For this project, I already knew that I wanted the topic of LGBTQ+ awareness. The problem was to find out what to do and what my goal could be, what a feasible goal could be. And then it clicked the 14th of February, the day of Love.
Fear and Lack of Knowledge are the roots of hate and disapproval. The root of confusion and concern for the future generation. It is what triggers parents to disapprove of their children’s sexuality or gender. It is what triggers the youth to fear what they might be and worry about whoever they will need to hide, or if they can trust their parents to love them and not the idea of them.
I have felt that last fear myself, and I have firsthand realized that my lack of knowledge on different subjects led me to disapprove of things I knew next to nothing about.
So, I wanted to create an LGBTQ+ Awareness campaign to inform people about what each letter means and then some information to battle misunderstandings and fears. Because people hate not knowing.
I have over the years tried to figure out who I am and with the blossom of LGBTQ+ acceptance I had words to search for and research to find a word for what I felt. When I did find the right label I got scared, it wasn´t a common one, and I… I said to myself “I want to be normal.” because in my eyes, anything not Heterosexual and Cisgender, was not normal, at least when it was about me. I tried to convince myself that I was just a late bloomer and that I would be normal in a few years, but that never came. I was lucky to have even found the label that encompassed what I was feeling the entire time, but I had little knowledge of what it or other things meant. So I became jealous of others with easier sexualities. I thought I was broken. I don´t want anyone else to feel that.
As I work with small children I also see the traces of the parents´ opinions in the children. Some children get to now wear exactly what they want regardless of what gender section it was from in the clothing store. While others frown at the Pride flag that was on the school flagpole and say “This is wrong. Being gay is wrong and icky. The flag will turn everyone gay. Ew.” They barely know what love is and yet they already hear what their parents say or hint at and a new generation of anti-LGBTQ+ is created.
Over several years on Reddit forums and on Youtube Meme Reactions, I have seen a pattern in anti-LGBTQ+ comments and posts. They were either willfully ignorant. Uneducated beyond 5th grade simplified biology. Or fearful about what this surge in “everything acceptance” would do to their younger more influential generation.
The final nail in the coffin for my theme came when I saw this one post on r/NoStupidQuestions “When will “coming out of the closet” stop being news?”. The answers were: “When people feel safe enough to not have to enter the closet in the first place.” and “Yup! When heterosexuality is simply one of the potential options, not the assumed default setting.” and “I guess when it stops being something that could ruin some people’s lives and put them in danger.” It was depressing.
I have also seen a parent in their 50s ask the same forum what being a “Furry” meant and “What does it mean to be Trans? Is it based on gender stereotypes?” Just honest curiosity that luckily got soothed BECAUSE they knew to ask questions. It was devastating to read one post where it can be summarised into: “My daughter says she is a Furry, what does that mean? My husband refuses to allow or accept anything that isn’t girl or boy.” and that wasn´t even about gender or sexuality exploration, but the parents thought so because they just assumed it was.
So even “the basics” of genders and sexualities have passed by older generations since they didn´t feel the need to know about it, until they suddenly should. Because all of the sudden it wasn´t just “the others” but now it is personal, now it might be their child.
Goal with campaign
The goal of this campaign is to reach out to those who influence the younger generation. Aka their parents and the general populace whose decisions and opinions matter on what happens to the younger generation. The goal is to reach out and send the message to them: They are just like you, human. There is no need to fear them or change. It is normal, so research it.
It is these people who will decide on whether hormone blockers, which can give a trans child the time to figure stuff out, will be allowed. It is these people who will influence whenever their child feels safe to come out of the closet. It is these people who influence the way the children around them view non-hetero ness etc. If we can soothe the fear and worry of people identifying as gay or trans etc, then the environment people live in can change for the better. But how to do that? Encourage and provide knowledge on the topic.
Now, where would these campaign elements fit in? The logo, the poster, the billboard, the brochure, anything more? Well, who is my specific target? Well, parents with preteen or teen children are the main target. What are their worries? Well, their worries are that their children will try on labels and potentially be wrong and the social consequences with that. They are worried about hormone treatment, what will that do to their child? They are worried about the safety and future of their child if they are LGBTQ+. They worry since they don´t understand.
They might have outdated knowledge. Misinformation and fear are their biggest enemy and problem. And it can become a real issue in the family if the parent has incorrect information and views on LGBTQ+ people and their child might wonder what they themselves are.
Yeisi Veronica 