Edinburgh Castle drops “Light It Up Blue” after protests

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ASPartOfMe
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11 Apr 2018, 12:24 am

Controversy forces Edinburgh Castle to drop charity partner

Quote:

RED-faced bosses at Edinburgh Castle have been forced into an embarrassing change of plans after public outrage over a charity partner. The famous landmark had initially planned to light up blue tomorrow (April 2) in support of an awareness campaign by controversial US-based Autism Speaks.

But a backlash on Twitter prompted a hasty rethink today and the fortress will be lit-up purple instead - to mark neurodiversity.

A spokeswoman for Historic Environment Scotland, which runs the castle, said: “Following feedback we received from the public, the Edinburgh Castle team reviewed the lighting request from Autism Speaks. “We always aim to be inclusive for our staff and visitors, and on that basis the Castle will be lit purple, as a symbol of neurodiversity.”

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smudge
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11 Apr 2018, 1:15 am

I didn’t get to read all of it as the amount of adverts loading and making the screen and text jump, just drove me insane. I got the gist of it though, thanks.

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ASPartOfMe
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11 Apr 2018, 12:20 pm

smudge wrote:

I didn’t get to read all of it as the amount of adverts loading and making the screen and text jump, just drove me insane. I got the gist of it though, thanks.

You are welcome, but the main thanks go to those who successfully advocated for the change.

B19
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11 Apr 2018, 6:18 pm

Heartening news. The blue for boys (only) symbolism just continues the myth that Autism Speaks so pushed. Suzanne Wright never seemed to me to truly care about AS people. She appeared to me to be largely driven by taking personal offence that a grandson of hers - hers! - could be on the spectrum. Whether or not that was so, I am hopeful that the Light it Up Blue meme is starting to be challenged as the PR for Autism Speaks coffers which it is.

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15 Apr 2018, 9:37 pm

That news story is the highlight of my entire April this year. Reading the article gives me hope for the future of the autism community and the world.

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16 Apr 2018, 4:04 pm

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climate change petition, please sign

Petition against Amazon selling 'make downs extinct' t-shirts. And other hate speech paraphernalia.

B19
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16 Apr 2018, 4:46 pm

Big changes start as small changes. This role modelling is great. We can help spread the news, by copying the report and forwarding it to organisations that continue to offend in this way, maybe adding that the "blue for boys" is misleading and should be retired as people are far more aware now that it is a false and misleading stereotype. There might be some good articles about this on the The Autism Women's Network that you could attach, if you have the will and ten minutes or so to take this action. Spread the word folks!

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