Does social media effect gay rights essay
As a matter of fact, until the secondhalf of theXXcentury, in manysocietiesit was believedthat if sexual orientation isdifferent fromthe orientationof the majority,it is a signof sinand disease.As a result, homosexualswere forced toflee to escapeabuse,imprisonments, oreven death.In the late1960s,against the background ofthe active development ofcounter-cultural, feministmovements, movements for civilrights for blacksin the U.S. beganthe self-awarenessof the lesbian,gay, bisexual andtransgender people,united bycommon interests, problems and goals.The purposeof this community wassocial equality, human rights and elimination of discrimination andxenophobia, sexual freedom, tolerance and recognitionof their rightto be different.
It should be noted that with the invention of Internet, social media and other technological tools gay and lesbian community received a new instrument to promote their ideas and fight for their equality. Particularly, thecontent productionin a decentralized mannerand withouteditorial controloflargegroups. In other words, it meansthe production ofmany to many.It can be said that “social media tools” areonline systemsdesigned to allowsocial interactionthrough sharingandcollaborative creationof informationin variousformats. Theyallowed thepublication of contentsby any persondownloadingthevirtuallyzerocostof production anddistribution to thelongtail-beforethis activitywas restricted tolargecorporations.It is essential to note that theycover variousactivities that integratetechnology, social interactionand the constructionof words, pictures, videos and audios. This interactionand the wayin which informationis presenteddependson the variousperspectivesof the personwho sharedthe content, as thisis partof their history andunderstanding of the world.
As a fact, one of the major events in gay community development became the creation of so-called “The NOH8 Campaign”which means “no hate”. Particularly, NOH8 Campaign is a photographic silent protest against California’s Proposition 8, which prohibits marriage between same sex partners in that state. The campaign includes photographers portraying people in front of a white background, wearing white shirts, with their mouths taped over and the “NOH8” painted on their cheeks. The campaign was created on February 1, 2009, by the famous photographers Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley in direct response to this proposal. The photos are included in the campaign website, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, MySpace, as well as in a virtual world campaign in Second Life. It should be noted that about two and a half years since its inception, the NOH8 Campaign has grown to approximately 13,000 faces and continues to grow at an exponential rate. The campaign began with portraits of everyday Californians from all walks of life and soon rose including politicians, military personnel, newlyweds, artists, celebrities and many more, as described in About NOH8 Campaign.
It is important to note that NOH8 Campaign has received support from all over the world and has appeared on several local and national news and publications. Images are widely used in various social networks like Facebook and Twitter to spread the message of equality.The photos of the campaign have circulated on the Internet and are appearing in the profiles of supporters in many social networks. As a fact, the LGBT not have participated in the photo shoots. During the controversy of the 2009 Miss USA, Shanna Moakler, and co-executive director Keith Lewis Parade, encouraged Tamiko Nash, Miss California and Miss USA first runner of 2006 and 2008 Miss California Raquel Beezley to attend the session to protest photographic standpoint of Carrie Prejean on marriage betweenher same sex partner in the United States.Also, Miss USA and Miss Universe 1997 Brook Lee posed for the NOH8 campaign in the May 25, 2009, as described in How Celebrities Come Out Now. On November 18, 2009, it was announced that the city of West Hollywood, California, plans to make the December 13 an official NOH8 Day. Some celebritieswere posing forsupportNOH8, among other was Pauley Perrettewho helpedNOH8sellingsomesouvenirs toauctionprofits arethen returneddirectly to theassociation.Shealsoarrivedat the People’sChoiceAwards 2011wearing adresswith NOH8 logo and changed herTwitterprofile pictureandbackgroundpictureforNOH8.Moreover, among the others celebritiesattended were: Skylar Grey,JustinBieber,Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Lisa Edelstein, Pete Wentz, sisters Kim,KhloeandKourtneyKardashian,LindsayLohan,HarryStyles,ShayMitchellandmany others. Further, I would like to provide Daniel Radcliffe’s quote, which in my opinion, in many ways describes celebrities’ attitude to this issue:“Some people think I am gay, which I think is awesome”, as stated in Interview: NOH8 campaign founders Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley.
It should be noted that theNOH8Campaignis a project ofsilent protestagainst the California state proposal. However, many celebrities not only actively participated in the campaign, but also expressed their own position to gay community rights. For example, according to Hulk Hogan, “It’s tough because a lot of my friends in normal life, a lot of my friends in the entertainment business, and a lot of my friends in the wrestling business are gay. Just to say something spiteful and hurtful, I don’t get it… if it was true and I was gay, I’d embrace it, and I’d tell you guys about it and I’d celebrate it”, as stated in One Person Can Make A Difference. At the end of 2010, more than 13,000faces havebeenincludedin this campaign.The pictures aremadethroughopenphotoshoots, which were held acrossthe United States. Some students havemade their ownphotoshoots.The campaign featuresphotos of peopledoingas wellaspart ofLGBTheterosexual people.On 5November 2010, theNOH8Campaignhas been approved asa charity”public benefit” by the Office of theAttorney Generalof California, allowing its current statusas an associationfornon-profit, as stated in NOH8 Campaign Finally An Approved Non Profit Organization in CA.
All in all,I would like to say that the essence of theNOH8 campaignis thatpeople from allover the worldsending theirphotos which, one way or another,representofficial symbolsof advertising.A symbol canbe written on theface,hands,clothes -as long as ithas a good view.The campaign startedwiththe fact that oneof the bloggersposteda photo inthe network, calling all to supporthis rightsto enterinto a formal marriagewith hisboyfriend.They met witha surprisinglyfruitfulsupport, which soonrespondedto the call ofmanycelebrities, who are known for theirtolerantviewson others.After some time,the programbegan tocatch up withordinary people,sending theirphotosfrom around the world- the programhasinter-ethniccharacter.All that is neededto supportsexual minorities– is tosend a picture. Itwill be postedon thecampaign website. Nowin the programtook part more than1,500 people, including many celebrities.It can be said thatNOH8 Campaignhas become oneof the most popularon the net. Moreover, in orderto attract theattention of the public, many people agreeto posetopless.
Without any doubts, celebrities from different countries continue to take active participation in NOH8 Campaign and promote it by any means with popular social media such as Twitter and Facebook. However, the real achievement of this campaign lies in the fact that it was able to attract not indifferent people all over the world, who from now on promote the campaign with any means. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that the celebrities have played the crucial role in the NOH8 Campaign development. That is why I would like to finish the essay with the words of one of the most loyal gay community rights defender – Madonna: “Gay men are perfect men for girls who are tough. They’re not threatened by strong women, and they’re usually very in touch with their feelings and pay attention to details. I’ve always had an affinity with gay men”, as described in One Person Can Make A Difference and this explains everything.
