Latest news with #GLSEN
NBC News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
How a gay anti-bullying PSA from the late 2000s became a cult classic
As Pride Month kicked off this year, Kai Cameron put on various wigs and outfits to recreate a commercial that he remembers vividly from the late 2000s. The social media director posted a video on TikTok mimicking an advertisement in which actress Hilary Duff told shoppers not to use the word gay as an insult. Looking at another actress in the commercial, Duff equated using the term in the pejorative to saying 'That's so girl wearing a skirt as a top.' She ends the ad by asking if people mean to be hurtful and to 'knock it off.' 'It lives rent free in my head,' Cameron told CNBC in an interview. Cameron has received nearly half a million likes and hundreds of comments on the video as of press time. Viewers of Cameron's reboot said in comments that Duff 'ended homophobia' and 'deserved a Nobel Peace Prize.' The original commercial, they said, 'changed lives' and was 'a moment in history.' If these comments are any indication, Duff's video has become a cult classic for a generation that saw the advertisement on its favorite TV channels. It's etched so clearly into their minds, and with an ever-growing slate of references across media, it's earned a long-term spot in the cultural zeitgeist. Because of that, the ad can act as a success story for advancing social issues through media messaging. At a fraught moment, nearly two decades later, supporters of the youth LGBTQ community wonder what can be done to reaffirm the campaign's original message. For LGBTQ viewers in particular, the 17-year-old segment holds a special meaning for its success in combating hate and its unique representation on screen. It is considered both humorous and over-the-top, while also spotlighting a pervasive issue in a memorable fashion. 'We caught lightning in a bottle,' said Kevin Jennings, the founder of youth LGBTQ advocacy group Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which spearheaded the campaign. 'There's no other way of putting it.' 'We can make history' At the time of the campaign's release in 2008, social media was still nascent and linear TV reigned supreme. In this environment, GLSEN saw an opportunity to shape public discourse against using the phrase 'that's so gay.' The group launched what's known as the 'Think B4 You Speak' campaign. Beyond the 30-second ad with Duff, a similar spot featured comedian Wanda Sykes likening using the word 'gay' negatively to having a 'cheesy' mustache. A print advertisement blitz and special website also helped push the message. The goal: to push back on 'ambient' anti-LGBTQ language, according to Jennings. While many people at the time knew that some slurs were hurtful, using words like 'gay' as an insult hadn't yet gotten the same treatment, he said. Jennings remembers thinking GLSEN had an equation for success. Duff was high up on the organization's list of dream faces for the message given her roles in well-known youth media like the TV show 'Lizzie McGuire' and movie 'A Cinderella Story.' GLSEN also had the support of the Advertising Council, the group behind iconic social awareness campaigns such as Smokey Bear and Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. The campaign marked the council's first-ever ads focused on social issues related to the LGBTQ community. 'If we pull this off, we can make history,' Jennings recalled thinking. 'And we did.' A viral moment is born Because the Ad Council relies on donated space for its work, Jennings worried that broadcasters would shy away from the campaign due to its focus on the LGBTQ community. But he said Duff's spot in particular quickly received positive feedback, which encouraged companies to move it from unpopular hours to primetime. Duff's ad also got a boost on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube, which at the time had only been around for a few years. Now, he views it as one of the first pieces of media to 'go viral' via social platforms. 'If you'd asked me that day: 'Kevin, do you think we would still be talking about these ads 20 years later?,' I would have said, 'Well, in my wildest dreams,'' Jennings said. 'It turns out my wildest dream came true.' Data shows that the ads made inroads on curbing the term's use. GLSEN's 2021 school climate survey found 68% of survey takers heard 'that's so gay' either frequently or often, down from more than 90% two decades earlier. The campaign also led to a slide in bullying rates and an uptick in Gay-Straight Alliance participation, according to Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, the current executive director of GLSEN. Additionally, there's anecdotal signs of success. Even before he publicly identified as LGBTQ, Derrick Winrow II remembers trying to emulate Duff by calling out classmates who used the word gay as an insult for about a week. 'I think I was too anxious to continue doing it, but the message stayed with me ever since,' the 31-year-old artist said. 'It was a lot more impactful than I thought it was going to be.' 'Burned into your mind' In the nearly two decades since it first aired, Duff's ad has raked up several nods in media and culture. Sabrina Carpenter, a singer and fellow Disney Channel alum, jokingly quoted Duff during her Netflix Christmas special that aired late last year. Comedian Ziwe also asked a guest on her namesake show about the ad in a 2022 episode. Bratz last year recreated the spot using its dolls in the likeness of Duff and the other actresses. Etsy sellers hawk apparel citing Duff and the ad. The hosts of the Nogorge podcast discussed using the word 'gay' in an episode last month. They wondered if it could be reclaimed in the same way marginalized groups have taken back similar words that were once used offensively. Video recreations like Cameron's appear across popular platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Duff herself even got in on the trend, dropping a video of her lip syncing the original ad three years ago. 'It's burned into your mind,' said Carli De Ville, an Austin, Texas-based sex therapist who discussed the ad in a TikTok video. 'To have activism mixed with camp, I think, is what made it so iconic.' Duff's ad struck a chord with more than just LGBTQ-identifying viewers who felt validated by its affirming message. Yasmine Sahid, a social media content creator, said in a caption of her own iteration of the clip that the original video 'made me an ally' to the LGBTQ+ community. 'If Hilary Duff says that it's wrong to use the word gay in a derogatory manner, then who am I to use the word that way?' said Sahid, who recently made her TV debut in Amazon Prime's 'Overcompensating.' Representation then and now Viewers and experts alike agree that it would be hard to make an ad with the same level of visibility today given the fragmented media landscape. More than a decade and a half since the campaign, advocates for LGBTQ representation in media see both reason for celebration and a need for further efforts. 'Right now, there's some really good representation across the LGBTQ community,' said Joanna Schwartz, a Georgia College & State University professor who teaches a class on LGBTQ marketing. 'But in 2007, it wasn't really there.' For instance, positive representation in film tracked by advocacy group GLAAD has skyrocketed over the past decade. However, Schwartz said subgroups like transgender people haven't seen the same gains that the broader community has. The LGBTQ community is also mostly unrepresented in advertising, according to GLAAD data from 2023, which is the most recent information made publicly available. Of the more than 400 ads on national linear TV from the 10 largest agencies, GLAAD found LGBTQ people were featured in only 3% and accounted for less than 2% of screen time. For youth LGBTQ advocates, they're concerned about a resurgence of bullying and the ability of trained support providers to combat it. GLSEN laid off 60% of staff earlier this year, with Willingham-Jaggers citing funding pressures after corporations cut donations for LGBTQ-related groups amid right-wing pressure. Jennings, who worked on anti-bullying initiatives in the Obama administration and now runs LGBTQ rights group Lambda Legal, highlighted the 'Don't Say Gay' bills passing state legislatures as evidence of progress receding. This type of legislation, he said, contradicts the campaign's original goal of raising awareness and encouraging inclusivity among youth. 'What we learned through this campaign and through the Obama years was that if we put the time and resources into it, we can make a difference,' Jennings said. 'What we're learning right now is that that difference can be reversed — and that breaks my heart.'
CNBC
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNBC
How a gay anti-bullying PSA from the late 2000s became a cult classic
As Pride Month kicked off this year, Kai Cameron put on various wigs and outfits to recreate a commercial that he remembers vividly from the late 2000s. The social media director posted a video on TikTok mimicking an advertisement in which actress Hilary Duff told shoppers not to use the word gay as an insult. Looking at another actress in the commercial, Duff equated using the term in the pejorative to saying "That's so girl wearing a skirt as a top." She ends the ad by asking if people mean to be hurtful and to "knock it off." "It lives rent free in my head," Cameron told CNBC in an interview. Cameron has received nearly half a million likes and hundreds of comments on the video as of press time. Viewers of Cameron's reboot said in comments that Duff "ended homophobia" and "deserved a Nobel Peace Prize." The original commercial, they said, "changed lives" and was "a moment in history." If these comments are any indication, Duff's video has become a cult classic for a generation that saw the advertisement on its favorite TV channels. It's etched so clearly into their minds, and with an ever-growing slate of references across media, it's earned a long-term spot in the cultural zeitgeist. Because of that, the ad can act as a success story for advancing social issues through media messaging. At a fraught moment, nearly two decades later, supporters of the youth LGBTQ+ community wonder what can be done to reaffirm the campaign's original message. For LGBTQ+ viewers in particular, the 17-year-old segment holds a special meaning for its success in combating hate and its unique representation on screen. It is considered both humorous and over-the-top, while also spotlighting a pervasive issue in a memorable fashion. "We caught lightning in a bottle," said Kevin Jennings, the founder of youth LGBTQ+ advocacy group Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which spearheaded the campaign. "There's no other way of putting it." At the time of the campaign's release in 2008, social media was still nascent and linear TV reigned supreme. In this environment, GLSEN saw an opportunity to shape public discourse against using the phrase "that's so gay." The group launched what's known as the "Think B4 You Speak" campaign. Beyond the 30-second ad with Duff, a similar spot featured comedian Wanda Sykes likening using the word "gay" negatively to having a "cheesy" mustache. A print advertisement blitz and special website also helped push the message. The goal: to push back on "ambient" anti-LGBTQ language, according to Jennings. While many people at the time knew that some slurs were hurtful, using words like "gay" as an insult hadn't yet gotten the same treatment, he said. Jennings remembers thinking GLSEN had an equation for success. Duff was high up on the organization's list of dream faces for the message given her roles in well-known youth media like the TV show "Lizzie McGuire" and movie "A Cinderella Story." GLSEN also had the support of the Advertising Council, the group behind iconic social awareness campaigns such as Smokey Bear and Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. The campaign marked the council's first-ever ads focused on social issues related to the LGBTQ+ community. "If we pull this off, we can make history," Jennings recalled thinking. "And we did." Because the Ad Council relies on donated space for its work, Jennings worried that broadcasters would shy away from the campaign due to its focus on the LGBTQ+ community. But he said Duff's spot in particular quickly received positive feedback, which encouraged companies to move it from unpopular hours to primetime. Duff's ad also got a boost on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube, which at the time had only been around for a few years. Now, he views it as one of the first pieces of media to "go viral" via social platforms. "If you'd asked me that day: 'Kevin, do you think we would still be talking about these ads 20 years later?,' I would have said, 'Well, in my wildest dreams,'" Jennings said. "It turns out my wildest dream came true." Data shows that the ads made inroads on curbing the term's use. GLSEN's 2021 school climate survey found 68% of survey takers heard "that's so gay" either frequently or often, down from more than 90% two decades earlier. The campaign also led to a slide in bullying rates and an uptick in Gay-Straight Alliance participation, according to Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, the current executive director of GLSEN. Additionally, there's anecdotal signs of success. Even before he publicly identified as LGBTQ+, Derrick Winrow II remembers trying to emulate Duff by calling out classmates who used the word gay as an insult for about a week. "I think I was too anxious to continue doing it, but the message stayed with me ever since," the 31-year-old artist said. "It was a lot more impactful than I thought it was going to be." In the nearly two decades since it first aired, Duff's ad has raked up several nods in media and culture. Sabrina Carpenter, a singer and fellow Disney Channel alum, jokingly quoted Duff during her Netflix Christmas special that aired late last year. Comedian Ziwe also asked a guest on her namesake show about the ad in a 2022 episode. Bratz last year recreated the spot using its dolls in the likeness of Duff and the other actresses. Etsy sellers hawk apparel citing Duff and the ad. The hosts of the Nogorge podcast discussed using the word "gay" in an episode last month. They wondered if it could be reclaimed in the same way marginalized groups have taken back similar words that were once used offensively. Video recreations like Cameron's appear across popular platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Duff herself even got in on the trend, dropping a video of her lip syncing the original ad three years ago. "It's burned into your mind," said Carli De Ville, an Austin, Texas-based sex therapist who discussed the ad in a TikTok video. "To have activism mixed with camp, I think, is what made it so iconic." Duff's ad struck a chord with more than just LGBTQ+-identifying viewers who felt validated by its affirming message. Yasmine Sahid, a social media content creator, said in a caption of her own iteration of the clip that the original video "made me an ally" to the LGBTQ+ community. "If Hilary Duff says that it's wrong to use the word gay in a derogatory manner, then who am I to use the word that way?" said Sahid, who recently made her TV debut in Amazon Prime's "Overcompensating." Viewers and experts alike agree that it would be hard to make an ad with the same level of visibility today given the fragmented media landscape. More than a decade and a half since the campaign, advocates for LGBTQ+ representation in media see both reason for celebration and a need for further efforts. "Right now, there's some really good representation across the LGBTQ community," said Joanna Schwartz, a Georgia College & State University professor who teaches a class on LGBTQ+ marketing. "But in 2007, it wasn't really there." For instance, positive representation in film tracked by advocacy group GLAAD has skyrocketed over the past decade. However, Schwartz said subgroups like transgender people haven't seen the same gains that the broader community has. The LGBTQ+ community is also mostly unrepresented in advertising, according to GLAAD data from 2023, which is the most recent information made publicly available. Of the more than 400 ads on national linear TV from the 10 largest agencies, GLAAD found LGBTQ+ people were featured in only 3% and accounted for less than 2% of screen time. For youth LGBTQ+ advocates, they're concerned about a resurgence of bullying and the ability of trained support providers to combat it. GLSEN laid off 60% of staff earlier this year, with Willingham-Jaggers citing funding pressures after corporations cut donations for LGBTQ+-related groups amid right-wing pressure. Jennings, who worked on anti-bullying initiatives in the Obama administration and now runs LGBTQ+ rights group Lambda Legal, highlighted the "Don't Say Gay" bills passing state legislatures as evidence of progress receding. This type of legislation, he said, contradicts the campaign's original goal of raising awareness and encouraging inclusivity among youth. "What we learned through this campaign and through the Obama years was that if we put the time and resources into it, we can make a difference," Jennings said. "What we're learning right now is that that difference can be reversed — and that breaks my heart."
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Urban Outfitters Debuts First Pride Vinyl Collection Made in Collaboration With Influential LGBTQIA+ Artists, Allies and Labels
Urban Outfitters commemorates 2025 Pride Month this June with the retailer's first-ever Pride vinyl collection. The curated music collection features influential LGBTQIA+ artists, allies and labels, with albums released from the 1990s, 2010s and beyond. The collection includes vinyl records and casings with completely distinct album designs from various LGBTQIA+ icons, artists and allies. Selections feature Kesha's 2017 album 'Rainbow,' available in dream pop for the first time on colored vinyl, Janelle Monáe's 'The ArchAndroid,' crafted in gold and white iridescent color vinyl and RuPaul's 1993 album 'Supermodel (You Better Work),' featuring a distinct vintage design in ruby red vinyl. More from WWD EXCLUSIVE: Seed Health's New CEO Cathrin Bowtell Discusses Sprouts Launch and What's Next for the Microbiome Company Leslie Bibb Wears Blazer Minidress, Parker Posey Gets Textural in Feathery Look and More From 'The White Lotus' FYC Event Jameela Jamil Preps Her Own Makeup for the 'Elio' Premiere: 'An Homage to the '90s Supermodels' 'At UO, we're always listening to our customers and music is one of the most powerful ways they connect, express, and celebrate who they are,' said Jena Tracey, executive director of home and lifestyle buying at Urban Outfitters. 'This collection brings their favorite artists to the forefront during a time that matters deeply. It's about more than vinyl, it's about being part of the moments that shape identity, joy and connection.' Other artists featured in the vinyl collection include FKA Twigs, Lucy Dacus, Britney Spears, Aly & AJ and more. A new drop from Frankie Grande will also feature as part of the collection and collaboration. Along with Urban Outfitters' first Pride vinyl collection, the retailer continues its longstanding relationship with GLSEN, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe and inclusive school environments for LGBTQIA+ students through fundraising and community-based initiatives. Urban Outfitters will launch a 30-day cashwrap campaign across all North American retail locations where shoppers can round their purchase to the nearest dollar in order for proceeds to directly benefit GLSEN. The vinyl collection is available online and at select Urban Outfitters stores beginning June 27. Best of WWD ColourPop x Lilo & Stitch Collaborate on Mischievous Island Adventures Collection in New Campaign [PHOTOS] Lunar New Year Collections to Know: Details on Fashion, Jewelry and More Brands Embracing the Year of the Snake Valentine's Day Collections to Know: Details on Fashion, Makeup, Jewelry and More Brands Giving Products a Touch of Love, Live Updates
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
6 Ways to Support LGBTQ+ Youth for Pride Month (and Beyond)
This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. June 1 marks the beginning of Pride Month, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community that includes parades, festivals, and other community-building events. Pride Month acknowledges the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community as well as their struggles throughout history for equal rights and opportunities. Pride Month gives parents and caregivers a chance to discuss LGBTQ+ issues with kids in an age- and stage-appropriate way, to celebrate your own household if you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, to show support for the community, and to establish yourself as an ally, especially if you care for a child who identifies as LGBTQ+. Here are some ways to support LGBTQ+ youth during Pride Month and beyond. Pride month events are joyful celebrations of the community, and there are often plenty of family-friendly opportunities to engage with throughout the month. For example, in our community, there are Pride Month Maker's Markets and a celebration at our local botanical garden. Research events in advance to make sure they are truly family-friendly, and then make a plan to attend and support those events with your family. No matter how your own family is structured, showing support for LGBTQ+ folks models acceptance and inclusion to your kids. If your child or their friends use chosen pronouns or a name that was not assigned to them at birth, make an effort to accept that as part of their identity, and use their preferred pronouns and names as much as possible. Be honest with your child if this is challenging for you, and let them know that, even if you don't always get it right, you are trying to do your best. If you care for a child who is LGBTQ+, educate yourself and them about LGBTQ+ history in a safe, age-appropriate way. Share with your children the many diverse family structures and gender identities that exist and affirm that they are all valid. Visit your local library to find books on specific subjects related to LGBTQ+ history (examples include Stonewall: A Building, an Uprising, a Revolution and Rainbow Revolutionaries: 50 LGBTQ+ People Who Made History. And if you're an educator, check out GLSEN for more resources. LGBTQ+ youth face a lot of challenges, and it's important to make sure they find supportive environments for asking questions, sharing their feelings, and connecting with friends and allies. Look for organizations that support LGBTQ+ youth, and facilitate your child attending meetups and support groups. In addition to local groups, national organizations like The Trevor Project, The LGBT National Help Center, and Trans Lifeline offer support for folks across the country. Find therapists and mental health providers who can support your child with ongoing therapy as needed to help them develop tools to navigate the world around them. Supporting LGBTQ+ youth means standing up for their rights, not just during Pride Month, but year-round. Practice affirming, non-discriminating behavior, challenge stereotypes, and stand alongside the LGBTQ+ community in your daily actions and political activities to show that you are fully committed and invested. Find organizations that are already doing this work, either in your own community or nationally, and support them by donating your time and, if possible, making financial contributions. People all want the same basic things — to be heard, seen, and loved — and this is especially important for kids. Devote specific, quality time to listening to your children, no matter where they are on their gender and sexuality journey. Create safe, private time in which they can ask you about anything, and make an effort to answer honestly. If you don't know the answer to a question, show them how to do the research to educate themselves. Ask them questions to better understand their perspective, and be an active listener. Let them know that you are learning and growing, just like they are, and most importantly, express to them that you love them for who they are, unconditionally. These 15 Kids' Storage Beds Have Hidden Depths The 14 Best Costco Items to Buy for Quick Family Meals The Best Zipper Sheets to Solve the Worst Bed-Making Task
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protect gender non-conforming students. That's what Title IX demands
In classrooms across the country, gender non-conforming students are forced to play roles they never auditioned for. They are pressured to fit into outdated scripts about what boys and girls should look and act like. It's a reality that brings to mind "The Catcher in the Rye's" Holden Caulfield: a young person suffocating under society's expectations, longing for authenticity in a world full of "phonies." But while Holden had the privilege to rebel, gender non-conforming youth today face harassment, fear, and institutional neglect simply for showing up as themselves. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools. Recent legal interpretations, including Bostock v. Clayton County (2020), have made it clear that this includes gender identity and expression. Yet, enforcement remains patchy and inconsistent, and schools too often resort to silence instead of safety. More: Cincinnati-area trans people, families 'exhausted' from Trump orders against them According to GLSEN, an education organization working to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, 71.6% of gender non-conforming students report being verbally harassed because of their gender expression. These students are not safe, and they know it. Title IX, originally passed to ensure educational equity, must be enforced to protect all students, including those who challenge gender norms. We need the U.S. Department of Education to strengthen enforcement and training, Congress to stand firm against rollbacks, and, above all, the public to understand that this isn't about politics. It's about giving every child the freedom to learn without fear, no matter who they are or how they dress. More: University of Cincinnati's 'biological' bathroom signs removed. 'Error' cost $16K No student should be punished for refusing to fit into someone else's story. Elisabeth Sebastian, Fort Wright, Ky. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Title IX means nothing if schools ignore gender identity | Letter
