Accidental Bear:

The Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services (iSMSS) at the University of Alberta launched NoHomophobes.com in July to track the usage of anti-gay language on Twitter, including “Faggot,” “So gay,” “No homo,” and “dyke.” In the short time the tracker has been active, it has found the word “Faggot” over 2.5 million times, an average of nearly 1 million times per month, or over 10 million times a year.

Dr. Kristopher Wells, Associate Director for iSMSS, responds to the data collected so far:

WELLS: We never imagined the scale of casual homophobia that actually exists on social media. The use of homophobic language remains one of the few socially acceptable forms of discrimination in our society and make no mistake, leads to isolation, bullying, beatings, and tragically youth suicide. […] Our use of casual homophobia must end. We are all responsible to put a stop to it. The lives of our youth, and the humanity of our society depends upon it.

The campaign encourages people to use the #nohomophobes hashtag on Twitter to respond to such negative language, and to “challenge their friends, colleagues, or family members who use it.”

The Outs: State of the Union from The Outs on Vimeo.

HUFFPOST:

New York City-based writer-director Adam Goldman has produced an intriguing new 6 part web series about gay life in the big city. Titled “The Outs,” Goldman describes his new series as “a story about big relationships, the ones that really define people, and what happens when they fall apart, and how that can change someone.”

As Goldman tells HuffPost Gay Voices:

When was the last time a show about gay people made you feel something?

Here’s the thing: sometimes if you want something and you can’t find it then you have to make it. Right? I wanted a character-driven comedy with heart about gay men — I love Mitch and Cam on “Modern Family,” but those aren’t my people. I don’t live in California and I don’t have a baby. And I never went to clown school. (Not that I wouldn’t. I would!) Mitch and Cam brighten that show immeasurably, but it’s not about them.

The Outs: Whiskey Dick from The Outs on Vimeo.

As it turns out, “The Outs” is quite the community project. Noting that he “wants to give [viewers] an idea of what it’s like to live here without alienating you if you don’t,” Goldman continues:

We shoot in Brooklyn. Our locations are local businesses (Pete Zaaz, Glass Shop and Wino(t) in Crown Heights, for example). Our music is by local bands — Beauty Feast, Akudama, Strange Shapes and Delicate Steve, just to name a few.

There’s more information at our website, and the best way to keep up with the show is on Facebook.