'That's so gay': Hillary Duff, Wanda Sykes star in Think Before You Speak PSAs

November 9, 5:43 PMSex Education ExaminerSarah Estrella

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Hillary Duff and Wanda Sykes are starring in public service announcements for Think Before You Speak, a Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) campaign to crack down on homophobic remarks that are used to harass lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender teens and have also become common across-the-board insults.

These have been around for about a year now, but I've been seeing them on TV again recently and they're worth taking another look at. It's a problem I've been hearing a lot about again recently, from both students and educators, and from my own observations out on the school playground with kids in grades as as early as Kindergarten.

According to the campaign, "9 out of 10 LGBT students report being harassed at school in the last year. Over one-third of LGBT students have been physically assaulted at school because of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression."

In addition to the new PSAs, the campaign is providing resources for parents and educators to help frame discussions about the negative consequences of homophobic language and anti-LGBT bias.

Via ThinkB4YouSpeak.com:

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.