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So the year rolls around and here we are observing another blog hop to remind ourselves to be mindful, careful and to call out Homophobia and Transphobia whenever we see it. So far, so good. It’s nice to get a concrete reminder of this but we’d do well to remember that the problems we hop about once a year are things faced every day, all year round, for many of the people to whom we count ourselves allies.
As the weeks pass by and the roll call of people young and old who have fallen victim to these phobias mounts, it’s important to remember that they aren’t just names on a screen but people with hopes and dreams, with loved ones, with ambitions for the future. For some of them, tragically, that future has been cut short, for others they have faced acts that are so subtle as to be almost unnoticeable to folk who aren’t in their position but act like the slow drip of acid, eating away at their well being. This is less newsworthy than a murder, than an assault, than the awfulness of suicide, but it’s an everywhere, everyday tarnish on the gloss of civilisation. Victimisation, large and obvious or small and insidious, must stop.
We must see it for what it is, we must be aware of its effects and we must support the push for equality.
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This year’s theme for the IDAHOT organisation is Mental Health and Well-Being. Please support it if you can.
Click here to be taken to the list of participants in the blog hop or use the links below.
As usual there must be a prize so I’ll make my usual donation to the Albert Kennedy Trust on behalf of the Hop and one commentor, chosen at random, may pick a book from my backlist. Good luck.
This is an excellent hop. Thanks!
Thanks for commenting, Debby
thank you for your participation in a great hop
I feel I’m in terrific company. so many amazing authors and bloggers! Thanks for commenting.
Thank you for the post and for pointing out something that does not get as much attention as it should. The small, repetitive, insidious acts that hurt people can add up to have a huge impact. I think we can do the opposite with small, repetitive acts of kindness and understanding, too.
I hope so Jen. I really do. x
Thanks for commenting.
This is always such an enlightening event!
Thanks for commenting Trix.
Thanks for informative post. Equality must be for all.
Fingers crossed Cornelia. I guess things do get better but it’s a slow process.
Hi Elin! Great post, and I think you’re absolutely right. Here in the U.S., during our really fun election year, politicians are given airtime to say absolutely horrible, hateful things about transgender, bi, lesbian and gay people, and I often think of that as the slow acid-drip analogy you mention, particularly for those of us who are most vulnerable, due to age, or ability, or poverty, or immigration status. These are folks who are already feeling powerless due to other stigmas and challenges, and then they’re abused by the hate and fear speech of our elected officials. We’ve come a long way, but we have yet to achieve respect and understanding in many sectors, and it’s unacceptable that politicians can still gain supporters by demonizing LGBTs.
I remember how in the 1980s, when Britain was in financial crisis, the UK went to war over something that should have been sorted out by application to the UN. It took everyones mind off their [extremely steep] mortgage repayments when ‘our brave lads’ were trying to regain the Falklands Islands. I’m getting the same sort of vibe now from this appalling rabble rousing as the political candidates direct the mouth-breathers ire towards minorities and wonder what it is they are trying to deflect attention from. It’s sickening, it’s cynical, it’s deliberately divisive and it happened in the 1930s. Scary AF!
Thank you or the post and video!
Thanks for commenting HB
Thanks for the post and video. Small things can make a big difference.
Thanks for commenting AM.
Thank you for taking part in the Hop!
Thanks for blogging!
That was a really nice post, Elin, thank you. The more we arise awareness, the more open our society will become
Thanks so much for participating, especially for sharing that video. So inspirational, it’s causing me to tear up while watching it. Short, sweet, and to the point. All set to one of my favorite tunes. 🙂
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
Elin,
wow. Stellar post. Yes. I…wow. I gotta go tell everyone to come read this.
Cherie Noel, Hop Admin
Thanks for being part of the hop.
sstrode at scrtc dot com