I want to write a post about empathy, and someday soon I will. For today though, it will be about respect. There's a good deal of crossover between empathy and respect. I'm going with A Little Respect since I found this video and the story to be so inspirational. I will come back to empathy at another time.
I love Erasure. For those who aren't familiar, Erasure is a very successful sythnpop duo consisting of Andy Bell and Vince Clark. Go see them live and all your senses will be stimulated by the passion and energy that they bring to music. Be prepared to dance and get swept up in the passion and energy emminating from the stage.
In December 2010, Erasure released the above video. From the Hetrick-Martin website, home of the Harvey Milk High School;
Proceeds from the track will be donated to The Hetrick-Martin Institute, the home of the Harvey Milk High School, in New York, and the True Colors Fund. The Hetrick-Martin Institute, the nation’s oldest and largest LGBTQ youth service organization, provides a safe and supportive environment to all young people – regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity so that they can achieve their full potential.
In the wake of all the gay bullying and related suicides that have been reported in the US over the past several months, Erasure wanted to do something special to spread a message of tolerance and to raise money for an organisation that engages in the fight on a daily basis and, because it has become something of a gay rights anthem over the years, it seemed only fitting to release a brand new version of A Little Respect.
Really now, is so hard to show a little respect to people who are different? There's some much pressure on the youth today that having a sanctuary that they can just be their own journery of self-discovery, is paramount. As a society we need to recognize this, and I'm proud of my peers who have had the gumption and grace to make this happen in the past 30 years.
Speaking of gumption and grace, a portion of the proceeds from this video will benefit The True Colors Fund, co-founded by Cyndi Lauper. From The True Colors Fund's website;
The True Colors Fund was co-founded by Cyndi Lauper to inspire and engage everyone especially straight people to become active participants in the advancement of of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality and to raise awareness about and bring an end to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth homelessness.
You can purchase the song from iTunes here. The You are loved. t-shirts seen in the video and on the Hedrick-Martin website can be purchased here.
