[ad_1]
For the second yr in a row, the Counter Narrative Venture’s (CNP) “The Reckoning,” an internet publication devoted to sharing thought-provoking and distinctive tales about Atlanta’s Black LGBTQ neighborhood, has acquired a GLAAD Media Award nomination for Excellent Weblog. Darian Aaron, the Editor-at-Giant of “The Reckoning” and the Communications Director of CNP, attended the ceremony in Los Angeles, California (which is now obtainable to stream on Hulu).
Aaron was a featured speaker on the occasion alongside Gilead Sciences’ Diana Feliz Olivia. The 2 spoke in regards to the want for higher illustration of LGBTQ individuals of colour within the media to interrupt the stigma driving new HIV infections, and the way storytelling can eradicate stigma and elevate info about stopping and treating HIV.
Following the nomination and his look on the thirty third Annual GLAAD Media Awards, Aaron spoke to Georgia Voice in regards to the expertise and the significance of correct media illustration of Black queer individuals residing with HIV.
What was the expertise like attending the awards ceremony?
Unimaginable! It was merely unimaginable, I’m nonetheless sort of pinching myself and ensuring it wasn’t a dream.. By no means in 1,000,000 years did I feel that my first time on the ceremony I might be on stage. It was a wild expertise, it’s one I’ll always remember. It was actually particular as a result of The Reckoning was nominated within the Excellent Weblog class for the second yr in a row, and we’ve simply been doing a little actually nice work. It feels superb to be acknowledged with a nomination from GLAAD.
How did you are feeling that The Reckoning was nominated for Excellent Weblog?
I felt validated to some extent. It’s one factor to do the work — and I don’t take into consideration awards or nominations once I’m in the midst of it, once we’re creating content material, as a result of we’re so targeted on the individuals we’re making an attempt to succeed in.
One factor that’s all the time necessary to me is that Black LGBTQ tales are represented in media as a result of so usually our tales are missed and underrepresented. So I really feel prefer it’s my job because the Editor of The Reckoning to search out these tales which might be going untold, after which to inform these tales with the respect and sensitivity they deserve, as a result of that doesn’t all the time occur.
That leads into my subsequent set of questions in regards to the significance of correct illustration within the media and the way it has real-world results. How does the mission of The Reckoning and the Counter Narrative Venture align with GLAAD’s mission by way of this concept of illustration?
Like GLAAD, CNP believes nice storytelling has the power to vary hearts and minds, to affect coverage, and to enhance lives. One of many issues we talked about throughout our onstage second was HIV shouldn’t be a criminal offense. CNP is at the moment partnering with organizations just like the Georgia HIV Justice Coalition to guarantee that HIV decriminalization legal guidelines are up to date. It’s so necessary that these tales are on the market on the forefront and people who find themselves not used to seeing their lived experiences mirrored in media have the chance to see themselves via the work we’re doing on The Reckoning, at CNP, and thru the work GLAAD is doing as nicely. That goes a good distance with HIV prevention efforts; if somebody is aware of their life has worth, then they’ll put on a condom, they’ll adhere to PrEP. It’s actually necessary that we’re capable of elevate these tales so individuals who look and love as we do perceive that their life has worth and that means and that their tales are worthy of being instructed.
To cite a part of your speech, correct on-screen illustration “helps eradicate the stigma that too usually blocks HIV prevention like PrEP.” Are you able to discuss a bit extra in regards to the connection between fictional, or nonfictional, portrayal within the media and the real-life impacts it has on individuals residing with HIV?
There’s not a whole lot of Black queer illustration in mainstream media, and there’s positively not a whole lot of Black queer illustration of individuals residing with HIV. The latest instance I may give you is Pose, groundbreaking tv however not on the air. So we’ve got to determine methods to fill that void. However Pose offered a chance for the world, not simply individuals throughout the LGBTQ neighborhood, to have the ability to see people who find themselves not solely residing with HIV however thriving with it. Pose takes place throughout an period the place HIV was actually a demise sentence, however it’s not a demise sentence. However lots of people, even inside our neighborhood, are nonetheless not educated about PrEP. There’s no cause now to contract HIV, there are methods you could keep away from coming in touch with the virus. Sadly, even a lof of Black queer males will not be as educated as we wish them to be about the advantages of utilizing PrEP. The media can play an enormous function in getting that message out and educating individuals in a really entertaining and accessible approach, and I feel Pose did an excellent job of that.
[ad_2]
Source link
