I believe that gays should have the right to get married. I believe that gays should have the right to adopt children. I believe that gays should be recognized in the same ways as heterosexuals. Well, actually, I believe that being gay or straight really shouldn't matter in the end, for any reason, but apparently society can't get past that little detail.
Now, I appreciate the work of the Human Rights Campaign. I think it is important to educate people and work towards establishing rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender individuals. But I am not sure what I think of their Tom, the Token Gay Friend! public service ad campaign.
The commercials almost seem like an SNL skit. I realize they are trying to make advertisements that jump out at people, but these are almost a farce. I almost don't believe they are real, and I certainly don't know if they will succeed with their attempted message.
With countries like Canada, Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands forging the path, hopefully there will be recognition for gay marriage in the U.S. and other European countries in the near future. But I am not sure they can do it with ad campaigns like this one.
Props to Glitterati for turning me on to the ads.
3 comments:
I don't know exactly where they want to go with this campaign either. Naming their mascot a "Token Gay Friend" reinforces the stereotype that if you have a friend who's gay, then he's a 'token'. Why not just "Tom"? It's not like gay friends have John the Token Straight Friend.
With regards to the commercials...Tom seems to have other issues than just trying to get rights for homosexuals...he clearly needs to start choosing his friends better if all they do is laugh at him. The viewers seeing those spots really won't see Tom's problem. They will identify with his 'friends' and not Tom. I think they missed the mark on this one.
They should find Tom a husband and show the both of them being accepted by their friends instead of being ostracized. Show them announcing the news of their successful adoption. Why give credence to the stereotype with this campaign in its present form.
Or just get me to talk for them. I'll tell their idiot friends what's what. LOL
I have a "Tom, the token gay brother" and had not heard of these commercials until you mentioned it. They look ridiculous, and it looks belittiling to both straights and gays.
My niece is straight and she is considered by her gay friends as "Token". They even got her a sweat shirt with "Token" imprinted on it.
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