Sticks and Stones and Anti-Gay Slurs

by Michael Jones · 2010-01-14 11:33:00 UTC
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No-Name CallingAnti-gay slurs light up the Twitterverse, not to mention classrooms, lockers rooms, and school playgrounds, like mad. Phrases like "so gay" have become popular insults in the lexicon of many, used as trash talk or put downs to indicate weakness or unpopularity.

Good thing students, and hella fine organizations like the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN), are fighting back. Their taking over the last full week of January -- January 25-29 -- and calling it "No-Name Calling Week." Inspired by the young adult novel The Misfits, the week is an effort to draw attention to violent slurs and taunts, and make sure America's schools are as safe as possible. And that includes making sure they are safe for queer students.

Though anti-bullying efforts have gained momentum in recent years, schools are still dangerous places for LGBT students around the country. Look to Springfield, Massachusetts, where an 11-year-old boy killed himself after being taunted for his perceived sexual orientation. Or look to Georgia, where a high school student had a hit placed on him because a teacher didn't like his sexual orientation. Sound like the type of school environment where students can thrive?

Hardly. Which is all the more reasons why weeks like this are necessary to eliminate name-calling and harmful stereotyping in schools.

As GLSEN writes, "Words hurt. More than that they have the power to make students feel unsafe to the point where they are no longer to perform in school or conduct normal lives."

Students shouldn't have to face environments where taunts flow as freely as homework assignments. One student, talking to the National Association of School Psychologists, responded to the question of "Have you ever been a victim of physical or verbal harassment because of your sexual orientation?" with a resounding, "Of course. It just goes with the territory."

That's a culture that needs to change. Now. No-Name Calling week seeks to do just that. Join their Facebook group here.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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