Mumbai: Disney Star unveils the ‘Words of Pride’ campaign, an advocacy initiative aimed at cultivating awareness and use of the right vocabulary for addressing LGBTQIA+ community across India. The central theme of the campaign, ‘The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too,’ reinforces the company’s commitment as the nation’s storyteller and endeavour to ignite a transformative social change by equipping people with respectful and appropriate language for the LGBTQIA+ community. The campaign highlights the convergence of language and respect, underscoring the importance of choosing appropriate terminology when addressing the LGBTQIA+ community.
Disney Star has launched a website which hosts a lexicon of respectful words to address the LGBTQIA+ community. Put together with language experts and linguists from the LGBTQIA+ community, it is made for everyone and is currently available in English, Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil. This is merely a prologue towards our unwavering commitment to expand this lexicon and encompass more words and languages in the future.
Disney Star head - network brand & creative communications Minakshi Achan said, “Words hold extraordinary power – they can make us feel seen, heard, and valued. Fortunately, respectable words to address the LGBTQIA+ community do exist in our languages, but over the years they have been misused or forgotten. Our effort has only been to reclaim them such that they become a part of our daily discourse. At Disney Star we believe that by harnessing the power of language and advocating for appropriate terminology, meaningful conversations can be ignited, facilitating an intentional and dignified approach to using inclusive vocabulary with the LGBTQIA+ community.”
In an era characterised by evolving inclusivity, the ‘Words of Pride’ campaign stands as a potent catalyst for transformation. Rooted in the core mission of the campaign, it squarely confronts historical biases perpetuated by the continued misuse of language. With a strong emphasis on advocacy, the campaign strives to reintroduce and promote respectful terminology within Indian languages, unveiling a rich linguistic heritage that aligns harmoniously with contemporary progressive values.
At its core, the campaign empowers individuals to cultivate understanding and empathy. Harnessing its diverse social media platforms, Disney Star will actively promote respectful discourse, elevate awareness, and nurture compassion. The campaign's digital microsite is poised to serve as a dynamic hub, offering educational resources concerning LGBTQIA+ terminology, pronouns, and personal narratives.
