End-Of-Summer Activism II
9/3/2010 - Here are three more easy things you can do to work towards freedom and fairness for all LGBT families in North Carolina. Two of them you can do right now (if you're not already doing them).
1) Show Up
There's a saying that 80% of success is just showing up, and for LGBT issues the percentage is probably higher. Just being visible and existing in an open fashion still makes a huge difference.
We invite you to join us (and even volunteer with us!) at upcoming Pride events across the state:
- September 25th, NC PrideFest 2010, Durham
- October 2nd, Blue Ridge Pride, Asheville
- October 2nd, Pride Charlotte, Charlotte
- October 16th, Catawba Valley Pride, Hickory
And don't forget the fourth annual Equality Conference & Gala! It's taking place in Greensboro this year on Saturday, November 13th. Come and learn, be a sponsor or exhibitor, captain a Gala table, and/or nominate an Equality Champion.
2) Tune In
Keep an eye and ear on your city's paper, local news channels, and major news outlets. Many stories use anti-equality language, often unknowingly. Don't let these go unnoticed. Keep a lookout for terms like "gay marriage" (bad) or "same-sex marriage" (bad), as well as "marriage equality" (good) and simply "marriage" (good). Be mindful of the use of language like "alternative lifestyles" (bad) or "homosexuals" (bad), in addition to "gay" (good) and "LGBT" (good, as are it's variations, e.g., GLBT, LGBTQA, etc.).
GLAAD has a top-notch Media Reference Guide that you can use to keep on top of this, and the Movement Advancement Project offers guides on talking about all kinds of LGBT issues, including relationship recognition and marriage.
Once you've noted something, be sure to respond. If the media outlet could do a better job covering this issue, let them know. Send a direct note to the staff writer or reporter with suggestions of how to make their coverage of LGBT issues more accurate and effective, write a letter to the editor, and/or leave comments on their website.
You can even send a link to GLAAD's Media Reference Guide and/or contact information for a local LGBT-positive organization like a PFLAG chapter or nearby LGBT center to the reporter. Providing friendly, helpful advice lets you become a resource yourself, and it'll increase the odds that the reporter will cover LGBT-focused stories using more accurate language in the future.
Check out this blog entry for a real-life story on one of our supporters effecting positive change within our statewide TV news channel.
If the media did an exemplary job covering the story, be sure to let them know that, too. Too often we don't take the time to respond to good coverage, and encouraging the positive is just as important as discouraging the negative. Keep in mind that reporters and editors get an earful from those who don't support equal rights, and you can be their breath of fresh air for the day.
3) Hang Out
Get together with friends, family, and neighbors to have a movie night. Pick something with gay content and then talk about it afterwards.
If you're not sure where to start, there are plenty of lists available online, like:
- 50 Greatest Gay Movies from AfterElton.com
- 50 Great Films by GLBT Directors
- The Best Gay Movies of the Last Ten Years
- Overall Top Ten Movies from OutFilms
There's always something you can do to make things better for all LGBT families in North Carolina. Every effort you make, even the smallest things, can make a huge positive difference.
(Money, of course, works, too, and is always welcomed by your local LGBT activist nonprofits. You can support the efforts of Equality NC by making a donation today.)
