Time Warner Cable announced its support of the LGBT community Sept 5, unveiling its latest stipend initiative: The National Broadband Plan – An LGBT Perspective.
The initiative is part of TWC’s Research Program on Digital Communications, a program that engages scholars to understand the benefits and challenges of technology in the home, office, and community, according to a press release.
The stipend will be used to assist in researching the broadband and digital communication needs of LGBT communities.
”We are excited about collaborating with Time Warner Cable on this research and the opportunity to shed light on the digital needs of LGBT communities,” said Christopher Wood, Executive Director of the LGBT Technology Partnership in the release. “LGBT communities have specific concerns that are not immediately obvious and differ from the concerns of other communities including issues associated with privacy, confidentiality, eHealthcare, public safety and cyberbullying. This research will focus on how broadband uniquely affects these concerns and LGBT communities within the context of the National Broadband Plan.”
Cyber bullying, specifically, has been a pressing issue in the last few years, following a string of recent teen suicides, including 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer, 15-year-old Jamie Hubley, and in August, a 14-year old boy from Rome. All three boys had been abused about their sexuality.
In 2010, 18-year-old university student Tyler Clementi committed suicide after being outed by his roommate, who recorded Clementi kissing another man, without his consent, and posted the video online.
According to the press release, the LGBT Technology Partnership encourages the continued early adoption and use of cutting-edge, new and emerging technologies by providing information, education and strategic outreach for LGBT communities.
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