Think Before You Speak Campaign Launches

Published October 08, 2008 @ 07:13PM PT

GLSEN Think Before you Speak Think B4 U Speak. Kind of looks like a rushed text message. But it's the latest campaign from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and the Ad Council. We all know the three-letter and four-letter and six-letter words that are used to degrade and demoralize LGBT people. As the GLSEN points out:

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.

Ninety percent of all LGBT students reported being harassed last year. With numbers like those, it's know wonder that LGBT students face a higher risk of depression, anxiety and suicide. The Trevor Project, the nation's only LGBT suicide hotline, reported having 1,200 phone calls alone last year from LGBT and questioning youth. Statistics like that make campaigns like this all the more important.

The best thing about this campaign is that it doesn't paint people who use anti-gay language as inherently evil. Rather, it points out what may be obvious, but is often forgotten: "A lot of anti-LGBT language is said carelessly, and isn’t intended as negative or hurtful." So moral of the story? Don't be afraid to tell someone that it's not OK to say that's so gay.

For some great user-generated content, that I unfortunately can't get to embed right now, go here.

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Comments (1)

IM LOOKING FOR HELP ON A SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE SHED TO LIGHT. I WAS FIRED FROM A JOB THAT ALL THE MANAGER DID WAS DEGRADE ME, AND CONTINUED TO MAKE COMMINTS, AND SUGGESTIONS ABOUT MY SEXUALITY, THEN LATTER FIRED, I BELIEVE IT WAS RETALIATION B/C I WOULDNT PLAY ALONG WITH HIS SICK GAME, HE TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES I QUOTE, ''ARE YOU A FAG? IF YOU ARE WE DONT LET THEM NASTY BASTERS WORK HERE, THIS IS A NO FAG WORK ZONE'' END OF QUOTE, PROBLEM IS, IM BISEXUAL. IS THIS VIOLATION CALLED FOR? I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE AREA MANAGER, AND OWNER OF THE PLACE, ITS BEEN 4MONTHS NOW, ALL THE AREA MANAGER, AND OWNER DID WAS CALL ME A LIER, AND BLEW ME OFF LIKE WHAT I HAD TO SAY DIDNT MATTER, I REALLY NEED HELP THANK-YOU FOR YOUR TIME J

Posted by JAMES N on 01/07/2009 @ 12:41PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.