SSemms like a few LGBT advocates and activists in Toronto are having issues with a tounge in cheek video made by Toronto Tourism in association with Toronto Pride for the annual 2011 Pride Weekend event called Pride Pump 2000X complete with a lisping bare-chested fitness instructor, sex jokes, a HOT hairy bear in a jockstrap, a deep-voiced penis-hating lesbian.
“…we can’t help but wonder how out of touch (or straight?) the person who cooked up Pride Toronto’s painful-to-watch and setting-back-the-movement promotional video was. If gay activism is on the rise, how will the community be taken seriously if the organization that fronts the city’s largest gay celebration backs these old-hat, shouldn’t-be jokes? If they were looking to shoot fish in a barrel, why didn’t the Pride committee just hire Big Gay Al?”
Now let me start by saying that there are none angrier than I. (Well maybe Ian Awesome over at One Angry Queer.com) But Torontonians get a grip. It’s obviously satire but lets be truthful here. You”ve never met any people like this? This is obviously meant to get a chuckle and is directly marketed to LGBT people.
Yes the advert is tacky, its shallow and it’s vain. But lets face it Pride in general has become tacky, shallow and vein and is now more of a Gay Mardi Gras instead of show of numbers, advocacy and power the Pride Parade had when it started out in 1970 in NYC.
I agree with many that does indeed sort of suck. But lighten up Toronto. At least
YOU allow gay marriage, YOU have anti-LGBT discrimination laws, and YOU allow gay soldiers into your army. So really compared to us in America what do you really have to bitch about? And don’t get me wrong I love Toronto and I WISH I could afford to immigrate there because compared to us here in the states you guys have it made.
Don;t let a silly advertisement get in the way because darlings that commercial is what LOGO, Americas LGBT entertainment channel is like 27X7
Consider yourselves lucky and Happy Pride! (Oh and Mr. Hot Bear in the video…..email me!)