One Million Views – Ireland’s Most Successful Online Charity Video Ever Tackles Homophobic Bullying

One Million Views – Ireland’s Most Successful Online Charity Video Ever Tackles Homophobic Bullying 

Tuesday, 14 August 2012 

Today an Irish online video tackling the problem of homophobic bullying reached the magical 1,000,000 viewers mark on YouTube – making it the most viewed online video from any Irish charity.  

The video Stand Up! Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying comes from BeLonG To – Ireland’s national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) young people. It is part of BeLonG To’s annual anti-bullying awareness week and encourages all young people to stand together to support their LGBT friends. 

Executive Director of BeLonG To, Michael Barron said,  

“We are so delighted that our video has been viewed by so many people all over the world. The fact that the most viewed online ad from a charity is about homophobic bullying shows just how seriously people take this issue. People everywhere want to put an end to this form of harassment and want LGBT young people to be allowed a fair and equal shot at life.” 

The video and BeLonG To’s overall Stand Up! Campaign have been signaled out for praise by the European Council’s Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN High Commission for Human Rights. It featured in the first UN global resource produced to tackle homophobic bullying which was launched by UNESCO in May and to date has been translated into 12 different languages. 

The ad was produced by Aoife Kelleher, Anna Rodgers and Zlata Filipovic at Crossing the Line Films in Greystones. Speaking on behalf of the filmmakers, Aoife Kelleher said: 

“We never thought when we made this video with BeLonG To that the message would spread around the world. We’re so grateful to everyone who shared it. The work we do with BeLonG To is very meaningful in our lives, and we’re so delighted to see it having an impact. Homophobic bullying is something that shouldn’t be tolerated.” 

There has been a growing awareness of the problem of homophobic bullying in recent years. At the launch of BeLonG To’s Stand Up! Campaign in March of this year Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn announced the establishment of a Department of Education working group to tackle the issue. Celebrities such as Hollywood actor Colin Farrell and Cork Hurling Captain Donal Og Cusack have also got behind the campaign.  

“We have seen too many young people pay a very high price for being exposed to homophobic bullying day-in and day-out in their schools and communities. We ask everyone, young people, parents, teachers and community leaders to Stand Up! If you would like to help out please visit our website and see how you can get involved. While there, you can also make a much needed donation to ensure that the Stand Up! Campaign continues to run in schools and online next year. Together we can end homophobic bullying once and for all,” concluded Barron.