WTF. We all know what it means – or do we?

It’s outrage, shock, disbelief. It’s calling out someone’s behaviour or mindset. It’s a comment on their actions. It clearly indicates disapproval and it challenges the status quo.

WTF is a call to action, to make a change. It means you’re discontent with the way someone is being treated- whether it’s a stranger, or a friend.

It also means you’re brave enough to use those words with a stranger...or a friend. It means you’re willing to stand up, and speak out against a discrimination that unfortunately is still very prevalent in New Zealand.

Hence, WTF was launched yesterday as a call to action for Kiwis of all stripes, shapes and colours to stand up, speak out and support a new nationwide campaign which aims to work towards ending inequality and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in New Zealand.

Over 30 New Zealand celebrities, in the first campaign of its kind, have joined together to say “WTF” to the fact that “New Zealand has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, with LGBT youth four times more likely to attempt suicide because of feeling rejected and alone.” They are standing together to say that discrimination on the basis of sexual identity is not okay.

Sir Ian McKellen, Rocky Horror creator Richard O’Brien, Danielle Cormack, Colin Mathura-Jeffree, Tamiti Coffey, Annie Crummer, Alison Mau, Jo Cotton, Jackie Clarke, Oliver Driver, Green and Labour MP’s and core cast members of Spartacus, GoGirls, The Almighty Johnsons, Shortland Street, Underbelly Razor and McLeods Daughters , among many others are involved.

It is generating buzz on Twitter and Facebook already, which is good news for the organisations the campaign will support – Rainbow Youth and Outline NZ, which both operate with no government funding and provide support, face-to-face counselling, information, advocacy and education for queer young people (Rainbow Youth) and telephone counselling for GLBTTFIQQ* people of all ages (Outline NZ).

WTF also stands for Where’s The Funds – you can donate a one-off amount or make regular donations- every bit means there are more people who can work to help make change.

WTF has a lot of meanings. If the WTF campaign means being able to say: “In New Zealand, we stand up for equality” ...well, that sentence has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

*Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, takataapui, intersex, fa’afafine, queer and questioning

What: WTF – a joint project between Rainbow Youth and Outline NZ.

Why: Watch the video, and read the mission statement