FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2012
CONTACT: Inez Gonzalez igonzalez@www.nhmc.org (213) 718-0740
Latino Organization Highlights the Importance of Spirit Day
Los Angeles, CA - This Friday, October 19, the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) is joining the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to celebrate Spirit Day in its efforts to stand against bullying, cyberbullying and discrimination. "In a time when vulnerable communities are under attack, bullying and discrimination against any group is unacceptable," said Alex Nogales, President and CEO. "Spirit Month is aboutstanding up against bigotry and bullying, and we are proud to do so with the LGBT community. We encourage everybody to wear purple on Spirit Day, October 19, to commemorate this day," added Nogales. The NHMC has a strong history of fighting hate speech in media which is a form a bullying at a larger scale. In fact, NHMC and GLAAD recently won an important victory when "Jose Luis Sin Censura," a homophobic Spanish-language program, was taken off the air. On the online front, NHMC has brought awareness about the dangers of online bullying or cyberbullying. Most recently, NHMC and the UCLA Chicano Resource Study Center published a study noting how social networks of hate act as echo-chambers that promote hatred towards people of color, people of certain religions and LGBT people. For a summary of the report, clickhere. Contrary to the social misconception that Latinos are generally anti-LGBT due to their conservative values, data by a 2010 Bendixen & Amandi International poll found that Latinos are strongly in support of ending discrimination against the LGBT community and support principles of fairness and equality for all. For more information, click here. NHMC is an official participating organization of GLAAD's Spirit Day 2012, a partner ofFamilia es Famlia, and member of Everyone Matters, an online campaign that also brings awareness to the importance of tolerance and inclusion. Individuals and organizations can find out more about Spirit Day 2012 by clicking here.###
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