Will Young Calls For End To 'Gay' As School Slur

[Jazzy]

Will Young has told Sky News more should be done to clamp down on homophobic language and the use of the word "gay" as an insult in schools.

The singer told the Murnaghan programme he had taken up the issue with Education Secretary Michael Gove because he believes it to be a "crisis".

The Pop Idol winner, who came out shortly after winning the show and has gone on to have an enduring music career, said he had been impressed by the politician's views on the problem.

Young highlighted statistics that show 23% of young gay people attempt suicide and 56% will self harm.

He has been working with the charity Stonewall to address the issue of perjorative language used in relation to homosexuality.

He said 81% of gay people who hear the word used as a derogatory term feel distressed about it.

"Gay was claimed as a negative term in the 80s so I grew up with people saying 'That's so gay, this is so gay' and it's never really been addressed."

Ofsted does not currently have a set agenda for tackling homophobic language but Young said there is a "huge opportunity" to change that.

The star said only one in 10 teachers is trained in how to communicate to children that it is the wrong language to use.

Young is now working with Stonewall to set up a programme to train more teachers.

Source with video

Have you ever used the word gay?

Do you think this is much ado about nothing?

 

[Sinon]

I think there are more important issues to deal with, such as actual homophobia.

 

[Evil Eye]

Have I ever used the word in that way? Hmm, possibly. That I don't know should be pretty telling, I guess.

I think there are more important issues to deal with, such as actual homophobia.

Quite so.

It's pretty obvious that most people who use the word "gay" as a slur don't actually mean anything by it.

 

[Hannah]

A word that is used very rarely to be homophobic and more often as a general slur is a crisis? ;_;

One, this guy is waaay too late to do anything about it. The word has been used as a slur rather than homophobia for more than a decade.
Two, anyone who finds 'gay' offensive is thinking too much into it, in my opinion. Someone may as well just turn around to the person who said it and in return say 'OMG you're so straight!'

Pfft, I love how sexual orientation can be used as a serious insult.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Since when is the word "gay" offensive when used in the correct context?

 

[JetWing34]

You are allowed to use the word "gay" when you sing traditional songs such as "My Old Kentucky Home" or "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year".

 

[Hannah]

You are allowed to use the word "gay" when you sing traditional songs such as "My Old Kentucky Home" or "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year".

Only in that way? It isn't some horrific word, it is simply an alternative word to 'homosexual' or 'happy'.