FIGHT CLUB! WHAT THE HATERS ARE SAYING.
THE HATERS: YORKSHIRE ’PHOBES
Homophobes flood the social media pages of a fire service in the English county of Yorkshire with anti-gay abuse after they add rainbow flags to their profile pictures to show solidarity during LGBT+ History Month.
THE REPLY: SOUTH YORKSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
The fire fighters post a video to social media in which they read out the online abuse, while wearing rainbow hats, clearly mocking the haters. Their message: “Fire doesn’t discriminate, neither do we.”
THE HATER: IOWA CAUCUS VOTER
A female supporter of US presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg who voted for him in the Iowa caucus, is filmed asking for her voting card back after discovering that Buttigieg is gay and married to a man. The clip goes viral.
THE REPLY: MAYOR PETE
Pete Buttigieg hears about her change of heart and responds with dignity by saying, “My marriage means as much to me as hers… But if she can’t see that – and even if because she can’t see that, she won’t vote for me – I am still, if I’m elected president, going to get up in the morning and try to make the best decisions for her and the people she loves.”
THE HATER: FRANKLIN GRAHAM
The American hate preacher announces an arena tour of the UK, aiming to spread his violently anti-gay views to the masses. In the past, he has praised Russia’s homophobic laws and called gay rights a “moral 9/11”.
THE REPLY: UK CONFERENCE VENUES
Activists call for him to be banned from evangelising, saying it could incite anti-gay violence. One by one, all eight venues cancel Franklin’s appearances, causing his legal team to threaten action against those responsible.
THE HATER: SWISS ’PHOBES
Anti-gay activists whip up hatred in Switzerland in the run up to a national referendum proposing to criminalise homophobia in the country.
THE REPLY: COCA-COLA
The maker of the world’s most famous brown fizzy soft drink takes out front page ads on Swiss newspapers, launching its “equality manifesto” with rainbow graphics overlaying its famous glass bottles. The message says that the drink company is “steadfastly committed to equal rights, diversity and tolerance. Discrimination and exclusion are not acceptable to us in any form.”