTH, STUDY FDS
- WHAT DO YOU SAY TO “THAT’S SO GAY” AND OTHER ANTI-LGBTQ COMMENTS?
"THAT'S SO GAY" IS JT SO WRONG
Almost every teacher has heard stunts e the exprsn, “that’s so gay” as a way of puttg down or sultg someone (or to scribe somethg). The lsons will help stunts exame how appropriate language n hurt, and will help them thk of ways to end this kd of name-llg. * that's so gay *
Spend any time around teens, and you’re likely to hear the mon exprsn, “That’s so gay" — even among gay kids.
WHAT’S SO BAD ABOUT “THAT’S SO GAY”?
* that's so gay *
If you ask them about , as some rearchers have, they often will sist that is not tend as homophobic language, jt a harmls phrase to exprs tratn or somethg siar.
Studi reveal that 30 percent of gay adolcents stggle wh suicidal thoughts. “That’s so gay” is always pejorative, always harmful, and always homophobic.
Thk about this: For thoands of years, religns have lled homosexualy an abomatn. People still get murred if someone thks they are gay, and not jt other untri. Gay Equals Sex.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ‘THAT’S SO GAY’ & OTHER ANTI-LGBTQ+ COMMENTS?
When most people hear the term LGBT (lbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual), for stance, they equate to havg adult sex. Another client’s mother once ught him lookg at gay porn, and said, horrified, “You’re not gay, are you? ” Later when the parents learned their children were gay, they apologized to them for sayg the thgs, but the damage was already done.
THAT'S SO GAY
I heard you say whout knowg I was gay. Hearg kids sayg, “that’s so gay” every day mak the people and everythg else around them qutnable: Are thgs safe or dangero? What, then, n be done about makg kids (and the rt of ) more aware of the harm g such phras as “That’s so gay?
But parents who are enough aware of language’s substrata n help by helpg their kids’ schools unrstand the value of practicg the same kd of zero tolerance for homophobic language that they do for racist or anti-Semic or bullyg language.
The bt thg I have seen is the mpaign “ThkB4YouSpeak” by GLSEN (Gay, Lbian School Edutor Network). Anti-LGBT remarks such as “that’s so gay” are often untentnal and a mon part of teens’ vernacular. explore how the phrase “that’s so gay” is hurtful to stunts.
THE TE MEANG BEHD “THAT’S SO GAY”
Why do stunts e language such as “that’s so gay”? How n we prevent the e of language such as “that’s so gay, ” ed to tease and bully? Also review Exposg Hidn Homophobia for exampl on how to al wh hidn homophobia among olr stunts.
WHY “THAT’S SO GAY!” IS SO OFFENSIVE
Homophobia |ˌhōməˈfōbēə | (for olr stunts). (noun) Fear, dislike or hatred to homosexual (also bisexual or transgenr) people. What do you thk of when you hear the word “gay”?
STOP SAYG “THAT’S SO GAY!”: 6 TYP OF MICROAGGRSNS THAT HARM LGBTQ PEOPLE
In what ways have you heard the word “gay” ed? Why do you thk people sometim e the phrase “that’s so gay”?
How would you feel if someone said “that’s so gay” about somethg you were dog or about somethg you liked?
THAT'S GAY
What would you do if you heard someone say “that’s so gay” or another unacceptable remark?
(Note: Clarify any fns, and talk about why words like “that’s so gay, ” “gay, ” “fag, ” “sissy” or anythg else that me up are appropriate.
'THAT'S SO GAY' PHRASE HAS LASTG IMPACT FOR LGBT YOUTH, STUDY FDS
Your handbook should clu specific l about g appropriate language, such as the e of the phrase “that’s so gay. ” You n also be creative wh , rporatg stori, illtratns or even ics to munite why “that’s so gay” is appropriate and how , as well as other typ of name-llg, n hurt others.
Informatn about fightg homophobia schools, as well as var lls to actn, n be found at GLSEN. Safe Schools Coaln offers rourc for tors and parents on how bt to support LGBTQ youth and al wh issu of homophobia school muni.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO “THAT’S SO GAY” AND OTHER ANTI-LGBTQ COMMENTS?
It don’t matter if ’s a first grar who might not know what the word “gay” means, a sixth grar tryg to sound ol, or a tenth grar “teasg” a iend.