What do you guys think about kids saying "That's so gay"? More and more kids these days are saying this phrase. According the Think Before You Speak website, "That's so gay" has been used more than 1,000 times on Twitter.

Have you guys spoken with your kids about this and what it really means?


Also, in case you're interested, here's the website: http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com

By Enchens on Friday, November 6, 2009 - 12:04 pm:

It's unfortunate that the phrase is being used in a negative manner.

No, we haven't spoken to our children about the phrase or the word. I personally feel they are too young (4 and 6) and they do not attend public school. Our family, nuclear and extended, does not use the phrase.

It wasn't so long ago when the word "gay" used to mean something completely different.

By Northcountrymom on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 11:33 pm:

Kids do co-opt whatever adults intend and give it a twist.

They pick up on the pop culture use of stereotyped gay culture where that phrase is used among gay characters to each other on sitcoms on every channel. There isn't a clear message that this is inappropriate and further I'm not sure they perceive it as negative usage. One of the comments made by a colleague who works with young teens is that trading gender is a weekly occurrence and that they don't see that they have to choose but more often wear a set of behaviors that they believe fit their current gender/sexual preference. Its very fluid and so is the languaging of it - nothing sacrosanct or inviolable.

By Glsenwell on Thursday, November 12, 2009 - 12:33 pm:

You both have great points! Enchens, I agree - it's SO unfortunate on how the word has changed in such a negative way! Northcountrymom, I think you're on to something - we need to create that clear message to kids. Do you think it's more effective to talk to kids about not using the phrase/behaving this way or by our actions and not using "that's so gay"?

I think it's great to get kids involved in Gay-Straight Alliances at an early age (maybe not at 4 or 6, but once they understand a little more of what's going on). Also, I think it's great to try to use other words to get your meaning across. I like to use almost funny words - like lame, cray cray, and loco - in my experience, I find that kids respond really well to using words like this (depending on the ages of course).