Erin Davies started Fagbug as an advocacy effort to reach out to students who deal with homophobia. This movement lead to Davies’ documentary “Fagbug.”
“In this film Erin Davies turned a negative situation in her life into a positive inspiration for people to deal with discrimination,” Andrea Stojsavljevic, President of Rainbow Alliance, said. “Most people let something like what happened to her keep them down, but she’s utilized it and helped create a piece of education to others.”
The event that Stojsavljevic described is the hate crime that happened to Davies.
According to Susan Vance, Graduate Student of Education Leadership, Davies found her VW bug vandalized with the words “fag” and “U R gay” because she had a rainbow sticker in her rear window. Instead of getting the spray-painted slurs removed, she drove her bug across the country and documented the responses she received.
Davies took her car, now known worldwide as the “Fagbug,” on a 58-day trip around the United States and Canada. Along the way, Davies discovered other, more serious hate crimes.
“Fagbug has been shown in film festivals as far as New Zealand and has been featured in 'Vanity Fair,'” Vance said. “Erin Davies was able to turn the tables on vandals that tagged her car. She uses her car to help educate and encourage others to stand up against bullying.”
According to Vance, Fagbug is important because bullying has become a hot topic and not just for those in the GLBT community.
“Bullying affects everyone that may be viewed as different from the norm,” Vance said. “This film shows how bravely Davies took a stand for what is right. Fagbug isn’t a movement or a group, but anyone can stand up and be an ally.”
“Fagbug” will be shown on Nov. 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in 120 Medical Sciences Building. The event will have food, the film and a chance to meet Erin Davies and ask questions.
