Radical Language
- Autumn A.K.A. The Kinky Copywriter
- Jun 24
- 7 min read
ESSAY by AUTUMN a.k.a. THE KINKY COPYWRITER
The Old-School Terms Are Here to Stay. And Honestly, I’m Totally Here for It.
It’s been over 15 years since Hilary Duff’s Don’t Say Gay commercial aired on television. Our blonde hero enters a clothing store and overhears two younger girls calling a shirt “gay” when considering the purchase. She tells them that the misuse of the term is actually insulting, as the word they really want to use is “bad” or “ugly.” As the ending screen appears, it’s revealed that the commercial is part of a campaign for GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. The ad is punctuated with a line I can still hear ringing in my mind:
