Every time someone describes something as "so gay" my heart sinks. It bothers me that 'gay' - an identity many people struggle with - growing up in a culture where 'gay' is negative, is derogatory, is demeaning. It's part of the culture which leads to internalised homophobia, depression and other problems for queer youth as described in Stonewall's media depiction report and a US study of queer youth and the benefits of relationships.

But every time someone says "so gay" it puts me in a difficult position. We should all be challenging it. I should be challenging it. But as an individual comment it's small and petty and I feel like an over-reacting jerk for doing so. Yeah, I feel like a jerk when I challenge an aspect of homophobic culture. I don't want to feel like a "PC zealot" concerned more with the minutia than with the wider picture, but each time "so gay" is used without challenge it's supporting a wider picture which isn't very pretty.

I just wish I were better at it than I am.

On a similar subject, you should all check out the @clarebalding1 vs the Sunday Times story.

Alex
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