Hop Against Homophobia
If you are reading you probably already know Homophobia & Transphobia is dangerous. To allow this prejudice to continue puts people at risk: our friends, our family, our kids. It needs to STOP!
What can you do? How can one person stand up against such massive insanity? Every little thing you do has an impact and can help make the world a better place.
1) Educate. Be a teacher: correct a negative comment or slur. Ensure your family and friends know you won't tolerate prejudice in any form. Teach your kids to value others regardless of their differences and to stand up for what's right. By promoting equality through your words, actions and deeds, you are setting an example. Educate yourself on stats so you are ready to defend your viewpoint and help 'evolve' other people's opinion.
2) Support businesses that stand up for equality. This is only a short list of a few major ones but there are lots of them. Vote with your dollars. You will be heard. Write to them and thank them for their support.
Target
Bud Light
Absolut
JC Penny
Starbucks
Kenneth Cole
Microsoft
Expedia
Levi's
American Apparel
Nike
Apple
American Airlines
Google
Boeing
IBM
3) VOTE in elections. Write your representatives… tell them you want them to support gay rights and laws to protect everyone.
4) Support Organizations with agendas that promote equality.
On a personal note, I support PFLAG ((http://community.pflag.org/Page.aspx?pid=194&srcid=-2))
It is a wonderful group dedicated to advocacy and support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender persons, their families and friends. I have been a member for almost a year and the people I have met have been some of the most inspiring, courageous individuals I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I leave each meeting enriched and refreshed knowing the world is becoming a better place.
5) March in a Pride Parade… last year was my first. I volunteered and marched with two kids from my PFLAG group. It was an amazing and empowering experience (& I can't wait for the next one).
6) Wearing a rainbow anything gives hope and support to someone who may feel they are totally alone. I have gotten glares and grimaces to which I meet with sunny happy smiles. But I've had strangers talk to me or teenagers smile/nod in appreciation. Just letting people know there are people who believe in equality is important.
7) Writing happily ever afters for gay characters allow people to see the possibilities and hope. I watched a young woman change her opinion based on characters in a book. She went from completely being disrespectful to arguing with her family about how everyone should be treated equally regardless of who they loved.
This is a very short list of very simple things but they add up.
Sooooo, please tell me what you do day to day to fight homophobia… help me add to this list. What can we do to make the world a better and safer place for everyone?
*****I will be giving away three ebooks of Club Zombie: Zombies Ahead to enter just make a comment about what you are planning to do or have done to fight homophobia.***** I know it's on the erotic side of romance but I decided this book was appropriate because the main character, Kai utilizes a book telling the happily ever afters of the mated zombies to help him adjust to his own sexuality. I think many people have become more sensitive and caring about gay rights by reading gay romance.
Day Against Homophobia:
http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/
Main Page for the Hop Against Homophobia:
http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com.
Let's make every day against homophobia!!!
Hugs, Z.Allora
