What started as a dare for a burly Newfoundland man to pose in mermaid flippers has turned into a globally known effort to combat gender stereotypes B次元官网网址� and raised more than a half million dollars for charity.
This past weekend, the Newfoundland and Labrador Beard and Moustache Club gave a cheque for more than $202,000 to Violence Prevention NL.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 the proceeds from the 2019 MerbB次元官网网址檡s calendar, which draws its name from B次元官网网址榤ermaidB次元官网网址� and the Newfoundland moniker for B次元官网网址榖uddy.B次元官网网址�
The calendar features photos of husky, bearded Newfoundland men posed on the provinceB次元官网网址檚 rugged shoreline B次元官网网址� wearing just their merman fins and their smiles.
Hasan Hai, the leader of the club, said it all started with a dare in 2017.
B次元官网网址淎 friend of mine on Facebook had shared a picture of a big bearded fellow dressed as a mermaid. I was kind of known in my friendsB次元官网网址� circle as a guy who didnB次元官网网址檛 shy away from dares or doing fun things that would further community projects and goals,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚nitially the idea was to maybe get a bunch of people together and maybe take a bunch of pictures poking holes at traditional gender stereotypes and what a B次元官网网址榬eal manB次元官网网址� was supposed to look like.B次元官网网址�
A month later, they had the 2018 version of the calendar and a demand from around the world that raised more than $300,000 for a local mental health organization.
Hai said they decided to do it again for 2019 and put the call out to charitable organizations, and about 40 applied.
He said they decided to go with Violence Prevention Newfoundland and Labrador because its mandate is much the same as the club in fighting gender stereotypes and B次元官网网址渢oxic masculinity,B次元官网网址� and showing men thereB次元官网网址檚 a healthier way to live their life moving forward.
B次元官网网址淭heir project was deconstructing masculinity and engaging men in violence prevention, and it kind of checked all the boxes for us. ItB次元官网网址檚 not criticizing men for being men, but breaking down those harmful bits of it and building up the positive ones,B次元官网网址� he said.
Hai said Violence Prevention NL will develop programming in communities and also get it translated into the various Indigenous languages found across the province.
But he said with the calendar being sold in 37 countries around the world, the message is reaching many more people.
B次元官网网址淭he main theme, even without reading the back and understanding the charity weB次元官网网址檙e supporting, is that people see men being displayed in these positive ways B次元官网网址� body positivity, men showing affection and emotion, and just having fun. Emotionally I think people connect with it, and even without telling them what the message is, they get it,B次元官网网址� he said.
Hai isnB次元官网网址檛 sure there will be a 2020 version of the calendar. He said the first two calendars have taken 15 months of work and everyone needs a rest.
However, he said that doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean they are hanging up their fins for good.
B次元官网网址淪tay tuned,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址� By Kevin Bissett in Fredericton.
The Canadian Press
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