Gay Advertising Not Offensive

A gay advertising campaign targeting homophobia has been ruled not to be offensive by the UK Advertising Standards Authority.

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Ian Johnson, Out Now
March 20, 2008

TOPICS: Gay advertising. GLBT market in UK. Gay advertising and marketing. UK gay and lesbian community. Gay marketing and advertising. Anti-gay homophobia. Gay advertising in UK ruled not to be offensive.

Gay Market News reported last month on the anti-homophobia gay advertising campaign running in the UK market.

As we reported, vandals had attacked some of the advertising billboards, by people who clearly need to heed the anti-homophobia message more than most.

But others took issue with the very existence of the advertising campaign, and claimed that the message was offensive to them.

I fail to see how the simple words used:

"Some People Are Gay. Get Over It."

are especially offensive.

Bold perhaps.

Even less than sophisticated.

But not offensive.

The UK Advertising Standards Authority is the body charged with the responsibility of hearing complaints from members of the public offended by advertising campaigns in the UK market.

The ASA ruling stated that: "Although some people might disagree with the advertiser's approach, the ad did not contain language or imagery that was likely to cause serious or widespread offence, or particular offence to heterosexuals or religious groups. The ad did not imply that heterosexual people were homophobic, and did not promote homosexuality as an attractive lifestyle choice, or as taking advantage of issues arising from children’s sexuality for political gain."

54 Complaints

Interestingly, 54 complaints in total were lodged alleging the gay themed advertising campaign was offensive.

Yet all complaints were ruled as not upheld in assessing whether reasonable members of the public would find the gay advertising anti-homophobia campaign offensive.

It is perhaps not entirely surprising that some people would choose to take offence at a gay advertising billboard asking people to accept homosexuality.

There are still some members of society for whom all things gay are likely to offend them at all times. No matter what the message.

Thankfully though, the people in that category are in an increasingly small minority -- and when it comes to the Stonewall gay rights advertising in question, the Advertising Standards Authority of the United Kingdom considers that this gay themed advertising campaign is anything but offensive.

In fact you might just argue that the allegations made in the complaints rejected by the ASA show the very reason why this advertising campaign was needed in the first place.

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