Australian teacher apologizes for removing the word ‘gay’ from song

An Australian teacher asked students to stop using the word “gay” when singing a classic children’s song, but stated no homophobia was intended. The instructor said he was playing a song about Kookaburra birds for 7- and 8-year-old students when the line gay your life must be produced giggles. The teacher said his decision to change the words was a mistake made with best of intentions, and plans to speak to the students about how different words hold different meanings across generations. Some of the students use the word “gay” as a schoolyard taunt, but don’t understand its true meaning. And so, to calm them down, he told them to swap in the word “fun” for “gay.” He also plans to ask students to sing the original version of the song.