Thats so gay hilary duff
Subscribe to TDS here: Hillary Duff recently appeared in a PSA that aims to show the meaning behind the term, "that's so gay," and what motivated her to work. On Thursday, Hilary Duff took to social media to re-create her iconic anti-bullying PSA that taught an entire generation of millennials to stop saying: “That’s so gay.”.
Disney actress Hillary Duff made a public service announcement in that urged people not to say "that's so gay." The ad, which addressed bullying of LGBTQ+ youth, has become a cult classic. Hilary Duff remade her iconic anti-gay bullying commercial in a new TikTok along with Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying and his fiancé, Mark Manio. See the video. Hilary Duff has recreated her iconic anti-bullying commercial nearly 14 years later.
Back in , the Lizzie McGuire actor starred in the “Think Before You Speak” PSA, in which she spoke out. Saying "that's so gay" as an insult might seem like harmless banter to some, especially to those who casually use the phrase—looking at you, straight people—but its impact runs much deeper. For many of us, particularly gay men, growing up, "gay" wasn't just a word; it was a label often attached to things considered bad, weird, or inferior.
Even before we fully understood what it meant to be gay, we learned that being gay was something to avoid, something negative. These casual expressions perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce a culture of shame, making it crucial to rethink the power of words we might not realize can hurt. The word "gay" has evolved significantly over time, and understanding its history is essential to recognizing the harm in its modern usage as an insult.
According to The Gayly , the word dates back to the 12th century and originates from the French word gai, meaning joyful or carefree. In fact, brothels were often referred to as gai houses.
By the s, a Scottish variant of the word, gey cat, emerged to describe a vagrant offering sexual services, specifically a young man accompanying an older one, which hinted at a submissive role. This usage likely helped establish the association between the word "gay" and homosexuality. By the s, however, the word "gay" began to be used negatively, to describe things considered "stupid" or "undesirable.
For years, the phrase "that's so gay" was largely dismissed as a harmless playground putdown, a passing insult with little consideration of its deeper impact. This initiative, which included TV, radio, and magazine ads, sought to raise awareness about the casual use of derogatory language among youth. For many young people still grappling with their identities, hearing the term used as an insult can create a constant fear of being labeled or singled out.
Hilary Duff remade her
During the discussion, the harmful implications of this phrase were explored, particularly how it equates being gay with something bad or undesirable. Although the phrase may not always be intended as an insult, its widespread use contributes to a culture of homophobia. She pointed out that this casual use of homophobic language is a "broken window" that signals a broader, more serious issue of discrimination.
Byard explained that failing to address such everyday language sets the tone for more harmful behaviors, including verbal and physical harassment, which are disturbingly common in schools. She also emphasized that while policies and training were crucial for addressing more overt incidents of bullying, the Think Before You Speak campaign aimed to tackle the "low-level, tolerated background noise" of terms like "that's so gay," which help perpetuate a culture of intolerance.
In a Psychology Today article , Dr. Joe Kort, a licensed psychologist, addressed the harmful impact of the phrase "that's so gay," labeling it as a microaggression, which are subtle, often unconscious insults or indignities that target socially marginalized groups. While many may brush off these slights, they still carry weight. Kort argues that no matter how normalized the phrase becomes, it remains inherently pejorative and homophobic, particularly damaging to those struggling with their sexuality.
Kort explains that language like this can have deep psychological consequences for young people, especially those who are already grappling with their sexuality in an unsupportive environment. He illustrates this with examples of his own clients: one client remembered his father pointing out a building and referring to it as a place for "faggots to dance," unaware that his son was struggling with his own identity.
Another client recalled his parents' horror when they discovered he was looking at gay ography, followed by a painful denial of his identity. These personal stories highlight the lasting emotional toll of microaggressions, compounded by casual phrases like "that's so gay. For these young people, hearing the phrase "that's so gay" reinforces the notion that their identity is something to be ashamed of, making their world feel unsafe.
In this context, seemingly harmless phrases have the power to shape how these young people perceive their relationships and their place in the world. With this in mind, the harmful effects of phrases like "that's so gay" continue to plague schools today. This kind of language contributes to a climate of distress, with Additionally, A staggering