Comments on: Is Mr. Sub’s “Dad Is Gay” Ad Really That Homophobic?

By: Buried Alive In Canada

Buried Alive In Canada — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:27:27 +0000

Canadians are totally and deadly serious beyond all belief
and totally without the slightest sense of humor.

What is the difference between a live Canadian
and a dead Canadian?

Answer:- the dead ones smell more
but otherwise it is hard to tell the difference.

Mr Sub is ok though.

The ad would have worked better
if they had actually shown a sub sandwich in it.

If you are selling subs then it is always best to show one
on screen, preferably being eaten by a satisfied smiling consumer, and tell everyone how your sub is the best
in the world, etc.

However such crass self-promotion
is also considered to be very un-Canadian.

This is a brain-dead zombie country on life-support
from the American economy waiting to have its plug pulled.

Now that would really be hilarious.

Just picture the headlines:-
Canada drops dead but no one noticed for a whole year.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:05:17 +0000

I’m sorry QUEERTY but I found this ad knee-slapping hilarious. lol

By: schlukitz

schlukitz — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:11:59 +0000

@ Drake:

Co-sign.

By: Mr. Enemabag Jones

Mr. Enemabag Jones — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:37:52 +0000

If we follow the link, we see that the advert agency wrote in their letter explaining the ad:

However, we stand behind our work. We hope that the debate and controversy that looms over this ad will bring about positive change and a greater tolerance and understanding of a person’s sexual preference

That BOS views sexuality as a “preference”, proves the ad was meant to be homophobic, and perhaps even anti-gay.

By: me

me — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:35:24 +0000

i agree that it’s pretty bad when gays marry women and have children with them because they can’t own up to their real sexuality. it isn’t fair to the family, and to the wife especially. to the family because he’s lying to them about who he really is, and to the wife doubly so because, frankly as much as we may think it’s just a myth, women have certain needs, too.

By: sal(the original)

sal(the original) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:56:39 +0000

wow creativity where art thou??!!funny??more like wast of money,poor people who didnt get this job who actually had a creative bone in their body

By: San Francisco Treat

San Francisco Treat — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:19:14 +0000

I suppose I just don’t see the humor in this. I do see the homophobia though. When this ad says “not everyone likes surprises” it may as well just say “not everyone likes gay people” or “when family members come out it’s a disappointment” or “our target demographic would have an adverse reaction to homosexuality and we should exploit it.” I can admit I’m not terribly offended, but I do think this ad reifies homophobia or at least heteronormativity.

By: Juliet

Juliet — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:33:44 +0000

I agree that the ad is funny, and let’s face it– no matter how hardcore you are about championing gay rights, it’s a little surprising when a father of 12 comes out at the dinner table!

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:54:17 +0000

I think it is funny. As a gay man, I do not find it offensive in the least! People need to lighten up.

By: yourboo

yourboo — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:44:54 +0000

It would be even funnier if he said, “I’m black.”
Still, it’s pretty brilliant.

By: Drake

Drake — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:05:50 +0000

(Gay)Dad is portrayed in a bad light ( an insensitive jerk) concerning the feelings of his loved ones. An ad with the gay character as an insensitive jerk is not good for gays. Sorry.

By: hardmannyc

hardmannyc — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:39:26 +0000

What’s interesting is that, except for Carrie, all the kids are Old Testament names. That, and the large number, implies that they’re either Mormon or some kind of fundamentalists.

I think that’s the joke. That a fundamentalist Xtian or practicing Mormon is coming out to his family.

And yes, it’s very funny.

And yes, the company is an asshat for firing the very good agency that dreamed this up.

By: Republican

Republican — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:32:39 +0000

Sydney, I’d love to see that commercial.

By: fuzzypony

fuzzypony — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:26:58 +0000

Yeah, um, that’s not cool. Sorry, put an ethnic minority in there and see how that reads.

Okay, so no Mr. Sub when I move to Canada. Check.

By: sydneyfamous

sydneyfamous — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:11:03 +0000

They should make a straight version of it, too.
“Like straight straight?”
“Like super, super straight.”

Then we can all have our cake and eat it.

By: playasinmar

playasinmar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:35:19 +0000

It could have gone:
“I’m American.”
“You mean like American American?”
“Like Super-Yankee-American.”

By: McShane

McShane — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:31:51 +0000

Canadians may have more of a sense of humor than Americans. It’s possible that , barring narrow ideas of what gays are supposed to be, bisexuals for instance can have can have reg families and be out..

I think that’s more consistent with French flipancy.

By: TomEM

TomEM — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:24:55 +0000

“A Canadian classic for over forty years” = Reliable, or accountable; something not indiscreet (nor promiscuous)[?] Something around for more than 40 years: Traditional; not an anomaly in Canada[?]

By: TomEM

TomEM — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:17:41 +0000

“Not everyone likes surprises” = You (i.e. we ‘gays’) cannot come-out (to everyone)[?]

“A classic” = Enduring (i.e. not a trend, or a temporary ‘preference’)[?]

By: Pete

Pete — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:07:17 +0000

I think that a straight audience these days will look at this ad as an example of gays breaking up families, so we need to “protect marriage”, look how gays hurt the kids feelings, etc. Ultimately, the ad is bad for gays since the (young) straights in it are hurt emotionally, while uncaring gay Dad is smiling and happy.

By: jebteague

jebteague — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:33:21 +0000

Everybody relax. The ad is hilarious!

By: DeAnimator

DeAnimator — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:29:16 +0000

Haha.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:26:22 +0000

Sorry, but I’m just not going to pardon “merely” portraying being gay with a “slightly” negative connotation. If it was a gay-focused company targeting a primarily gay audience, it’d be different. But let’s be honest, this probably wasn’t made with the idea of showing it on Logo (or the Canadian equivalent thereof).

These ads aren’t targeted at us, they’re exploiting negative reactions to us. Plain and simple.

But we’re pressured to say they’re ok, because hey, then we’re just one of the guys, right? Nobody likes the person that says a joke isn’t OK when everyone else is laughing at it. Calm down. Laugh at yourself. Sure, it’s based on the fact that nobody would want a gay in their family. But that’s ok, because it’s *funny*.

By: Erick

Erick — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:07:18 +0000

This is not homophobic.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:56:28 +0000

That ad is hilarious.

By: Lady Ga-Gasp

Lady Ga-Gasp — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:54:28 +0000

He should have said: “I’m French, and I support making Quebec Province a separate country.”

By: Cam

Cam — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:31:22 +0000

For some reason the fact that they have a child named Gideon just makes me think that the Mormons in Canada are going to start yelling and screaming that this ad is aimed at them. LOL!