Friday 25 September 2015

Visible difference is NOT a source of entertainment

Images of people with visible differences have been stolen and used on YouTube to exploit, belittle and dehumanise in order to entertain weak-minded people. Amongst them is our daughter, Mui, who was born with Harlequin Ichthyosis and who was abandoned at birth and Hunter who was also born with Harlequin Ichthyosis. The Ichthyosis community and others with visible differences have every right to feel angry that images were stolen and used in a “shock” video on YouTube.
Mui says, ‘I don’t know what’s worse, this or being cyberbullied?’
This is why we've started this petition:
Because cyberbullies drove Mui to the brink of suicide.
Hunter says, 'I am an advocate for people with visual differences and this video does not represent anyone with visual differences in a positive light.'
Our daughter and Hunter have not been raised to be a source of entertainment for weak-minded people.
These videos are not informing or educating, they are exploiting and bullying and dehumanising. It is discrimination. Is YouTube no more than a modern-day Victorian freak show? Is this what YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki wishes to represent?
What Susan Wojcicki and YouTube are doing to safeguard people’s rights clearly isn’t working.
Help us STAND UP against these “shock” videos by showing your support and signing this petition http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/end-shock-videos in support of Mui, the Ichthyosis community and anyone with a visible difference in order to ask: “What more is CEO Susan Wojcicki and YouTube prepared to do?”

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