SOME PEOPLE ARE GAY. GET OVER IT!
Earlier this month a Christian political pressure group created a controversial billboard that read “Gay aim: Abolish the family.” With that in mind I wondered if a billboard I saw the other day might have been a direct response to that, it read “Some people are gay. Get over it.”
It turns out that the billboard isn’t a response to nutty Christians, but is instead part of a nationwide campaign in schools by charity Stonewall. The campaign which started back in November 2007 has distributed posters, stickers and postcards to all 5,000 high schools across England.
According to Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive, “Homophobia is almost endemic in our schools and blights the lives of people throughout society. It makes sense that this zero-tolerance message should be extended to the wider public. Across urban and rural Britain, this plain-speaking slogan will remind people that discrimination against gay men and lesbians is no longer acceptable.”
There are two of these billboard close to where I live, one of which is ironically positioned on the other side of the road to the ‘Bebington Christian Life centre.’ Unlike the “Gay aim” billboard, Stonewall’s “Get over it” billboard raised no objections or complaints.
Unsurprisingly at least one of the 600 billboard that have appeared around the country as been defaced.
George Haworth, secretary of the 4 Health Group, which supports lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, said. “It’s 2008 now and people are still obviously not happy with a poster saying get real and get with the reality of today.” He continued. “There are a variety of reasons why people write such offensive things: sometimes it’s hate, sometimes it’s religiously orientated, but it’s all ignorant.”
As a side, note I still haven’t received a reply to the email I sent to Kensington Temple’s Pastor Colin Dye about the “Gay aim” billboard. Dye is a co-founder of the CCTV, the group that ran that billboard, but he has thus far ignored the email in which I challenged the CCTV’s wisdom in being so openly aggressive toward a section of society. You can see the email in the comments on that particular post.
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Stonewall
Gay aim : Are you offended?
Wrote the following comment on Feb 26, 2008 at 4:22 am
Yes, some people are gay. However, I still wonder why they are gay. Is it solely because of genetic factors? Is there something that happened developmentally? Are there degrees of homosexuality or is it a pure dichotomy? How does the realm of the spirit play into all of this? Why have some people apparently changed their orientation? Why weren’t others who desperately wanted to change not able to? How fixed is orientation. Why are some people apparently bisexual? Beyond biologically male and female, what is gender? Is it purely a social construction? Is there some kind of essence to it? If there is an essence, is it spiritually or biologically grounded? My sexual preference is for women, and yet there are some guys that I am more attracted to than others, and I get why they are sexually appealing. Is this indicative of mild homosexuality? These are just a few questions that pop into my head about this subject, and I don’t imagine that the people who stand behind that billboard really want to engage in dialogue where such questions are raised. It just seems to communicate “I am what I am, and leave me alone. I don’t want to talk about it!”
To be sensitive, I understand that questions can be threatening, particularly if there is any subtext that “there is something wrong here.” So, I can imagine that if I was gay and people were inquiring into my sexuality, whether personally or generally, I wouldn’t be very comfortable with it either. And yet, if we genuinely want to pursue the truth (call me naive for believing is such a pursuit) we have to try to get beyond our egoistic, self-preserving defenses.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 26, 2008 at 4:54 am
I feel the need to be fair in my inquiry. So, regarding my own Christian confession I pose the following?
Why are you Christian? Do you think you would be a Christian if you were born to different parents, or in a culture where the dominant religion wasn’t Christian? If Jesus died for sins to bring forgiveness, why are Christians so judgmental? If Jesus’ death and resurrection is supposed to bring deliverance from the power of sin, why aren’t Christians morally better than other people? Why is the divorce rate equal among Christians and non-Christians? Why do so many male Christians, including pastors, struggle with lust and pornography? Why are so many Christians hypocrites when it comes to owning up to their moral struggles? Are you sure that Jesus is the Son of God? How can you believe that God eternally punishes people for finite sins committed? Is that just? Aren’t you ashamed of all the evil that has been done in the name of God? When there is a conflict between the findings of science and the accepted understanding of Scripture, whose authority are you going to chose? Don’t you feel like a bigot questioning other people’s faith? Don’t you feel like a bigot questioning people’s sexual orientation?
I am sure Simon that you could very easily add to this line of inquiry. Regarding answers to any of the questions I posed, I think I could provide a relatively thoughtful response to some of them, others I will very likely be working on my whole life, and if I do provide any kind of answer, it probably won’t be contained in words alone, but in the flesh and blood struggle to live faithfully and genuinely.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 25, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Sloganizing kills dialogue, and so to me it seems that both The Christian Congress for Traditional Values and Stonewall are really two peas in a pod. Neither of these billboards invites people to think more deeply about the issues of sexual orientation and gender. To me it seems that both are fear based and entrenched responses. Being a Xian I am disappointed in CCTV’s paranoid response, and I hate to burst the bubbles of gay rights advocates, but often they really are no more tolerant than the Christians they throw stones at.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 25, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I see what you are saying there Anthony, I hadn’t looked at it like that actually. I thought it was a good ad, but then I think I was looking at it in a kind of puff you chest out “how’dya like them apples!” kinda way.
Still, I think this ad is fairly to the point and it’s not really offensive. It says what is say… some people are gay, get over it. I can go along with that.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 26, 2008 at 4:44 am
Excellently put Anthony! You know I was having that very conversation with my friend Hilary just the other day. It’s something that feels almost wrong to question isn’t it. What is gay? Asking that question could land you at the wrong end of some pretty ugly rants, rants that we would all far rather distance ourselves from.
I’m not gay so this doesn’t effect me, I’ll live and let live and ask no questions. – That works for me.
Is that blind faith? I believe in ‘gay’ without really understanding what ‘gay’ is. Surely wanting to explore this shouldn’t result in me being lynched?
You made some great points there Anthony, thank you for showing me another angle!
Wrote the following comment on Feb 26, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I have mixed feelings about this. Obviously, I’m glad to see a group fighting real discrimination, and not surprised that homophobes would respond by defacing a sign. I’m sure there’s a far-right blog somewhere where they are all freaking out, and that kinda makes me happy.
But here’s the thing. I think that identities such as “gay,” “straight,” and “bi” are social constructs, not essential, natural categories. And these social constructs, big surprise, work to regulate rather than to open up what it means to be a human and be a sexual being. I’m not arguing that there is no genetic component in sexual object preference; it may very well be the case that there is. But overall, Western culture is really, really obsessed with sexuality, with defining it and narrowing it and explaining it and making sure that people police themselves and behave according to the expectations for the category in which they fall.
All that to say that I have this sort of wishful thinking about a future in which no one has to defend their sexuality and everyone feels free to explore their own limits. Billboards like this, that acknowledge that there is not one, monolithic way to be, are a step in that direction.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 26, 2008 at 6:37 am
nice dialogue dont think i have much more to add then that.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 26, 2008 at 12:51 pm
That’s a whole different subject there isn’t Anthony. But yes, I get your point. A question of religious orientation is a very interesting one. I will pose this question somewhere soon so stay tuned!
Wrote the following comment on Feb 26, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Here’s what I don’t get: why the big deal? I mean, ok, from a Christian standpoint, homosexuality is wrong because it’s a sin.
Well, where are the billboards that say “Some people lie. Get over it,” “Some people don’t keep the Sabbath holy. Get over it,” “Some people commit adultery. Get over it.”? Or what about as scandalous as “Some people murder. Get over it.”?
No, these sins go unmentioned while political groups and activist groups spend all their time harping on homosexuality. Why not put up billboards and/or pass out flyers trying to stop something a little more violent??
I agree. Some people are gay. Get over it. Let’s move on to something a little more important in light of the Kingdom, shall we?
Wrote the following comment on Feb 27, 2008 at 1:18 am
I can’t agree with you on this Beth. I think the degree of hate being unleashed on those who don’t observe the sabbath is probably less than that which is inflicted upon gay people. The billboard isn’t aimed at christians, it’s aimed at school kids. As for “Some people commit murder, get over it.” I think you might have missed the point there somewhat ;-)
Wrote the following comment on Feb 27, 2008 at 2:01 am
I’m afraid you misunderstand me.
Your first sentence? That’s EXACTLY my point!!
What I’m saying is that the supposed Christians who speak out against homosexuality because it’s a sin say nothing about other sins that are far more blatant. Why AREN’T these same “Christians” attacking other sins so vehemently?? Why do they focus on homosexuality, as if it is the worst sin of them all?? Why ISN’T the hate directed at the more violent sins, such as murder??
My frustration was SO not directed at your post, but the fact that this issue gets so much attention from “Christians,” yet the things that are more important in light of the Kingdom get little or no attention at all.
THAT’s what I meant when I said let’s focus on something else. Not YOU focus on something else (enjoy your blogs). But if these same “Christians” who broadcast “Gay aim: Abolish the family” would focus more on the two most important commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself,” then the entire WORLD would be better off!!
I’m GLAD these billboards are projecting to “Get over it”!! I don’t care to whom they’re directed – we ALL need this message!!
Wrote the following comment on Feb 27, 2008 at 2:04 am
Ah right, sorry Beth, now I’ve got ya. And so yeah, I agree with you :-)
PS. Nice to see on on my blog!
Wrote the following comment on Feb 27, 2008 at 2:06 am
Sorry it was so poorly articulated the first time. I was just thinking about it and getting more and more angry.
Nice to be here and glad I finally had something to say!! :-)
Wrote the following comment on Feb 27, 2008 at 2:11 am
You know Beth, the most common thing I hear from my readers who don’t comment is “I have nothing worthwhile to say” or “I’d sound dumb” or stuff like that. I want EVERYONE to know that as much as my writing is not about your comments you have to understand that for the majority of bloggers the comments are a HUGE part of the fun for us! So please, know that all your comments are ALWAYS welcome.
Wrote the following comment on Mar 13, 2008 at 7:26 am
I thought this was a very good and very simple campaign which everybody would see the point of. Shows how wrong you can be.
For me its all about equality and respect. Whether or not you think being gay is right, gay people deserve respect. That’s it! And the need for the campaign is because historically, gay people have been disadvantaged, hated, repressed and just plain disprespected as people.
As to the question of “Why the gays and not other groups”. Sure! I’d love to see posters along the lines of: Stop hitting women! etc etc. But observing the Sabbath….? That is not the religious lobby asserting their own rights – which I wholeheartedly support. That is, yet again, the religious lobby trying to impose their view on others – which I most certainly do not support.
Live, let live, respect others and their rights. Doesn’t sound hard, yet somehow…
Wrote the following comment on Mar 13, 2008 at 11:46 am
Please note that my post doesn’t suggest a billboard commanding others to observe the Sabbath. It simply mentions that not everyone does it.
My point is that “Christians” who speak so vehemently against homosexuality supposedly do so because it’s a sin, which makes it offensive. Therefore, following that logic, someone not observing the Sabbath would be just as offensive, wouldn’t it? The fact that so many “Christians” speak out so hatefully against homosexuality alone . . . if you’re passionate about hating a sinful world, at least be equal-opportunity about it.
I don’t understand what makes this sin so much more offensive than any others. I was pointing out that there are plenty of other sins to focus on – being so harsh against homosexuality isn’t doing anything for anyone. In fact, it’s one of the many reasons that “Christians” are the number one reason for atheism.
Wrote the following comment on Mar 13, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Well said Beth.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 21, 2008 at 7:15 pm
im not a commenter on this site. but i saw tis campaign and as a member of the gay comunity i personally found it nice to see such a campaign like this. In my personal opinion its bold. its striking. and it makes a point. it was on for 2 weeks so one cant really say they were ..you know..going on and on about it. but yeah. i think its a brilliant campaign and nice to see such a highly advertised thing like this AGAINST homophobia..and so obviously oding something to help prevent it. i like the message it sends..”get over it” not “respect them!” or “leave them alone” but..”get over it” just think its sends the correct message.
that is all. just thought i would reply as i wasnt sure if u had a response from someone who could relate to this campaign as much as i can.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 22, 2008 at 10:37 am
lilamygrace, thanks for the comment, and you’re welcome back anytime.