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The DIVA Survey: LGBTQI Women’s Insight 2020.
As part of the first ever Lesbian Visibility Week, observed a couple of weeks ago, DIVA Media Group teamed up with Kantar for The DIVA Survey. This is brand new research conducted to gain important insight into diversity statistics and highlight the challenges faced by the LGBTQI community. Key findings include; 79% think LGBTQ+ men experience more visibility than women; over half of LGBTQ+ women were not fully out at work; and 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ women have experienced verbal or physical abuse due to their sexuality. Visibility is so important in tackling this adversity. One respondent shared a positive story of visibility: "When my wife and I got married, our four-year-old daughter was so proud she stood up and told the whole school in assembly. What followed was weeks of lesbian 'weddings' on the playground". Click the photo for further findings of the survey.
Lil Nas X: ‘I 100% want to represent the LGBT community’
Lil Nas X rose to fame rapidly with his massive hit single, Old Town Road last year. Growing up in a small, conservative community in Georgia, he had planned to remain in the closet his whole life. That all changed when the twenty-year-old became a global superstar and a queer icon. Nas admits that he took on a persona for many years as a struggling musician, as a heterosexual, macho rapper. Thankfully, he overcame these obstacles and since coming out casually in a tweet, has become a mainstream queer figure. He is an inspiration for his gender nonconforming fashion style and for providing much needed intersectional representation in the industry. He joins artists such as Frank Ocean, Kevin Abstract and Doja Cat who are challenging the dominance of heterosexuality in rap. Click Here to read his full interview
University Challenge’s US star: the team would have killed it without me
Brandon Blackwell is one of the very few black quizzers to appear on the popular BBC show, University Challenge, and he is committed to making quiz teams more diverse. He points out how many university selection processes aren't fully inclusive so that minority groups and women can feel too intimidated to apply. They also risk exposing themselves to abuse from the public once the episode has aired, an experience which unfortunately is not rare. Blackwell himself experienced backlash from viewers due to his emotive reactions which consisted of small smiles and nods, appearing as arrogant to some British viewers. Blackwell explained that his micro-movements were misunderstood due to cultural differences, being from Queens, New York. He found the backlash from his 'emotive' reactions amusing, but emphasises that "representation does matter" on the quiz scene. Read more from Blackwell by Click Here
We urgently need to #SupportSurvivors
With entire families in lockdown, we are experiencing a potentially lethal time for those impacted by domestic abuse. Indeed, there has already been a marked increase in calls to the Women's Aid charity. Chief Executive Sarah Benson said: "Domestic violence and abuse is always a frightening situation to be living with, but at the moment there's increased levels of anxiety and fear, and a sense of isolation and hopelessness". However, some organisations have received a decrease in calls received as with a partner always at home, there may be no opportunity to make that call safely. A government campaign #YouAreNotAlone has been to launched in an effort to support victims in this period, publicising the 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline number – 0808 2000 247, and showing adverts to raise awareness. Additionally, domestic abuse services are due to receive an extra 2 million of funding to bolster the helplines and online support. Anyone in immediate danger should call 999 and press 55 on a mobile if they are unable to talk. Donate to Women's Aid by clicking the photo below.
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