A note from the SafeSpace Program...

Hello everyone. This is Ann from the SafeSpace Program writing you with information about us and what we have been up to...

SafeSpace, the anti-violence program of the Ru12? Community Center provides services to Vermont's Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Queer and Questioning (GLBTQQ)community. We work everyday to end violence perpetrated against GLBTQQ individuals by providing direct services advocacy as well as educational opportunities for others interested in learning more about the violence and how it affects the entire GLBTQQ community.

SafeSpace recently created a bus ad made to make known to the wider community what is occuring against GLBTQQ people right here in Burlington, Vermont. The ad asks "Being Harrassed?" and then says "We Can Help." Off to the side of the ad are the words "Freak", "Dyke", and "Faggot" all written inside a jagged border. The jaggedness of the border intentionally made that way to portray anger, viciousness and bite when the words are used. It is edgy and shocking intentionally...because hearing those words used against you in malice is shocking!

At the RU12? Community Center is a display called "The Wall of Awareness", a visual depiction of experiences written by GLBTQQ people who found themselves victims of hate speech and/or hate violence in Vermont. We wanted to take these experiences down off the wall and put them into the public arena.

Our intention behind the edgy ad was to educate the public that these words are used against people every single day here in Burlington and we wanted to call "IT" what it is - hate speech. We also wanted people who are affected by this hate speech to know that they are not alone and SafeSpace can be a source of help to them. The ad was created with that dual purpose in mind.

SafeSpace is here to support and advocate for all of Vermont's GLBTQQ community, we hope that you will contact us if you or someone you know needs assistance.