Some People Are Gay - Get Over It! The powerful billboard message was devised by schoolchildren.
Stop Homophobic Bullying - Some People Are Gay - Get Over It!
Stonewall have launched a powerful 2 week campaign to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. This year’s campaign - timed to coincide with the 2 weeks ‘back to school’ period - is a turbo-charged version of last year’s featuring:
* a powerful slogan “Some People Are Gay - Get Over It!” created by 150 school children
* the advertisement featuing the slogan (above) will be shown on 500 huge display panels in England, Scotland and Wales, and new for this year, 20 whopping railway station screens. The display advertising spaces were provided to Stonewall by Titan Outdoor Advertising Ltd for a nominal amount
Already the message has been distributed to 5000 secondary schools on posters, stickers and postcards.
Stonewall’s zero tolerance on homophobic bullying has widespread support by politicians and celebrities alike, including the Prime Minister, Sir Ian McKellen, Alan Carr and Dannii Minogue.
Dannii Minogue supports Stonewall's 'Some people are gay - get over it' back to school campaign
Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said:
“A taster campaign of the billboards saw some defaced with homophobic graffiti – reminding us that prejudice is still very much alive in Britain today. This campaign is timed with the start of a new school term to encourage the idea that it’s everyone’s responsibility to tackle homophobic bullying – both within the school gates, and in the wider world.”
The campaign starts on 24 August 2009.
Mothership Blog says:
Tackling anti-gay bullying in schools is crucial to the wellbeing of our lesbian and gay youth. Gay teenagers are four times more likely to commit suicide than straight teenagers, and factors like low self-esteem and peer pressure from homophobic attitudes are very damaging to gay children and young adults.
Stonewall are to be commended for doing something practical to stop homophobic school bullying. This is incredibly important work of real value, and may bring more hope and comfort to young gay people than any of us realise. However, could even more be done? Why stop at 2 weeks? Also, Northern Ireland is not covered by Stonewall - so who is tackling homophobic school bullying in Northern Ireland?
By David Abrehart
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
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