After Sam Shore and the teams at Rainbow Youth and OUTLine launched WTF last week, the flak started flying. The campaign features a bunch of celebrities and a loud message that features a pretty naughty word. It’s internet-based and therefore targeted at a younger demographic that may share the video on Facebook without following it up by giving money to the two organisations. It’s too this… It’s too that… Once again, detractors have come out of the woodwork to say that something someone in the community put together in an attempt to drum up awareness and funds is not good enough.
There appears to be quite an ugly Little Red Hen scenario happening here. Replace “Who will help me sow the seeds?” and “Who will help me harvest the wheat?” with “Who will help create a campaign to help needy organisations?” and you’re on the right track. The end of the road is where it gets ugly. The little red hen asks, “Who will help me eat the bread?”, and gets to deny those who didn’t help the fruits of her labour. In our uglier, gayer version of the story, when the people who put these campaigns ask, “Who will help me raise awareness and funds?”, a steady flow of detractors shouting “I won’t, but I’ll shit on your ideas” surfaces. Awesome.
After I put my money where my gaping maw is last week, I was asked why I did so. I was asked why I felt Rainbow Youth and OUTLine were deserving of my money. I didn’t have a lot to say at the time, but as is the case with any wit, it happens as you’re walking down the staircase, so here goes.
I decided to give my money to Rainbow Youth and OUTLine to keep their doors open. I decided to hand over the cash because I want to know that schools all over the place are getting visits from out, proud and educated people who want to help queer and questioning kids feel like they’re not alone in this world. I want these kids to see someone cool and honest and open come in and tell them that it’s all right to be themselves. I’m giving over my money because I want there to be someone to answer the phone when a newly out couple get shunned by their families and don’t know what to do. I want there to be someone there who’s capable of dealing with a crisis, and regardless of where the crisis is happening, be on the other end of an 0800 number; there and ready to listen.
But most importantly, I’m giving money to these organisations because I see and have seen the work they do for people firsthand. They’ve provided a place for me and my friends to go when we felt like outsiders, they’ve given me tools to help my friends in times of crisis; they’ve stopped my friends from killing themselves. So when these organisations asked, “Where’s The Funds?”, I didn’t think to hassle them or poke holes in their campaign. I simply asked, “Where do I sign?”
| Hannah JV
editor@gayexpress.co.nz
you’re missing the point, people don’t doubt the message of the campaign, they just hate the celebrities that feature in it. kind of like the ad is a cork stree, and u decide you hate this character and that character. I hate oliver driver and i hate that one from the model show and i hate tamiti. i don’t hate the message or don’t hate rainbow youth, i just hate the celebrities, do you get it? thats all everyone ever said, do u get it?
can u understand?
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Hi Ron,
People have been pu-puing more than just those who feature in the campaign. I would not have put this editorial together had I not had conversations (and on occasion, arguments) where the efforts of Rainbow Youth and OUTLine were called into question. Perhaps the conversations you had were about who features in the campaign, but they are not the only conversations happening.
PS: Hate is a strong word. What have Oliver Driver and Tamati Coffey ever done to you?
Hannah JV
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Ron, look how many times you use the word hate. You have embodied everything that we need to stand against; intolerance, judgement and ignorance. You ‘hate’ our allies? You ‘hate’ over and over. I have a question for you. Are you part of the problem or part of the solution? Are you feeding the negativity that surrounds us as gay people? I would have to say YES YOU ARE. Change your mind Ron. If you are going to infect the quantum field, infect it with love.
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I’m allowed to hate who i like, if those people are going to throw themselves into the limelight I will hate them if i don’t like them on the telly. why should i be tolerant of some ponsonby crawling bloody hooligan like oliver driver? walking round in his $400 sandals getting a latte on sunday? why should i be tolerant of that guy? its ok to hate people if you want, it doesn’t mean that i discriminate against oliver driver, intact i am not even in a position to discriminate him even if i wanted to, however i can voice my hate for him on here and i just did.
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Oh dear.
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Ron’s right!
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You may be able to censor my opinion, but you cannot censor my civil disobedience, the effects of which will be felt in NZ.
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well said hannah. yay for those wanting to be part of the solution.
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