North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) wishes to respond to some media reports running at present surrounding the #SpeakingUpSpeaksVolumes campaign and the use of pronouns, or terms like ‘mum and dad’.
To be very clear, the #SpeakingUpSpeaksVolumes campaign is not about mandating the use of pronouns or terms like mum and dad, but is focused on addressing the very serious impacts that bullying and discrimination has on LGBTIQ+ people, children, and young people in particular.
The campaign is a positive one that seeks and has found non LGBTIQ+ allies and supporters in the community, whether they be in schools or sports clubs.
NWMPHN CEO, Adj/Assoc Prof Chris Carter says the importance of speaking up as an ally for LGBTIQ+ friends is crucial, particularly during these vulnerable years and prompted NWMPHN to launch the #SpeakingUpSpeaksVolumes campaign.
“Feeling safe at school is something that every child deserves and there is no place for hurtful, disrespectful or discriminatory behaviour.
“The simple act of openly showing support can be a catalyst for great change for the better and it’s often the less obvious moments that can be the most impactful to someone’s wellbeing.
“We’re encouraging people to speak up and actively support LGBTIQ+ children and young people because when someone is experiencing bullying, silence often feels like indifference, which can create a terrible sense of isolation,” said Adj/Assoc Prof Carter.
NWMPHN’s #SpeakingUpSpeaksVolumes campaign aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people by encouraging families, friends, colleagues, peers and the wider community to speak up against discrimination and to speak up as an ally.
The #SpeakingUpSpeaksVolumes campaign is part of NWMPHN’s National Suicide Prevention Trial in which new ways to reduce suicide within the LGBTIQ+ communities are being tried and assessed.
Want to know more about how this story unfolded?
Amanda Meade, a journalist from The Guardian, took a close look at what happened in her article titled ‘Media beat-up’: Herald Sun, Daily Mail and Seven hijack campaign with fake pronoun debate.
