https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0y16nM9atGI
Pride Toronto and Tourism Toronto have released a promotional video for their July 2nd Pride celebration by making a “Pride Pump” video complete with a lisping bare-chested fitness instructor, sex jokes, a hairy bear in a jockstrap, a deep-voiced penis-hating lesbian, “rainbow crunches” and a disco-break. A clueless commercial reinforcing gay stereotypes or just silly plain fun?
Be sure to find your local Pride events and help make them as stereotypical or anti-establishment as your like.
ashton cruz
This post brought to you by: QUEERTY! Your New Gay Self Hate Site.
Teddypig
Queerty is so post gay she probably votes republican thinking she’s a rebel.
JAW
Sign me up with that Bear!
Elloreigh
I don’t know who they’re trying to reach, but it’s clearly not my demographic. We stopped attending Pride a long time ago, and this video does nothing to draw me back to Pride or Toronto.
And before anyone goes there – no, I am neither self-hating nor a Republican.
If you find this video appealing, maybe ask yourself why. As for why I don’t:
1) I don’t see anything I can relate to in it. Let’s be truthful – a lot of advertising plays off a form of narcissism when they’re not just selling sex. People are drawn in when they see something of themselves reflected in an ad.
2) “I don’t understand lesbians”. Well, make an effort then. Or maybe it’s just me – I’m one of those gay men who generally gets along better with lesbians than with other gay men. And no, I don’t see myself as ‘butch’ or ‘straight-acting’. As you’ll see by the next item, I’m not interested in acting of any sort, period.
3) The stereotypes are, as Queerty characterizes it, “tired”. Seriously – when are we going to recognize that there’s more to the gay community than gym bunnies, drag queens, leather daddies and softball-playing lesbians? Nothing against any of the aforementioned, but I’m my own person. While I don’t go out of my way to be different, I’ve never cared much about fitting in, either – so I’m not going to adopt a new persona or take on the attributes of a stereotype in order to do so. If any of the above contribute positively to your identity and enjoyment in life, then carry on. Just saying it’s not for me and that I sometimes wish there was another face representing the broader diversity of our community.
SteveC
That ad is simply dreadful – I don’t really care about the so-called stereotypes – stereotypes usually have some genesis in reality. I’m just at a loss as to who the makers think this ridiculous ad will appeal to.
Andy
So, if we do not adhere to established gay stereotypes or live our lives the way you think we should, we must either be a) self-hating or b) a republican? I honestly do not understand the logic in that.
I cannot relate to anyone in this video at all. I also do not understand why opposing viewpoints from within the community are hated so much. It almost seems that if you aren’t buff, super-gay, or slutty you must be some self-hated closeted hetero.
That type of judgement may work for some of you people out there. But, we are all individuals and I’m quite tired of useless judgement. Aren’t you?
ryansouth
Well-written and relevant article.
Did anyone see the funny article about the gay pride protest???
http://milkthebull.com/2011/06/07/gay-pride-protestors-break-into-full-blown-orgy/
divkid
@Elloreigh: i hear you dawg. but i guess hot geeks and seksi intellectuals playing chess, or solving quadratic equations is just not that visually stimulating…with or without a disco beat.
Hysterical Lesbian
Wow. Way to have no sense of humor about yourselves, Queerty.
Pride is a time for us to embrace the fact that we ARE different, and THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. I don’t know what started this whole “we need to assimilate and fit in” idea of queerness, but it is actually counter-productive.
Today, I saw an ad on a bus for the local Pride festival, and it didn’t say “Gay” anywhere. Not one place. Since when are we afraid to say gay, act gay, or BE gay?
I, for one, like my homosexuals flaming. Happy Pride!
Love, a lesbian mom and card-carrying member of the “Big Gay” media.
The crustybastard
Who is this for?
If NOM or AFA or some other gaggle of homophobic dipshits made an ad with gays as hypersexual gym bunnies (with an appearance by the obligatory humorless lesbian), you’d just assume they were denigrating us.
There’s nothing clever enough about this ad to claim satire. It just barely rises to the level of self-parody, but doesn’t do anything but engage in some fairly offensive stereotyping. It doesn’t even make sense in context. It’s like promoting Black History Month with a goddam minstrel show.
I shudder to think of what ideas this bunch rejected.
“Hey, let’s do a fun skit about a creepy old guy hanging around a men’s room?”
“Nah. Too obvious.”
Maybe this company could produce an equally “clever” ad for the Jewish community showing two rabbis fighting over a nickel? Because Jews are notorious tightwads, get it? Or they could promote Octoberfest with Nazis? Hilarious, right?
Michael
Wow, as if “finding dumb shite to bitch about” isn’t stereotypically gay.
Kettle anyone?
jason
These are horrible stereotypes propagated by hacks who have too much time on their hands. HOnestly, you couldn’t get a more self-stereotyping bunch of people than a group of GLBT people who think they know how to market homosexuality. It’s as if they’re marketing it to those who have a freak-show attraction.
Elloreigh
@divkid: Sadly true. My husband and I both think the ‘adorkable’ factor is under-appreciated in society.
Nat
@Hysterical Lesbian:
” I don’t know what started this whole “we need to assimilate and fit in” idea of queerness, but it is actually counter-productive.”
“I, for one, like my homosexuals flaming. Happy Pride!”
So you reject the idea of assimilation but insist that gays conform to particular historical stereotypes?
I’m sorry, but I have no more intention of being subjected to the tyranny of otherness from gays than I do from straights. My life is mine to make of it what I will. And I get somewhat irritated when people spout nonsense like this:
“Since when are we afraid to say gay, act gay, or BE gay?”
I’m sorry, but my homosexuality doesn’t become less authentic just because I don’t conform to assimilationist queer politics. I don’t ‘act’ gay, I am gay. It’s that simple.
Nat
Also, while these are rather tired stereotypes, it is rather amusing to have the supernova of bitchiness that is Queerty condemning it.
Hysterical Lesbian
@Nat: I guess the main point I tried to make is this: have we lost our senses of humor?
I get what you’re saying… and maybe I didn’t word my first comment right (hey, it’s a comment, after all… not a dissertation). But what I was trying to say is that gay people come in all colors, shapes, and flavors, and there is no way to accurately represent every single person in the spectrum of gay in a 3-minute video.
Yes, they’re stereotypes. Yes, you may be tired of them. But quite honestly, they are still real people. Every single one of those people in that video work in my office. Hyperbole aside, stereotypes do exist in the real world. To dismiss them is to dismiss our history.
Robbie K
I would like to pump it up with that Bear 🙂
scott ny'er
my sense of humour is very particular and even I got this ad. Was it incredibly fun… laugh out loud? No. But, it was humourous and I did smile while watching. Does it go overboard on stereotypes… yes but it was gay people playing off on them. I think it’s fine.
I don’t know where it’s going to be shown tho. It’s quite long.
12345deviant
love the drag queen who shows up out of no were
Elloreigh
@Nat: Re: your response above to @Hysterical Lesbian: my sentiments exactly.
LGBT_Advocate
Although I don’t find this ad particularly amusing or effective, I don’t see the harm in it either. I understand that, like any subculture, the LGBT community is made up of many different kinds of people. I also understand why “non-stereotypical” queers frown on what they see as stereotypes of gay folk. However, the push-back against “stereotypes” demeans those of us who happen to fit the mold of lisping, limp-wristed queens–through no choice of our own, by the way. I am by nature recognizably gay in the “stereotypical” way, and I don’t see why that should bother anyone, especially other gay people. I’m not saying everyone needs to be like me. Actually, I’m glad they’re not, because I like being different. I just wish we could learn how to make room for everyone without having to elbow one another for a seat at the table.
Elloreigh
@Hysterical Lesbian: “Pride is a time for us to embrace the fact that we ARE different, and THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT”
Here’s what really sticks in my craw: The idea that those of us who don’t celebrate Pride are somehow not embracing our difference. It’s quite the contrary, in fact. I not only embrace my difference in orientation, but likewise my difference from those who celebrate our marginalization with acts of outrageous spectacle in order to twit the haters.
I don’t need a special day or month to celebrate something that is an integral part of my identity. I don’t need to act out in defiance of those who try to shame me by marching in a Pride parade. I get my revenge on them daily by living an open life while refusing to let their hate distract or consume me.
My orientation isn’t the be all/end all of my existence. To me, Pride is like celebrating the fact that I have extremely high number/character recognition or talents in music and language. Who gives a rip?
“stereotypes do exist in the real world. To dismiss them is to dismiss our history.”
A stereotype is basically a misstep in logic. It’s taking what’s true of one or a few members of some group as if it were true of the entire group. Their perpetuation does absolutely nothing to propel our quest for equality forward and is actually a hindrance to our progress. None of which should be misconstrued to mean that I think gay people should act a certain way or try to hide their ‘gayness’. It simply means that we don’t do ourselves any favors when we use those stereotypes in our own advertising. All that does is reinforce the misunderstanding of the misinformed regarding same-sex orientation.
As for our history, I’ll agree that it’s important to understand where we’ve been and how it has all worked together to bring us to where we are today. Putting aside tired stereotypes doesn’t mean forgetting or rejecting our history. It should mean learning from that history, letting it be history, and moving forward to make new history. I’m simply not going to be shackled to a past that has nothing to do with where I’m at today or where I’m going tomorrow.
Or to put it another way: Do I owe the people who fought back at Stonewall a debt for that action? Sure. Do I owe anything to anyone simply because they turn up at Pride and act out, celebrating the stereotypes of the past? Not in the least.
Japhet
Meh… While I haven’t been around long enough to remember Pride festivals of yore, every single one I’ve been to has been nothing more than a depoliticized trade-show for booze and porn (I like both, but its frigging lame to think either industry really needs its own Marathon of Hope) and an opportunity to show off either:
1)your hot abs
2)your cool new utilikilt/harness
3)your adopted non-white baby
4)your “professionalism” and ability to pass as straight, normal, middle class.
Can we just call it a party and stop pretending its supposed to be anything meaningful?
jason
I find a lot of the marketing within the GLBT community quite offensive. In the male scene in particular, it’s all about sex. Fantasy male physiques are plastered everywhere. It’s dishonest, too: when you actually go into a bar or club, you realize most of the patrons look nothing like these fantasy models.
It’s very similar to how straight-identifying men market their strip clubs using the female physique. It’s a similar sex-centric marketing ploy. Don’t like it at all whether it comes from gay-identifying men or straight-identifying men.
Shannon1981
The ad is just an affront to good advertising and creativity, never mind the stereotypes. I am pretty stereotypically gay, so I can throw no stones there.
I will say this though: Pride is NOT an effort to win over non gay friendly types. They are selling to the choir, so what the issue with stereotyping is, I can’t imagine.
Elloreigh
@Shannon1981: While I’ll agree that Pride isn’t necessarily about winning over “non gay friendly types”, it hasn’t always been about “selling to the choir”. What it was is perhaps exemplified in the old chant of “we’re here, we’re queer, get used to it”. It was about 1) visibility, 2) owning one’s orientation without shame, and 3) telling the “non gay friendly types” to get over it because we aren’t going back in the closet. Perhaps those elements still exist in some Pride celebrations today, but the reasons we stopped going was because it had become more about seeing who could act the most outrageous, crass commercialism, hooking up and partying.
Elloreigh
WTF? I’m getting auto-flagged now by Queerty? Maybe people don’t like hearing the truth? Well I’ve got more for you, whether or not the site ever publishes this comment:
There are a LOT of gay people who do not identify with “gay culture” and do not feel accepted by the “gay community”. It doesn’t mean we’re closeted conservative Republicans. It doesn’t mean we have no desire to participate in the fight for our equality. It doesn’t mean we’re making no contribution to that fight despite finding ourselves outsiders in our own ‘community’.
We aren’t all young, beautiful, fashionable, rich (or willing to amass a mountain of debt to appear so), coastal/urban denizens, or obsessed with theater/music divas/movie stars. We don’t all necessarily appreciate the overemphasis on the sexual aspect of our orientation. Nor should we all have to be interested in marriage. Nor does the fact that we’re in a stable relationship mean we’re deficient if we lack the desire to have children.
Seriously, sometimes dealing with the ‘gay community’ feels like I’m back in high school and still one of the unpopular kids.
The crustybastard
@Japhet: “Pride festivals [are] nothing more than a depoliticized trade-show for booze and porn (I like both, but its frigging lame to think either industry really needs its own Marathon of Hope)”
That was truly awesome. Seriously. I am awed.
The crustybastard
@LGBT_Advocate: “However, the push-back against “stereotypes” demeans those of us who happen to fit the mold of lisping, limp-wristed queens”
So if you are not cheered as our own special shining example of everything that is worthwhile about our community, you feel demeaned?
How sad.
LGBT_Advocate
@The crustybastard: I never asked to be cheered. I just don’t like that stereotypes are presumed to be negative. There’s room for everyone in our community. That’s all I’m saying. No need to be snide, crusty. Civility is underrated.
The crustybastard
@LGBT_Advocate:
No need to be a martyr either. Nobody’s demeaning you.
LGBT_Advocate
@The crustybastard: Are you always this genteel and charming?
the crustybastard
@LGBT_Advocate: Are you always this insecure and pathetic?
LGBT_Advocate
@the crustybastard: I’ll take that for a ‘yes.’ I guess when you chose your screen name, you weren’t just whistling Dixie. To each his own. Happy Pride!