Why you shouldnt use gay as a slur

A dad’s advice to neighborhood kids: Don’t use gay as an insult. Nominations are open until November 1. Children using gay as an insult 'after hearing it on TikTok'. Primary school pupils said they heard the word gay being used as a derogatory insult, especially in viral TikTok trends.

Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more by signing up to Metro's News Updates newsletter. But some without their peers even realising they were being homophobic at all. TikTok says that its community guidelines do not condone homophobic slurs or attacks.

Given that Jacob has gay foster parents, he was confused, to say the least, as to why his peers were using gay as an insult. Metro wants to change that. It is especially harmful for kids struggling with their sexuality who have yet to come out. TikTok trends were a major way that young people heard homophobic slurs Picture: Getty Images.

Tell kids why saying

Your handbook should include specific rules about using appropriate language, such as the use of the phrase “that’s so gay.” You can also be creative with it, incorporating stories, illustrations or even comics to communicate why “that’s so gay” is inappropriate and how it, as well as other types of name-calling, can hurt others.

If you have been hearing the phrase “that’s gay”, take time during class to make sure that your students know what “gay” means and know why it is hurtful to use as a comment or put-down. Just Like Us conducted the sprawling survey with VotesforSchoolswhich engages children in political and social issues, in June.

Mia agrees. Young people deserve to grow up without feeling ashamed and feel confident to be themselves. The debate back then was should we reclaim slurs or use the clinical term "homosexual" (which also had derogatory connotation just in a more formal way) and plenty of people argued about it back then and that debate was pretty hot, it wasn't universally agreed that gay was the go to because of how much baggage the term had as a slur before it.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews metro. The charity has rolled out resources for teachers to help them encourage compassion in their classes. Online homophobic bullying has been surging for years even as social media platforms toughen their anti-discrimination policies.

Story by Josh Milton. You can click here to nominate the regular people, celebrities, game-changers, rising stars and businesses that make up the incredible community. Schools need to do similar things, Stonewall told Metro. "That's so gay" is always pejorative, always harmful, and always homophobic.

For more stories like this, check our news page.