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January 2007

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Gay slurs and other name-calling makes news
Jan. 24 , 2007

“Grey’s Anatomy” star Isaiah Washington has been under fire for using an anti-gay slur and the issue is still making national news. Meanwhile, the issue of name-calling and gays and lesbians is in the news locally as well. Some parents at Farmington Middle School East are upset that the school’s “No Name-Calling Week” is sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

Anne Phibbs, University of Minnesota Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies (GLBTA) Office, can speak about the name-calling controversies and the importance of raising awareness about name-calling at all ages in our society from elementary school to college and beyond.

In fact, the U of M is hosting the largest national GLBTA college conference in the nation next month and name-calling is the subject of one of the workshops titled “Dude, That's So Gay!” The workshop examines how language is used to oppress GLBT communities and reinforce heterosexism.

More than 1,500 people are expected to attend the Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender Ally College Conference “Alphabet Soup 2007” from Friday, Feb. 16 to Sunday, Feb. 18. The annual conference promotes leadership, activism, networking, diversity, health and empowerment among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, allied students staff and faculty from across the United States.