A Brighton man has created a website reporting positive LGBT news from around the world and is looking for like-minded writers to contribute ‘good news’ stories for publication. Alex Hawkey, 31, founded Outrising.com after coming across one too many negative stories targeting the LGBT community – bo
Alex Hawkey, 31, founded Outrising.com after coming across one too many negative stories targeting the LGBT community – both abroad and on our own doorsteps.
Alex said: “Last year, I was disturbed by the anti-gay sentiment coming from countries like Russia and Uganda.”
“While the Western world seemed to be taking steps towards LGBT equality – like with same-sex marriage laws coming to the UK – to see other parts of the world go backwards was deeply troubling.”
However, even with legal equality advancing on our own shores, Alex noted that much needed to be done to win the hearts and minds debate.
He added: “How many of us still think twice before holding a partner’s hand in public?”
“Or give our ‘other half’ a gender non-specific identity in conversation with new people? However hidden, the fear and shame is still there and it’s an injustice for us as humans, not just as LGBT people.”
Alex believes that positive stories can not only help us to feel good, but also inspire and motivate us to carry on the fight for equality.
He said: “We hear so much about the world’s ‘villains’.”
“The Westboro Baptist Church and other religious homophobes, President Putin and other homophobic political leaders – the list goes on. At Outrising, we want to focus on the solutions and celebrate the heroes that are pushing against these negative forces and slowly winning battles.”
With support from the UK government’s New Enterprise scheme and 4,500 followers on social blogging site Tumblr, Alex wants to expand the site’s reach to Facebook, Twitter and the website itself by recruiting a team of volunteers to help provide written content for Outrising.
Alex added: “We already have 250+ articles on the site, but we want to offer more, on a daily basis.
“From life-affirming stories in our communities to how businesses are embracing LGBT equality and how sports are becoming more inclusive, I want Outrising to be a place where people can go to witness positive change in progress.”
Alex is looking for volunteer writers to help find and report on stories from around the world, as well as contribute blog and feature articles on issues, organisations and industries.
He concluded saying: “Outrising aims to offer an antidote to the negativity by reporting stories that reflect the changing world we live in and what better place to start than Brighton?”
If you are interested in writing for Outrising, contact Alex on 07834 368954
Or EMAIL:
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