When the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck began to roam the streets of Manhattan with offerings like the “Salty Pimp” and the “Bea Arthur,” New Yorkers rejoiced. In fact, they loved their big gay ice cream so much that the roaming camp-mobile has opened up two brick and mortars. Now you can reliably get your dose of big gay ice cream in the East and West Villages. They’ll soon go bicoastal, opening stores in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. It’s safe to say that Big Gay Ice Cream is a big gay hit.
So it seems logic dictates that if Big Gay Ice Cream is so successful, “Big Straight Ice Cream” is an obvious winner, right? Well, no. That’s one of the worst ideas imaginable for so many obvious reasons.
But hey, that didn’t stop Italian restaurant Gallo Nero from giving it the ‘ole college try. Located just down the street from Big Gay Ice Cream’s 7th Ave. location, here’s the genius marketing plan they’ve decided on:
Gothamist reached out to the restaurant’s manager, who was apparently confused by the idea that the name could come across as homophobic in any way. “What’s the issue? We can call our ice cream whatever we want,” he told them, adding, “They have their own way, we have our own way.”
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What’s next? Straight pride parades and white history month?
muscl954
I’m more appalled that an ice cream cone costs $6.00 in New York???????
Black Pegasus
LOL At least try being a bit more original. ” Big Gay Icecream” works because it has a certain amount of “camp” attached to it’s name. “Big Straight Icecream” just falls flat. There’s nothing fun nor interesting about it.. It’s reactive in every way, which makes it BORING.
SportGuy
Epic Fail! The company will die quickly,as it should!
dustashed
Am I the only one who thinks that it doesn’t matter. and it’s ok to have a straight pride or a white pride whatever. If we are allowed to hold those pride parades why can’t they. if we call something “gay icecream” why can’t there be a straight icecream. ohh well..
dustashed
I understand that it stems from years of being the minority and being oppressed and all that.. but aren’t we not being the oppressors by viewing these as offensive instead of being just w/e about it. just my .02
Ridpathos
@dustashed: Nobody thinks it’s offensive. They just think it lacks imagination and is lame. Which it is.
dustashed
who was apparently confused by the idea that the name could come across as homophobic in any way. “What’s the issue? We can call our ice cream whatever we want,” he told them, adding, “They have their own way, we have our own way.”
What’s next? Straight pride parades and white history month?
>>they seem to think so
dustashed
I think people should just let him be.. it is his business afterall. and if it fails due to a name that lacks imagination and lame.. well it is his business so w/e who cares. If people hold a straight white male parade who cares. let them do it. just let everyone do what they want as long as it doesn’t directly affect others
Scribe38
@dustashed: Whites already hold straight-whites-rallies they are called Klan meetings. The members wear sheets and hide their faces and burn their crosses on unappreciative minorities’ yards. Every few years the bastards fight for permits to have a rally in Ann Arbor.
Saint Law
“What’s the issue? We can call our ice cream whatever we want.”
So whats wrong with:’Literal-minded Bigot Icecream’?
Cam
@dustashed:
Ask yourself the REASON that people have Straight Pride or White Pride and the reason we have gay pride.
Gay pride started happening because an abused and victimized group of people were gathering together to make the statement that they were here, they existed and to give themselves a sense that they were not the only ones.
Is Straight Pride or White Pride because those groups have been so victimized? I would have zero problems with say a white group in college IF they actually did what those other groups do. Discuss cultural issues, eat foods specific to their countries of origions etc… but they don’t. Notice how whenever there is a Straight Pride, or a White Student Union it is always in response to, and about attacking, gay groups, or minority groups.
This guy himself admitted it. He didn’t come out with his Straight Ice Cream to celebrate himself, he did it as a backlash against something gay.
Typical bigotry.
TinoTurner
Ok so their ad isnt offensive, but it is dumb. I live on the East Coast and have been to a few “gay” restuarants in DC and NYC and I say this truthfully….”gay” restaurants are generally god awful. Its a sin to be in NYC and have a terrible meal, which is why I never, ever go to “gay” restaurants. Every restaurant on P Street in DC sucks and survives soley because DC homos love to insulate themselves from the heteros.
rickhfx
Big Bigot Ice Cream won’t get my money.
AtticusBennett
it’s not clever. it’s not funny. and it’s not meant to be a joke. and if any of you think “‘it’s funny” i’d wager you’re the type of sad-sack homos who likely haven’t been actually accepted as gay men in your own lives.
it’s the equivalent of “straight pride”, or “white history month”, or “national white heterosexual christian men’s rights association” …get it yet?
it’s a dig. not a joke. the excuse that “we’re just saying straight when they’re saying gay” is false. it’s an attempt to make a dig, a cut, a pointed anti-gay comment. and it’s failed – they’ve now taken it down due to backlash. which is good. because it was never intended to be funny – it was only ever intended to make similar bigots go “yeah! we want STRAIGHT things!”
and i pity any of you idiots who don’t see that. you’re doomed in life, boys. wise up.
Cam
@TinoTurner:
Is this a joke? P st. in DC? Gays insulate themselves? When was the last time you went to DC, gay bars and restaurants are scattered all over the city and P st. isn’t any gayer than the rest of the place.
I also love your comment of how gays like to insulate themselves from others. Yes, you know, gays couldn’t marry or serve in the army because they were insulating themselves away. Gays couldn’t adopt because they were insulating themselves away.
The old gay ghettos formed as places where gays could be somewhat safe. But you know, why bother with facts.
Maruchi
@AtticusBennett:
“doomed in life” – may be a tad extreme.
sangsue
What makes it so funny is not the homophobia, alleged or otherwise. It’s that he was uber lame and uncreative about it. If you want to compete with Big Gay Ice Cream, how about something like: Machismo Ice Cream. Or Big Boobs Ice Cream? Ot even Stiffie’s making a h@rd-0n omnisexual.
Cam
The store has taken down the sign because of backlash.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/15/big-straight-ice-cream_n_5824250.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices