CarnalNation

Clipped from: www.wpix.com (share this clip)

Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), a New York LGBT nonprofit, has brought an advertising campaign to the NYC subways that targets young black and Latino gay men. The campaign, titled "I Love My Boo," is intended to promote sexual pride and HIV testing.

In a press release, GMHC said that the campaign:

speaks to, and celebrates, gay men of color by highlighting their strengths and resiliencies. Rather than only sexualizing gay relationships, with chiseled bodies and glossy imagery, the beauty of this campaign is that it features intimacy and focuses on what is possible for gay men of color as they express trust, respect and commitment for one another.

From www.gmhc.org (share this quote)

The "I Love My Boo" campaign is actually not new; it's been displayed in bathrooms of gay bars around the NYC area for several years. However, GMHC is now bringing a modified version to the subways where the general public will see it. The clip above shows versions of the ads from the original campaign. The new ads are going to be "softened" and show less physical affection. Where the bar ads show men kissing, for instance, the subway ads will show them merely hugging or draping arms around each others' shoulders.

Even that, apparently, is just too gay for some people. Comments on the web site of local cable channel NY1 included the following:

What people do behind closed doors is their business.... But as a mother I don't want to be on the train with my children in they end up seeing that add...why should it be shoved down our throats.. As for bulling these kids need to get thicker skin as a child we were all bullied and teased in school it's a part if growing up...

Dee ...

Brooklyn

From www.ny1.com (share this quote)

I do not want to have my public space invaded by displays of intimacy, affection by either heterosexuals or homosexuals. That is a violation of my privacy. It also abhorrent to see in the subway and elsewhere ads which show violence or scantily clad people

All of this coarsens our society, and more than that it desensitizes it - and it fosters the belief THAT ANYTHING GOES!

Dora

From www.ny1.com (share this quote)

This is Manny Fresh from Brooklyn, NY. I do not understand, nor do I see a reason to want posters of young, black and hispanic males hugging and kissing on the train for all to see, especially children who don't have the same understanding of homosexuality as adults do. What is this thing about imposing homosexuality on little children and saying that its for the good for all to see????

From www.ny1.com (share this quote)

The campaign, which will put posters in 1,000 subway cars and 150 stations, was launched this Monday in a ceremony at Christopher Park, less than a block away from the Stonewall Inn, where a gay man was beaten in an alleged hate crime the day before.