EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada -- The University of Alberta team behind the “No Homophobes” campaign has launched a Public Service Announcement aimed to prevent the use of anti-gay slurs that can be devastating to those in the LGBTQ community.
The controversial PSA is now being broadcast in Alberta province as a Canadian website launched by the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services (iSMSS) at the University of Alberta, which has noted the prevalence of homophobic language, has been garnering international attention for months. Since July 2012 the site- www.nohomophobes.com – has tracked more than 6 million tweets containing the word “faggot."
“Homophobic language is the most commonly, derogatory language used today but the least addressed by teachers and many adults,” says Dr. Kristopher Wells with the iSMSS.
“When I first saw those numbers first start to come in on the website, I thought we might get a couple hundred tweets a day, not in the tens of thousands,” adds Wells.
With the hope of increasing public awareness about homophobia and “casual homophobia,” with this new PSA, the ISMSS team explained that many people who use the slurs don’t consider themselves homophobic.
“Words have the possibility to shape people’s identities, their realities, and possibilities for the future," said Wells.
The PSA is a 30 second spot that bleeps out several words deemed offensive except for the words “gay faggot”, which prompts viewers to question why the use of homophobic language is still used in society and sometimes even accepted. The PSA was created by Calder Bateman and the production was donated by Global Television.
Wells noted that the use of these terms and their prevalence in society is destructive.
“That’s what leads to youth feeling isolated and alienated and tragically, in some cases, youth suicide. We know that Canada has one of the highest suicide rates in the western world.”
According to Wells, sexual minorities are also one of the three most targeted groups for hate crimes in the country, and of all hate crimes committed; those against sexual minorities are the most violent in nature.
Tim Spelliscy, Senior Regional Director for Global News Edmonton and the Prairie Region said:
“We are proud to be part of this campaign. This is a pressing social issue that has been swept under the surface for far too long. It’s not ok to target other people because of their differences because diversity and difference are our greatest strength as a society.
It’s what makes us resilient, vibrant and able to adapt and change. It’s our biggest asset,” adding, “The use of casual homophobia must end. We are all responsible to stop it. The lives of our youth and the humanity of our society depends on it.”WATCH :
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1 comments:
Not bad, but I do think the written question at the end should also have had a voice over. If one is listening to the spot, and not watching it, one kind of misses the point.
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