"Some people are gay. Get over it!" is a campaign done by Stonewall, an organization in the UK that is dedicated to work with institutions to create inclusive and accepting cultures for the LGTB communities. The message is clear but I will explain regardless that this campaign is aimed to help prevent bullying by changing the mindset of others in a school classroom settings for the LGTB community. It was said to be created by students and teachers.
I personally have not seen this campaign in person but that is only understandable because I am no longer near a classroom setting, I am also not in the UK, however, this campaign has had an impact over the years as it started around 2007. While I myself do not poke my nose around as much as I should, this campaign was very inspiring for me. I want to help support the LGTB community, so with that in mind, please continue reading if you believe this interesting enough for you.
"I felt like whatever I was doing was worthless. Even if I did well in school, it wouldn’t matter to people because all they would care about is me being gay." - Zoe, 12
This is one of the first quotes on Stonewall's website page for "Get Over It" that explains how a 12 year old wasn't getting the positive behavior support needed to continue seeing their own self worth and that in and of itself is heartbreaking. For me, to see someone be put down or mentally abused for something they like when it isn't even a deciding factor in their everyday achievements or actions is mind boggling. I know I do not know all the facts, events, and or individuals that have started and continue to keep this campaign alive. So maybe just take this post with a grain of salt or food for thought.
Below is one of their posters that was used to be posted around school hallways. Seeing it now and trying to understand the poster's message to an audience might be more challenging then I have first come to realize. At a first glance it's a very bold and expressive way of saying that yes "some people are gay" but that doesn't really personally effect you, so in that sense the "get over it" feels like an appropriate secondary saying that brings out the feeling of accomplishment for people that can look past the word "gay". My response on how to express this to others however is followed with a feeling of frustration and anger that people sometimes can't see beyond the word "gay" to find out what that individual is really like and capable of.
Going back to the poster a second time made me realize that the poster is a bright saturated red and most people associate red with either love or anger. Anger is the first thing I see and was the response it initiated in me with my first view on this poster. I can take a step back and see it now that the people who made this are angry. Who wouldn't be for being bullied for something that they see as a positive? The black text of "get over it" shows that negativity they feel when they are bullied and it was transferred into the posters for most likely the bullies to see. Perhaps this is who the audience that the students who made this were trying to target. The "some people are gay" is colored in white along with Stonewall and white gives off the feeling of light and happy. Showing more of the fact from the people who made this poster are trying to express that being gay isn't a negative thing.
I could go more into the wordage used as well. The "some people" feels casual and random, while the "get over it" is demanding and aggressive. This plays more on the idea that someone being gay doesn't effect you. This reminds me of an idiom of "let sleeping dogs lie"; aggravating a situation that is currently causing no problems. Regardless, I believe Stonewall did a great job in making the issue more noticeable to others even if the message and audience are not the best approach. To me, kindness inspires more kindness.