I think we may have found a new word to add to the homophobic arsenal, as apparently gay imagery can be ‘too confronting’, even if it’s difficult to imagine that being said if exactly the same image featured a man and a women. Those were the words used by Brisbane Lifestyle Committee Chairman Krista Adams after Brisbane City Council deemed one of the adverts for the Brisbane Queer Film Festival unsuitable and banned it, according to couriermail.com.au.
She said, “We are mindful of the community’s views and believe that one of the three posters may be seen by many as too confronting. I have been advised that, in the meantime, an alternate billboard design will be used.”
The image in question, seen above, is a gay take on a classic image from the film From Here To Eternity, which features Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr kissing as waves crashed against them. Here that image has been replaced with two guys (and quite frankly I’ve never been so confronted in my life!).
Understandably, many took to Twitter to express their displeasure at the decision, which led the Council to announce a review would be undertaken by the Advertising Standards Board.
Yes, it’s definitely a sexy image, but it’s less explicit and in your face than many adverts featuring women in deliberately sexualised and objectified situations. And it’s particularly ironic seeing as it’s based on a picture of a man and a women that wasn’t even seen as ‘too confronting’ to be in Best Picture Oscar-winning movie in 1953.
This isn’t the first time Brisbane has raised controversy by banning a gay-themed ad. In 2011 a bus stop poster promoting safer sex was torn down by authorities, after organised lobbying by an anti-gay group led to 30 complaints. The poster featured two fully clothed men embracing, with one holding an unopened red condom packet. On that occasion the decision was reversed and the ads were put back up following a social media campaign. It’s unclear at the moment if that will happen this time too.
You can compare the image above with one of the classic From Here To Eternity pics below.
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