How You Can Help: Tell 3

Since I launched Moving Out/Moving Forward on a Monday, I figured having a hump day special would be nice for readers. While I hope to continue writing blogs with substance, I also want to offer some solutions and some hope, both of which are in major deficit right now.

I want to profile an organization I believe is at the forefront of the LGBTQ fight for equality and it’s called Tell 3. Although relatively new, the organization website is asking you to “Tell 3 people what it’s like for you or your loved ones to be LGBT. Because we used to think coming out would win us rights. Now we know it takes more than that. Take a step towards equality.”

They are relying on a very old marketing strategy: Word of mouth. They aren’t making flashy viral videos or writing hip shock-content. Tell 3 is working to promote the “gay agenda” in a peaceful, personal way that is almost sure to disarm even the most radically opposed person. I say this with some certainty because I have experienced it firsthand. Normally I would provide a hyperlink to a case study, but this article is about promoting the message of Tell 3 and not debunking rumor. Instead, I’ll use some fancy empirical data to make a point.

When a face is given to a movement, when the “enemy” becomes a real person instead of just an idea, people soften to their humanity. In any Sci-fi television series (Star Trek for instance), the alien terrorist is befriended by one member of the human crew who manages to sway the tide of hatred and intolerance in favor of peace. It’s kind of the same concept when dealing with gay rights. There’s a great scene in “Milk” where the guys are standing in a basement and Harvey is pressuring his followers to call home and come out, the theory being that heterosexuals will support gays and lesbians if they know one of us.

So, here’s my challenge to readers: If you’re a part of a GSA or if you talk about gay rights daily, great! But go the extra mile and Tell 3. Tell people what it’s like to be gay in America. Tell people the challenges, the hopes, the heartaches, the ideals, just tell them something to give them a positive face to identify the movement with. This is a campaign for our heterosexual friends and allies as well; anyone can jump on board and make the world a safer, more positive place.

And while the campaign is called Tell 3, I hope you’ll tell a great deal more. Smokey the Bear is famous for saying “Only you can prevent forest fires,” well along those lines I say the ball’s in your court to prevent homophobia and intolerance. Make a difference.


Be good,

Will