The origional campaign by Stonewall was focused on tackling homophobia in schools, sending out leaflets, stickers and postcards with the logo on were sent to all the 5000 secondary schools in England. This is brilliant, it was a fantastic campign.
However, I feel like now the message has been changed. The red t-shirts bearing this logo were always available on Stonewall's website, but they have been picked up by people who don't understand what they are talking about. Of course bullying in schools is wrong, for whatever reason be it sexuality, race, hair colour, but in England, we are so lucky that this generation is growing up in a world of acceptance. Aside from ignorant individuals, it is generally seen as wrong to bully someone based on their sexuality. But of course you're going to get some wankers who fell like its ok to shout in the street, but that's an idiot thing, not a gay thing. If I wear a short skirt as a young girl, I probably get as much shouted at me as a guy would in one. Don't get me wrong I'm sure people would stare at John in a mini skirt, but on one hand, feel lucky that you live in a country where people are either too polite to heckle you or just know it is socially unnacceptable, on the other hand, if you choose to be flamboyant and throw it in peoples faces - accept not everyones going to like it, or be uncomfortable, or just intrigued if they've never seen a same sex couple before.
With regards to the slogan Some People Are Gay, Get Over It, I think this is a good message to send into schools where it is an issue. High school is where young peoples opinions are formed and this is the best message to send. However, people who are not in high school, but are happily sat in a gay bar with their boyfriend/girlfriend, surrounded by other gay people, in a gay area of a major city DO NOT NEED TO WEAR THIS T-SHIRT! I would be horrified to think that when people found out I was a lesbian, they thought of that t-shirt and the wankers that wear it. It is pure self obsession.
That it why I have changed the logo for my own posters - a campaign for teenage/young adult gay people who have the easiest fucking life, and by moaning and complaining about their non existant gay-orientated problems, belittle the people who actually do need the help and who know what its like to not be able to be gay.
'YOU'RE GAY. GET IVER IT!'
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