Erin Davies has turned a nasty slur into a well-organized fight against homophobia and is bringing that fight to the Okanagan.
Two-and-a-half years ago, while in Albany, N.Y., her Volkswagen bug was spray-painted by a tagger with the words “fag” and “u r gay” because it sported a rainbow decal supporting gay rights.
Initially shocked and hurt, Davies – a lesbian – decided to incorporate the hate crime into an anti-homophobia campaign.
Never mind that the tagger had his disparagement mixed up.
The slur for a lesbian woman is dyke, while fag is reserved for gay men.
The result is an 83-minute documentary called Fagbug and a sponsored VW bug with a professional graphics wrap the word fagbug, the www.fagbug.com web site and the rainbow colours of gay pride.
Davies, who hails from New York City, will be at UBC Okanagan on Tuesday for a 4 p.m. screening of her documentary in the University Centre Cinema as part of the school‘s OutWeek.
The documentary is made up of footage shot during Davies‘ 58-day trip across the U.S. and Canada while driving her car with the graffiti intact, then driving the fagbug wrap car for the past 18 months.
“The film was put together in a way that would draw people who may not otherwise care about hate crimes or homophobia,” she said.
“It‘s a message anyone can relate to from any background. I‘m able to break into the general public, spread awareness and give a personal face to the story while taking a stand and fighting for what‘s right.”
Fagbug has also been doing the rounds of film festivals to favourable reviews.
Fagbug‘s screening will be the highest-profile event of UBC Okanagan‘s OutWeek, a five-day stretch of events to promote diversity, awareness and acceptance as well as show support for the LGBQTTI.
The acronym has become longer because it covers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, transsexual, two-spirit and intersex.
“OutWeek is an important event as it showcases a part of our university community that is not necessarily acknowledged all the time,” says Leah Bailey, the president of the Price Centre at UBC Okanagan.
“By having OutWeek, the university is promoting diversity and awareness, but in a comfortable way that makes people feel like they, too, can be included regardless of orientation or belief.”
In fact, the theme of this year‘s OutWeek is “you don‘t have to be gay to celebrate, watch, talk, play and party.”
All students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to events.
On Monday at noon, there will be a ceremony to raise the rainbow Pride flag in the university‘s courtyard to kick off the fourth annual OutWeek.
On Tuesday is the screening of Fagbug.
On Wednesday at 7 p.m. in room Art 218, there is a reading and discussion with playwright and screenwriter Michael MacLennan.
On Thursday at 7 p.m. in Room FIN 144, there is a theatre performance of My Funny Valentine. Tickets are $10.
On Friday, off-campus at Habitat nightclub downtown is HoMotown. Tickets are $10 at the door.
“A lot of people go through university trying to figure out who they are and there are a number of questions that come with that,” says second-year history student Daniel Sadler.
“No matter your sexuality, many people don‘t understand what it means to be gay. This event encourages discussion and casts the LGBQTTI community in a positive light, rather than the sterotypes that are reinforced by the media.”
For a complete schedule of events, check out www.ubc.ca/okanagan/students/campuslife/outweek.html.
