News - Just this week I was arguing that South Park had a point about the development of homophobic slurs. 'Fag', it is suggested, is now used as a general derogative term, and not specifically about sexuality. So maybe it is OK to use it in that sense? But what about 'That's so gay!' meaning rubbish? In an effort to redress my journalistic balance, I present to you a more earnest, clean cut approach.

Whether 'that's so gay' should be tolerated or not is currently too difficult for either myself or South Park to answer, so I'll leave it to singer Hilary Duff.



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This is to highlight a campaign by the American Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), 'Think Before You Speak', encouraging American LGBT people to reconsider the language they use.

They say: "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) teens experience homophobic remarks and harassment throughout the school day, creating an atmosphere where they feel disrespected, unwanted and unsafe. Homophobic remarks such as "that's so gay" are the most commonly heard; these slurs are often unintentional and a common part of teens' vernacular. Most do not recognize the consequences, but the casual use of this language often carries over into more overt harassment. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBT bias and behavior in America's schools. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce and prevent the use of homophobic language in an effort to create a more positive environment for LGBT teens. The campaign also aims to reach adults, including school personnel and parents; their support of this message is crucial to the success of efforts to change behavior."


Find out more here!