The Think Before You Speak Campaign

The GLSEN and Nation’s Ad Council Work to Eliminate Anti-LGBT Speech

Apr 17, 2009

In school environments where teens regularly hear slurs such as "faggot," "dyke," and the phrase "that's so gay," one campaign is standing up to intolerant speech.

The “Think Before You Speak Campaign” (also written “Think B4 You Speak”) is a product of the combined efforts of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the national Ad Council. The project is designed to “raise awareness about the prevalence and consequences of anti-LGBT bias and behavior in America’s schools…and reduce and prevent the use of homophobic language in an effort to create a more positive environment for LGBT teens.”

Shocking Statistics about LGBT Students and Safety

In a nation where more than one-third of LGBT students have been physically harassed at school and roughly three-quarters of all students report hearing homophobic remarks in the school environment on a regular basis (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s 2007 National School Climate Survey), it is clear that “Think Before You Speak” has taken on a widespread issue.

Through the use of videos, testimonies, statistics, and information about the subject, the campaign is working to eradicate intolerant speech and to raise the level of consciousness when it comes to the implications of our words and actions. (Please note that while a few of these words, including the term "dyke" have certainly been reclaimed by the LGBT community as a means of eliminating the pejorative implications and beginning to use it as a means of self-identification, this campaign is focused on the use of these words in the derogatory sense). Recognizing that the phrase “that’s so gay!” is an ingrained part of teen speech and is often uttered unintentionally, with no thought to the harm it may cause, the campaign has geared its mission mainly toward high school students and is working diligently to make the cause relevant.

What the "Think Before You Speak" Campaign Offers

The organizers of the campaign have worked tirelessly to make the information both interesting and pertinent to teens. In addition to the wealth of information provided by the Think B4 You Speak site, there are also opportunities to become actively involved. For example, teens can sign a pledge to “Say Something Original,” thereby vowing to wipe the phrase “that’s so gay!” out of their vocabulary. There are also opportunities to design e-cards, click on dictionary entries that contain derogatory words to find their real meaning, and read step-by-step guides about how to start a Gay-Straight Alliance Club at their school. The most popular of all the features, though, has to be the national Public Service Announcements which feature celebrities like Wanda Sykes and Hilary Duff.

Public Service Announcements: Wanda Sykes and Hilary Duff

In an effort to further the cause and help raise awareness, both Wanda Sykes and Hilary Duff have made PSAs for the campaign. With scenarios that include girls in a clothing store and teen boys in a diner, the PSAs give a glimpse of just how often adolescents use the phrase “that’s so gay!” and just how rare it is for them to be confronted.

These service announcements, which skillfully incorporate a tinge of humor into the mix, get right-to-the-point. The ending line “Knock It Off” - though delivered more powerfully and with more conviction in Sykes’ case than in Duff’s - make it clear that although the situations can be humorous, this is nonetheless a serious matter that should be approached with care.

Far-Ranging Effects of "Think Before You Speak"

Though it is difficult to say precisely what effect the campaign will have, it is clear that is has already made waves. With nearly 100,000 hits each for the several versions of the PSAs posted on YouTube alone, it is clear that these videos have reached broad audiences.

In fact, although the campaign is ultimately directed at teens, it is also inclusive enough to draw in parents and teachers. With portions of the site dedicated to the most influential adults in the lives of the nation’s youth, the campaign recognizes the impact of home and school-based discussions. By initiating action on the part of today’s teens, and by encouraging the adults in their life to follow in their stead, the campaign will little-by-little erode the derogatory language that is contributing to anti-LGBT bias and will help dismantle the current system which has created a potentially unsafe school environment for many LGBT teens.

The copyright of the article The Think Before You Speak Campaign in Gay/Gender Issues is owned by Kristin Krogh. Permission to republish The Think Before You Speak Campaign in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.