While traditional media continues to cover the many issues facing our community, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) recently announced a new program that extends the organization's LGBT advocacy efforts beyond traditional media into the realms of virtual communities, gaming and social networks.
While online networks have made it easier for LGBT youth and others to open the closet door with a few posts or tweets, these exponentially-growing communities can also harbor homophobic content from other users or dated policies that stifle an LGBT individual's expression. Personally, I have had to tackle my own set of homophobic postings, messages and DMs from random individuals or forgotten grade school acquaintances.
GLAAD's new program, to be headed by Director of Digital Media Justin Cole (who previously worked in the digital realm for Media Matters for America), will work to:
- Provide a safe arena for LGBT people to connect
- Develop policies with communities and networks that prevent anti-LGBT defamation while not prohibiting LGBT self-identification and expression
- Educate communities and users about the effects of homophobia.
GLAAD has previously had success working with Microsoft's XBox Live executives and Electronic Arts, after accounts or message threads with LGBT references were blocked or suspended. The organization, with the cooperation of Facebook and YouTube, has also stopped user accounts that openly call for the harming or killing of LGBT people. Next weekend on July 18, GLAAD will also host a panel with gaming companies and LGBT gamers in Silicon Valley, including representatives from XBox Live, Electronic Arts, Inc. and GayGamer.net. For more on the panel or to attend the event, visit www.glaad.org/digitalevent.
While these programs and past successes are great and needed, I applaud GLAAD for focusing on education, not just policies and calls to actions, of these companies and users. We as LGBT individuals must do the same in our personal lives. While there is a portion of the population who may never respect or understand our community, many only need to be engaged in an honest conversation, discovering who we are and what words or statements can offend or stifle us. In return, we should get to know our fellow gamer or Facebook friend, discovering too those comments or words that could equally offend them.
Its not about political correctness or taking away freedom of speech. Rather it's about truly communicating within all of our networks -- in person or virtual -- and respecting the emotions, lives and dignity of a fellow human being. What are your thoughts on this new program?
i think it's a marvelous idea to create networks that are not just gay-friendly but also able to counteract homophobic attacks and ideas.
even though i grew up as a straight boy and learned about "queers" and how bad it would be to be queer, i never found it necessary to use epithets to make myself feel better. i'm grateful that i can say that - especially after having come to the realization after so many years that i am one of those "queers." i think, many times, the worst offenders are those who are holding back their own gay sensibilities and sensitivities - only realizing it later in life as many of us have done.
i'm glad that GLAAD exists and that it is pursuing this.
Posted by: george | July 10, 2009 at 08:48 AM
I think its a great way to provide a safe arena to communicate and express oneself, while also educating those who may need that open two-way communication. Well done GLAAD.
Posted by: Katie North | July 13, 2009 at 12:17 PM