There's A Major New Campaign To Tackle "Gay" Insults In School Playgrounds

    Stonewall, Will Young and Mumsnet have teamed up to tackle casual homophobic language.

    Dan Martin
    by Dan Martin

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Stonewall have launched a major new campaign to tackle the derogatory use of the word "gay" in school playgrounds.

    Stonewall

    The new drive comes after the campaigning group found that 99% of gay young people regularly hear phrases such as "that's so gay" in school playgrounds, 84% of whom find it distressing. Mumset found that 68% of parents are unaware of whether schools are tackling this language. Posters and guidance have been sent to 2,500 secondary schools - half the secondary schools in the UK.

    Fronting the campaign is singer Will Young.

    Getty / Stuart Wilson

    He said: "The word 'gay' is currently used as one of the worst insults by young people of all ages in Britain's schools. It's clear from the shocking levels of self-harm and suicide amongst gay young people that we're failing an entire generation. It's time to take a stand and put a stop to this deeply damaging use of homophobic language."

    This one is actually quite funny.

    Stonewall
    We should all be challenging our children's use of homophobic language and simply shouldn't tolerate phrases like 'that's so gay' which are in everyday use in school playgrounds. Parents, working with schools, really can stamp out this type of language which is demeaning, hurtful and offensive to so many.
    Stonewall