File photo US: Research from the University of Michigan says queer students who hear phrases such as "that’s so gay" more often are more likely to suffer headaches, eating problems and feelings of isolation. They looked at the impact the phrase had on 114 students between the age of 18 and 25. The findings have been reported in the Journal of American College Health. Only around one in ten of those surveyed said they had not heard the phrase at all, and many reported that they had heard it ten times or more during the school year. "Given the nature of gay-lesbian-bisexual stigma, sexual minority students could already perceive themselves to be excluded on campus and hearing “that’s so gay” may elevate such perceptions," says co-author Michael Woodford. He and the report's other author, Michael Howell of Appalachian State University, say the only way to eradicate the negative effects of this "low level hostility" is for the phrases to be removed from university vernacular language. Woodford said that institutions should be raising awareness of the harmful effects this can have on other students. Normal 0 false false false EN-NZ X-NONE X-NONE
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 1st September 2012 - 9:54am