Social media campaign Randy Phillips

1 social media campaign

1.1 southwest asia postings
1.2 germany postings
1.3 press

social media campaign

while deployed in southwest asia in april 2011, phillips, senior airman since march 15, became determined reveal homosexuality. seek support, launched social media campaign posting videos on youtube , messages on twitter, under anonymous heading areyousuprised. described himself military member in closet, using social media build courage come out family, girlfriend, friends , coworkers. twitter account identified him average gi, happens gay. in series of thirteen videos posted on next 5 months, asked public advice , encouragement. motivation behind social media campaign build support in coming out, himself describing selfish . motivation share experience other closeted homosexuals learn it.

in youtube , twitter postings, revealed general details identity , filmed himself headless torso seen. gave varying estimates of time thought take complete disclosure process, @ 1 point announcing determination come out family end of 2012.

southwest asia postings

in initial video posted undisclosed location in southwest asia on april 18, said may take year or on , described himself 1 hundred percent closeted , said: whole point of video come out. s hard say. though saying knew different when still in elementary school, young, described long-held belief homosexual inclinations represented phase, view held when joined air force. when posted europe in 2010, discovered homosexuality in germany different america...more accepted , changed view of himself: when see things...and kinda see fit society. struggled describe self-acceptance, noting choosing heterosexual easier way around while homosexuality meant going against grain. noted negative attitudes toward homosexuality in area grew , in military, ended account: s not choice. s way born , s big stumbling block. concerns focused on parents reaction: wish wasn t wasn t expected of me. wish went along parents planned me, , thought develop into, , s not.

phillips used secluded locations several of videos posted southwest asia, including bunker , inside of bus. taped others outdoors , kept looking left , right make sure no 1 else coming within earshot.

discussing repeal of dadt in context of american civil rights movement, phillips said repeal of dadt huge move in american civil rights and...there have been bigger things abolishing slavery, giving women right vote, getting rid of segregation, , have been great, huge our generation. reported closeted airman s fear of disclosing sexual orientation, , recounted own repeated failures follow through on self-imposed deadlines come out friend. discussed youtube postings closeted serviceman, though in later remarks phillips never counted shared knowledge of each other s homosexuality part of coming out in military. prompted serviceman s questions, allowed use of social media might represent subconscious attempt allow others discover sexuality on own , spare him decision come out.

phillips turned twenty-one in may , on may 25, posted video report on training session attended repeal of dadt, writing in twitter message: don t ask, don t tell training morning. great presentation nobody listened to.

on june 5, reported via video had come out member of military in late may. after reacting disrespectfully casual use of word faggot in work group, apologized next day in private immediate supervisor in air force , told him gay. later wrote on twitter: has been kinda awkward since told boss, has called me faggot twice since. on july 7 came out friend , fellow airman reacted positively. phillips posted video of conversation immediately, though did not tell friend response publicly available on youtube month.

on july 22, 2011, u.s. military , government officials set start of new policy allowing gays , lesbians serve openly september 20. when phillips discussed announcement in video, still worrying coming out co-worker who, unaware of phillips homosexuality, said did not work gay people. .

on august 12, phillips posted 3 videos of band visited deployment , performed small group of military service members. these videos received more 17,000 views overnight, level of activity far in excess of several hundred views phillips postings attracting. when phillips co-workers discovered music performances on youtube site dedicated dadt , serviceman s coming out process, left room while watched anonymous postings. returned general applause , congratulations. later reported: lot of people ok it. lot of people more ok it. reported had come out girlfriend in alabama, wanted play book , respect rules long dadt remained in effect, , promised show face when comfortable.

germany postings

as end of dadt neared, phillips , unit returned southwest asia posting @ ramstein air base in germany. anticipated day following end of dadt not unusual: m not going have parade...it s going day. on september 14 posted video contribution gets better project and, still hiding face, said had been happy lately. on september 18, phillips attended annual gay festival day @ munich s oktoberfest, part of u.s. military contingent organized 2 organizations of gay , lesbian servicemembers, outserve , servicemembers legal defense network.

on evening of september 19, when morning of september 20 in germany, phillips telephoned father in alabama, whom had not seen year. after few minutes, phillips said: dad, m gay. have been. ve known for...forever. phillips asked father still love me? , father replied: still love you, son. yes, still love you. posted video showing side of conversation father s voice minutes later, caption: called dad tell him hardest thing gay guys ever have say.

npr said video dramatic , nerve-wracking , s struck chord: afternoon [september 20] had garnered 65,000 views. viewed more 4.6 million times september 29, featured on main page of gets better project, , made available on variety of foreign-language news sites.

when phillips father learned son had made conversation available on youtube, surprised , not pleased, said did not alter feelings. in interview abc news on september 21, phillips said: feels great. s nice not having on shoulder or worry talking to. never thought d comfortable s supportive. s been great.

comments posted on youtube largely favorable, 1 commentator noted stomach-churning homophobia in mix. 1 comment, example, read: need locked molesting children. more typical comments found praise: courage , candor exposed heart world, , quintessential human attribute, desire loved, combined obvious virtues, , nature of occupation, have made rare , exemplary role model not bisexual, gay, , transgendered american youth, has ever questioned temperature of world, or convictions of safety net. in following days, other military servicemembers marked end of dadt revealing homosexuality publicly, via social media, included in long-term relationships or marriages.

phillips spoke mother minutes after call father. conversation more difficult. in 1 account: during 21-minute emotional video phillips met stoney silence. mother asks, when did come about? responds ve known -- ve always, always, known. phillips posted video of conversation on september 29.

press

press assessments attributed impact of phillips videos on news coverage , others used social media announce homosexuality ability natural storyteller. wrote phillips presents himself thoughtful, grounded young man. s frank without being timid or confrontational. according writer in atlantic, no single story has broken through following recent repeal of don t ask, don t tell...like phillips has. phillips, wrote canadian journalist, highlights, muscles , bill-clinton-accent, sweet enough give cavities. s well-spoken , mannered, intelligent , sensitive. calls father daddy , sir equal sincerity.

some had reservations phillips decision make conversations parents public. mary elizabeth williams in salon described videos having ambush aspect , thought drama of family s spontaneous reactions mitigated implied intrusiveness of sharing them world. writer noted easier phillips speak of sexuality father announce dad ve been airing (dirty) laundry on internet months now, , re right in middle of it. expect phone calls.