#NoMoNoHomo Twitter Campaign

I was inspired this morning by the #beatcancer twitter campaign that raised money everytime someone retweet the hashtag #beatcancer. It was started by managing partner Tamara Knechtel of the social media company Everwhere. Sponsors are giving 1 cent for every tweet that carries the  #beatcancer hashtag. Simple and brilliant. This is a perfect example of how the non-profit sector or global activits can use social media and bring attention and participation to a cause.

I want to see how this would work with something that doesn’t include sponsors but more an experiment in the re-use of language. Language like proof can change with the introduction of  new information or alternatives. Language bends with our ideas and interpretation. There are many causes I stand by but one is more of a wish than an organized movement.    I would like to focus on hip hop because it is a global pop music and is the music of my childhood that I distance myself from more everyday as adult. This is a sad commentary but one I cannot excpet for myself whole or it would be to negate its part in raising me.

#NoMoNoHomo

There is an expression in Hip Hop culture called “No Homo”. It was first introduced by MC Cameron who ironically was accused of being homosexual just because he wore an all-pink outfit to an awards show.   No Homo is something that is said mostly by males in hip hop to dwart the idea that they might be one. So anything said or done that even seems homosexual or effeminate must be immediately followed by “No homo” and all is then forgiven and forgotten.

It is so common place in hip hop culture that the inherent homeroticism of the expression itself is ignored. It affirms a  level of acceptance of  homophobia within hip hop. For anyone who is gay, questioning or a straight-ally, this expression is like a acid laced bandaid placed on the already wounded subconscious. It stands in the same cultural space that fat, sexist or race jokes (black, Asian, immigrant, you name it) are sometimes not questioned because unfortunately humans need someone else to laugh at in order to even the scales of their own unwanted weight.  So people are often annoyed when  you point out the obvious and do not want to be reminded that they are actually landing on necksof others with the bud of their joke. So as Wutang stated, “Protect Ya neck”  and take a minute to join the #NoMoNoHomo Twitter campaign.

RETWEET : #NoMoNoHomo Campaign

How does it work?

Use the hashtag #NoMoNoHomo with the following tweets:

1. When you find an article, video, mp3 or interesting link that spotlights rappers who use “no homo” on their records
2. Stories about people overcoming homophobia
3. Maybe your just having one of those homo kinda days
4. Hip hop videos the encourage the best in people
5. Or any reflection of the LGBT community and their allies that is positive

Do what you do on twitter and when the it feels right use the

hashtag #nomonohomo

I will try this on the Rule 4081, Black Patti and U People twitter accounts for awhile to see how or if it takes off. Either way something can be learned.

You can start by retweeting this great commentary by Hip Hop blogger and good guy Jay Smooth.