With the current media storm still surrounding Caitlyn Jenner and her journey, it is amazing to see so much support for her transition in the media. Although some media has been negative, an overwhelming amount has been positive, which is why the negative ones sting so bad.
Earlier this month El Furniture Warehouse bar in Toronto, Canada posted a graphic anti-trans picture on their Instagram account. The graphic pic made fun and mocked Jenner’s transition, specifically the Vanity Fair cover shoot. While most of the comments on media websites called for boycotts and protest rallies, one group decided to take advantage of the bars insensitivity as a teachable moment of tolerance.
Get REAL, a non-profit organization who teach about un-learning LGBT discrimination and bullying, reached out to the bar and offered assistance. Get REAL offered to hold a workshop for the organization to educate the staff on homophobia and how it is not “just a joke.” During the workshop that hosted more than 100 employees, Get REAL taught family, love, respect, acceptance and diversity.
Get REAL exemplified its message of inclusivity and acceptance by reaching out to people who were perpetuating the cycle of discrimination to educate them. The non-profit saw this as an opportunity to educate instead of an opportunity to boycott, which could potentially harm individuals who were not a part of the post.
While the bar has since removed its Instagram account, and posted an apology they remain connected to the cause. They began advocating alongside Get REAL by incorporating diversity and inclusivity into their training materials and upholding the education.
Although many may think this instance may have set the bar back in revenue, it didn’t for long because they addressed it promptly and made strides to fix it. The bar ended up receiving more publicity for this one negative post than for many of its positive ones as the the number of views on theirs accounts have spiked.
Since the initial post, the bar has participated, donated, and set an example in the LGBT community and continues to gain more support for their efforts. Also, just as important, El Furniture Warehouse has set an example of how to remedy a horrible mistake for other organizations– own it, address it, and fix it!
References
A Bar’s Instagram Account Targeted Caitlyn Jenner with an Anti-Trans Post (2015). Retrieved from http://www.buzzfeed.com/laurenstrapagiel/this-canadian-bar-posted-a-transphobic-image-about-caitlyn-j#.chVrder4X8
About (2015). Retrieved from http://www.thegetrealmovement.com/about/
Toronto bar apologizes for vulgar jab at Caitlyn Jenner (2015). Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/06/05/toronto-bar-apologizes-for-vulgar-jab-at-caitlyn-jenner.html
Toronto bar under fire for mocking Caitlyn Jenner in Instagram post (2015). Retrieved from http://globalnews.ca/news/2037864/toronto-bar-under-fire-for-mocking-caitlyn-jenner-in-instagram-post/
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