Disney Star's 'Words of Pride' Campaign Empowers Respectful LGBTQIA+ Language in India

Mumbai: Disney Star has unveiled its groundbreaking 'Words of Pride' campaign, a pioneering advocacy initiative designed to foster awareness and promote the correct terminology for addressing the LGBTQIA+ community in India. Under the overarching theme of 'The world is evolving; it’s time our words do too,' the campaign underscores Disney Star's commitment as the nation's premier storyteller to drive transformative social change by empowering individuals with respectful and appropriate language when addressing the LGBTQIA+ community.

As a cornerstone of this campaign, Disney Star has launched a dedicated website hosting a comprehensive lexicon of respectful words for addressing the LGBTQIA+ community. Developed in collaboration with language experts and linguists from the LGBTQIA+ community, this lexicon is accessible in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil. This initial offering is just the beginning of Disney Star's unwavering commitment to expand the lexicon further, encompassing additional words and languages in the future.

Minakshi Achan, Head - Network Brand & Creative Communications at Disney Star, emphasized the profound influence of words: "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 so 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 characterized by evolving inclusivity, the 'Words of Pride' campaign serves as a potent catalyst for transformation. Rooted in the core mission of the campaign, it directly addresses historical biases perpetuated by the continued misuse of language. The campaign places strong emphasis on advocacy, striving to reintroduce and promote respectful terminology within Indian languages, unveiling a rich linguistic heritage that harmonizes with contemporary progressive values.

At its core, the campaign empowers individuals to cultivate understanding and empathy. Leveraging its diverse social media platforms, Disney Star will actively promote respectful discourse, raise awareness, and nurture compassion. The campaign's digital microsite will serve as a dynamic hub, providing educational resources on LGBTQIA+ terminology, pronouns, and personal narratives.