Provocative, rude or right on?

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22nd December 2011 03:56 p.m.

Earlier this year I joined the trust’s Stonewall Healthy Lives programme to give communications support but also because I supported its aims. These are broadly to improve service provision and employment conditions for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGBT) patients, carers and staff.

At a meeting in the Summer the group discussed which of a number of Stonewall posters we should put up around the trust to raise the visibility of LGBT issues and promote acceptance. I supported a fire-engine red poster that carried the simple but powerful message: ‘SOME PEOPLE ARE GAY. GET OVER IT!’ Some disagreed, thinking it was too brash, even aggressive. With my comms hat on I knew that short plain messages work best on posters and in any case I approved of its unequivocal tone. I didn’t think we should set out to upset people, but nor did I think we should appease them. Gentler, anodyne, pastel coloured posters would I thought be unnoticed or ignored.

The poster was one of a number displayed on the Stonewall stall at the trust’s Annual Member’s Meeting in September and members were asked to vote for their favourite. It attracted a deluge of responses, overwhelmingly positive, and so was chosen as the clear winner to be displayed around the trust.

It is now up at a number of sites. I don’t think it’s rude. I think its message is that no one has the right to treat us worse or even think badly of us simply on the grounds of our sexuality and that the trust has zero tolerance for discrimination against LGBT people and indeed against any minority group.

Have you seen it and if so what do you think?

Related tags: Gay, LGBT, Stonewall

Andrew Mayor

Andrew Mayor is a communications officer at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.

He edits the trust newspaper, Oxleas Exchange and has produced a number of information videos for Oxleas' website.

andrew.mayor@oxleas.nhs.uk

Comments

1 Darren Ward says...

Dear Andrew, it's great you have posted this on the site. Yes I have seen the posters and have one up in my office, which has lent to some interesting interactions, from people thinking I might be being targeted, to those engaging me with their own thoughts. All good I say, when people start talking, that's when barriers come down and bridges can be formed. We need to ensure they are being displayed around the Trust.

Cheers Andrew

Darren.

Posted at 4:35 p.m. on December 22, 2011

2 Helen Nicholls says...

Darren/Andrew

I completey agree that these posters should be displayed across the trust. The first time I saw one of these posters was in a secondary school that I was visiting with my son. It certainly caused some discussion amongst a group of 10 year olds, admittedly some were a bit embarrased but overwhelmingly the group agreed that the posters were a good way to get the message across that bullying or negativity based on someones sexuality is unnacceptable and will not be tolerated.

The poster is bright, bold and straight to the point which for me gets the message across brilliantly - so I look forward to seeing many more of these posters displayed across the trust.
Helen

Posted at 12:32 p.m. on December 23, 2011

3 Debbie Willetts says...

I absolutely agree that this poster should be displayed - it unequivocally states Oxleas position in terms of the LGB agenda, which can only be a good thing.

Posted at 10:14 a.m. on December 28, 2011

4 Darren Ward says...

Dear Helen, I'm so pleased that they are being displayed in schools, as of course tackling discrimination needs to start early! Having an adopted Son, as you can imagine, as two Dad's we have encountered some interesting scenarios over the years. All of which he has dealt with superbly and the schools.

Young people are often very open to difference, it's often the parents who are the problem!

Cheers

Darren.

Posted at 9:59 a.m. on December 29, 2011

5 Alan Cork says...

The display of this poster as widely as possible has my full support. I recently had a problem re the care of my grandchildren and the backing of homophobic attitudes by my Muslim son in law towards Gay family supporters by Bromley social workers. The poster needs not to just go up around the NHS but in all Bromley social services departments.
Keep up the good work.
Alan

Posted at 9:03 p.m. on January 9, 2012

6 Rob Satchell says...

Hi Andrew

I have to admit that I've always been quite a fan of this poster; the first time that I ever saw it it really made me smile.

Needless to say I was very pleased that this poster was the one chosen to be displayed around the Trust sites; the fact that the Trust is displaying the posters is, I feel, an amazingly positive step.

Yes, perhaps the posters are provocative, but I think if they are then it's in a positive way. As Darren says, in order for bridges to be formed people need to start talking, and if this poster is able to stimulate a dialogue, that can only be to the good.

Best wishes

Rob.

Posted at 9:20 p.m. on January 9, 2012

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