Calder Bateman (Edmonton) partnered with Burnkit (Vancouver) to develop an anti-homophobia website for the University of Alberta’s Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services. The website, nohomophobes.com, shows how frequently and casually homophobic language is used by displaying tweets featuring “so gay”, “no homo”, “faggot” and “dyke”. These tweets are pulled, tracked and displayed in real time on the website.
The website begins with: “Homophobic language isn’t always meant to be hurtful, but how often do we use it without thinking?” That’s true but I’m shocked by the number of truly discriminatory tweets.
Words can hurt and words can harm. There are vast health differences in self-harm and suicide between heterosexual and sexual minority youth. Homophobic language creates an unsafe environment where sexual minority youth feel ostracized. This website takes a stand against the casual ways we reinforce hate.
