Hillary Duff Says That’s So Not Gay

A new ad campaign was created to get kids to stop saying “that’s so gay.” It’s the Think B4 You Speak campaign. The Ad Council has enlisted celebrities Hilary Duff and Wanda Sykes to help spread their message. They want to teach teens that saying “that’s so gay” is offensive and there are better terms to use instead, such as “that’s so stupid.”

I remember saying “that’s so gay” a lot when I was a teenager. I never really thought about the negative connotation of the word. At least until my mom couldn’t take it anymore and told me to knock it off. Now I have teens of my own and I’ve caught them saying it too. I know they aren’t saying it to be offensive, but it still drives me crazy. We have had the “knock it off” conversation several times.

I have heard the excuse that it’s just a word. It used to mean “happy” so what’s the big deal? But words can hurt. And we all know there are appropriate times to use some words and other words that should never be said. You aren’t allowed to say the f-word at school (or in front of your parents). And you should never say the n-word. So I’m not buying the “it’s just a word” excuse.

On the Think B4 You Speak website they state:

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.

Unfortunately many teens are just laughing off the ads calling them, what else, “gay.” The reaction kind of reminds me of the “Just Say No” ads or the “this is your brain on drugs” campaign from my youth. But as much as we laughed those off in our day, they are still recognizable campaigns today. So I guess they kind of did their job. Hopefully the same will be true of the “that’s so gay” ads.