Remember that fun sexy Out 2 Enroll video? It was a handy reminder to LGBTs that we need to sign up for insurance today in order to have coverage on January 1.
Featuring the nearly-nude talents of Colby, Brandon, Ozzy and Chris (and the signing of Coleen McMahon) the video grabbed plenty of attention and inflamed our passions (for responsible health care). But guess who didn’t like it? Gay republicans, of course.
“This cynical ad betrays the depths Obamacare advocates will sink to in order to pad their pathetic enrollment numbers,” wrote an LCR flack, his grinch fingers nervously drumming. “This ad is also an example of the left promoting harmful stereotypes that gay men are nothing more than sex-crazed lechers. If anyone on the right made such a comparison, liberals would be apoplectic. At a time when left-wing propagandists are decrying “Duck Dynasty”‘s Phil Robertson for equating homosexuality with promiscuity and deviance, Out2Enroll and others should take a look in the mirror and ask if the truth is that they are the ones responsible for promoting such harmful stereotypes.” (Emphasis ours.)
First of all, great job jumping on that trendy Duck Dynasty bandwagon. If this had happened two weeks ago, they would probably have found a way to make it about Tom Daley. And if had happened a few weeks before that, it would be have been some blah-blah-blah comparing Obama to Miley Cyrus at the VMAs.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Second of all, just shut up, oh my God, shut up. You know nothing, Jon Snow. Are the LCRs seriously complaining that it’s unfair that their anti-gay friends don’t get to make anti-gay videos? “How come they get to say faggot and we can’t?” That’s somehow your line of defense against Obamacare, LCR? You seriously don’t understand the context of an oppressed group seizing and reclaiming the language of its oppressors? Just … please stop.
Third of all, some of our best friends happen to be sex-crazed lechers, thank you very much. Just because some of us enjoy having fun doesn’t mean we are criminals. Just like how belonging to a golf club doesn’t automatically make you a racist.
Okay, maybe there’s an argument to be made here that by depicting ourselves as naughty elves, we are participating in our own marginalization. (There’s also maybe an issue of body fascism going on, with the seeming exclusion of plus-size dancers or anyone with body hair. But kudos for including trans model Asia Vitale!) We’re not all prancing underwear bunnies, after all. Gay people aren’t just go-go dancers — we’re just as likely to be professors or undertakers or mechanics or glaziers or painters or cops and so on.
But you know what? How do you know the guys in this ad aren’t also intelligent, sensitive young professionals? The LCR seems to have assumed that the act of taking off your clothes and flirting makes you an embarrassing dummy. Well, eff that. Smart people can also be sexy. (And you know, judging by the number of trekkies in the kink scene, smart people are more likely to be sexy.)
In truth, it seems to be the LCR that is perpetuating the stereotype here, not Out 2 Enroll. Colby, Brandon, Ozzie, Chris and Asia are not sex-crazed lechers. They’re not stereotypes. They’re nice people. Sexiness isn’t harmful. Slut-shaming is.
The LCR’s PR blitz concludes with a call for everyone involved with the Duck Dynasty debacle to come together for a “moonshine summit,” which is awesome, because we wouldn’t want to perpetuate stereotypes, would we?
2eo
It’s the war on christmas Matt, the WAR ON CHRISTMAS. We’ve forgotten what christmas is supposed to be about, black santa and the festivus poles of indignation have already taken christmas away from god molesters.
The work is nearly complete.
BJ McFrisky
I guess GLAAD will now demand an apology from LCR for LGBT insensitivity.
2eo
The absolute and complete excellence of Obamacare and the respect it’s won over all intelligent critics and all reasoned analysts and the good people of Europe.
A wonderful first step towards full soci@lisation, a wonderful thing for any country, as any rational none mentally lacking person will agree, and do.
Cam
1. This group still exists? I’m surprised since of course they actually endorsed a not gay friendly candidate running against Rep Patrick Murphy, the Iraq War Vet who INTRODUCED the DADT repeal and they cheered when Murphy was defeated. They proved in the last election that they aren’t gay friendly, they see their job as giving cover to anti-gay politicians.
2. The desperation the right wing has to fake outrage, and fall breathless onto their fainting couches has gotten almost embarrassing to watch.
jimbryant
There’s nothing wrong with being sexy but there IS something wrong with using sexy to sell. Using sexy to sell is a form of prostitution.
Obamacare is pretty much a disaster anyway. Hot hunks won’t save it.
yaoming
“OBAMACARE” begins next year and already it’s a “disaster”.
Cam
@jimbryant:
Nice try. It’s such a disaster. Tell that to the 26 year olds with insurance because they are on their parents policies and to the folks in KY and Texas that now have insurance.
But you know, keep on making things up.
Dakotahgeo
Since WHEN did the LCR baggage carriers for rentboy.com have anything worthwhile to talk about? They sold their souls to the Jonestown TeaPod/Republicans and now they can and stew in their own c__! Silly boys… cute… but silly!
@yaoming: Ane where is your proof? PPACA is for people who don’t have any insurance so research your Faux Noise facts before you look as stupid as they do!
DCFarmboi
I love how LCR denounces this ad for using the same standards that our wonderful “free enterprise” systems uses for most other advertizing. They have no principles other than hating the lower middle class.
Deepdow
Video is HNNNG and gives me that warm, cozy Christmas feel. Mhm, no complaints from me.
yaoming
@Dakotahgeo: I was making an ironic comment in response to JimBryant. Maybe I should have used a question mark?
Deepdow
@jimbryant:
Selling “sexy” is not a form of prostitution ffs, troll.
Dakotahgeo
@yaoming: The ? might have helped but yes, I owe you an apology… sorry about that! 🙂
Scribe38
I haven’t had insurance since I got laid off in May. To continued my work insurance was more than a car note $650. I went on the Obama care site (healthcare.gov) and got some healthcare with my same doctor. The haters can suck it. My payments are low enough to for me to handle until I finish college. Sex is used to sale everything, who give a f. I now get to see my doctor and get my medication (blood pressure).
Scribe38
@jimbryant: Have you ever witnessed someone die or go into bankruptcy because of lack of health care? I watched a friend die in the 90’s of AIDS because he couldn’t keep up with the cost of medication, but made too much to get state aid. I watched an aunt almost die because her new insurance would not cover surgery over what they claimed was a preexisting condition. My aunt had fibroid tumors in her uterus removed under one insurance plan, and they came back and the new company wouldn’t remove them. My aunt was in constant pain and ended up having a hysterectomy because of the unchecked tumor growth, while she fought to get the problem taken care of. Obamacare isn’t perfect but it is MUCH BETTER than anything the GOP has come up with.
jwtraveler
I just enrolled in one of the Obamacare plans. Because my work hours were cut due to state funding cuts, I lost my benefits and I was paying almost $650/month for COBRA. My new plan costs $92/month and includes dental. As it hasn’t started yet, I don’t know how good it will be. But I do know that it’s going to save me almost $6700 a year. Small change for a Republican, but a lot for me.
Deepdow
@jwtraveler:
I appreciate your personal perspective. I had no idea of what the savings actually were.
Thank you ! And Merry Christmas 🙂
dchen
I know this slightly off topic, but does anyone know the name of the guy in the video wearing green and the hat with the earflaps?
I feel like I’ve seen him before somewhere, but I can’t place it.
sportyguy1983
It’s a demeaning ad on a serious topic that plays to the typical gay stereotype. And unlike the “author” of this “article” states, the models aren’t nice people, they are stereotypical, and the are sex crazed.
And a 26 year old who can’t get his own insurance and still needs to be on his parents’ insurance needs to reevaluate his life. We keep pushing further out the age at which someone should be independent. My grandparents and parent were independent at about 18/19. I was independent at 21. Now we are saying you are still dependent on your parent at 26. Don’t people see how messed up that thinking is?
2eo
@sportyguy1983: Yeah, and you only turned out to be a mentally defective cretin.
sportyguy1983
@2eo I’ll resort to your level of intellectual discussion. It takes one mentally defective cretin to know another one.
redspyder
@jwtraveler:
@Scribe38:
And how much of your savings for health care come from a federal subsidy?
While some states that were previously highly regulated will see big declines in premiums (i.e. NY is the biggest, with an anticipated 40% decline expected on average), studies suggest that OVERALL health premiums will increase significantly. Most of that will be invisible, though, as federal subsidies will wipe out those increases.
The money has to come from somewhere though. The Democrat’s shell game has begun. While some people are getting benefits, make no mistake – the bill will still come due.
the other Greg
It’s funny how when the Republicans are in total control of the federal government – like almost all of GWB’s time in office – they never do anything about health care and have no suggestions even about lowering costs.
Unless you count GWB adding tremendously to the cost with Medicare Part D. Or Reagan & GHWB totally screwing up the VA, and then Clinton successfully overhauling it, until GWB screwed it up again.
So it’s hard to take their endless carping seriously.
Still, although I’m a loyal Democrat and rooting for the ACA to succeed, as a Boomer I have to admit that something bugs me a bit about those 26-year-olds. At the age of 26, if I’d asked my WWII/Korean War parents if I could get on THEIR health insurance, they’d have thought I was fucking crazy. (Well maybe they’d have said yes if they thought I was literally insane!)
The age of adolescence keeps going up and up. But that’s the way things are going: Millennials calling their helicopter parents several times a day (to talk about… what?). And college deans acting as “bouncers” to chase away parents. And even parents who complain to jail wardens that their precious angels are getting poor cellphone reception in jail, and finding out to their shock that cellphones aren’t allowed in jail, lol. Amusing, but it all makes me want to crank up the Led Zeppelin records and get stoned.
balehead
Jim Bryant is so bitter and negative….(Just one of his 5 troll names by the way)…..
the other Greg
@2eo: I’m glad you know about Festivus! I’d heard Seinfeld hadn’t caught on much in Europe. Since you always have “grievances” to air (“not that there’s anything wrong with that”), it makes sense the Costanza holiday would appeal to you. Happy belated Festivus.
redspyder
@the other Greg: Say what you want about the Repubs… but last I checked, they didn’t mandate me to participate in a flawed insurance program that will increase premiums by at least 40% while asking for more taxes from me to underwrite their “generosity” with their subsidies.
By the way – the cheapest insurance option from the one that I am forced against my will to buy contains a $4000 deductible. Great savings indeed.
Personally, I am seriously considering moving back overseas. If I have to live under a social ist government, at least I can choose which one which allows me more personal freedom
the other Greg
@redspyder: Yeah, I love you guys with your “John Galt” nebulous threats to move overseas. I certainly encourage you to do that.
redspyder
@the other Greg: Holding two passports, and having lived half my life in other countries, I have no qualms about it. But thanks for your personal endorsement – its been a factor in all of my life decisions so far. *eyeroll*
2eo
@redspyder: “Say what you want about the Repubs”
Oooo ooo pick me.
“A bunch of self serving, verminous loathers of the working class.”
Obamacare is a complete success, and the desperation of the Repubs and the others in their ilk [Read: Idiots, the time has long since passed for cordial niceties with these people who want us dead] is utterly palpable, even to my outsider eyes.
Soc1alisation of medicine is the ultimate goal, and all civilised, intelligent people aspire to the goal. Great first step by Obama though, especially in the face of such moronic opposition.
I suppose at least the right mandating Santa be white distracted them.
Happy Festivus, Solstice, Winterval, Holiday, hannukah, christmas, eid or whatever else is in the mix. I’m of to drink copious amounts of Pernod.
redspyder
@2eo: I won’t debate soc1ialised medicine with you – I will say that from personal experience I find it to be an utter and complete failure. That’s just from having to live with it and experience it in multiple countries… but hey, what would I know?
I will say that anyone who believes that Obamacare is a “complete success” is delusional – not even Obama believes his own press on that score. But at least you made me laugh! Keep spreading the Christmas cheer. If the liberal left hasn’t forbidden that yet, of course.
Scribe38
@redspyder: I don’t qualify for federal help because I made too much, but why would you want to deny anyone healthcare?
alanj
@balehead: being new to this site what are jimbryants 5 other names? It will explain a lot.
redspyder
@Scribe38: Why do you want to deny me my ability to make free choices?