Homo Wow. Nice Tit. But Is It Registered to Vote?
posted by on September 16 at 13:36 PM
Washington state’s biggest (only?) gay rights group—Equal Rights Washington—hopes to inflate the gay vote with its “Flex the Gay Body Politic” campaign. There’s a girl version of this poster too, which features a woman in a leotard giving good crotch. (And there’s a larger, print-version of the poster that comes complete with abs.) But it’s the boytit version of the campaign—ads and posters—that we’re seeing all over Capitol Hill.
“Essentially what we wanted to do with this campaign was to convey to people that we need to be engaged in the political process,” says Josh Friedes, Advocacy Director for Equal Rights Washington. “We want people to know that voting is important, and that there’s more to life than just the gym.”
That’s funny—because it’s not exactly voting that comes to mind when I look at that poster. And it makes me think about gym—as in, “when was the last time I got to the gym?” And my reaction to the poster had me wondering if ERW was getting much grief from the gays who complain about impossible-for-most-to-achieve beauty ideals and the high rates of anorexia, bulimia, and gym memberships that these kinds of ad campaigns induce in gay men.
“Our materials reflect a diversity of body types and races,” says Friedes. “I would be deeply concerned by this poster if I couldn’t defend our overall outreach materials from charges like that. We have, over the years, bent over backwards to make sure that our materials are inclusive and that they communicate to people that ERW serves a diverse community and is responsive to the needs of a diverse community.”
And Friedes is too polite to say it, so I will: Hot hairless guys with great tits, shoulders, biceps, and abs are an important and valued part of our diverse community too. Come on, people, don’t these guys deserve a little representation too?
One last question for Friedes: Whose tit is that? Where does that guy hangout?
“I have no idea,” says Friedes. “The poster was developed by an intern.”
UPDATE: Whose tit is it? Towleroad has the answer.
"Made ya look!"
If it gets the attentions of the hoards of apathetic queers, I'm all for it.
I just hate this shit. Does everything have to get sexed up? Really?
I just hate that people need to be told to vote.
Apathy their stepping stone
So unfeeling
Hidden deep, animosity
So deceiving
More importantly, is there even a bit of evidence that campaigns like this get anyone to vote? Anyone? Who wouldn't have voted anyways?
I'll admit it. That's me in the photo.
That sure as hell wasn't done by Justin. It fucking sucks for an ad campaign!!
Kinda looks like he's sucking in his cheeks... or maybe that's facial wasting.
@3
Why, did you just quote Mr. Hetfield?
Zzzzzzzzz.
Too bad they only endorse candidates. I would be interested in seeing how they go on I-1000, the Death With Dignity Initiative.
It's a deliberate plot to disenfranchise the dumpy, overweight, and otherwise non-posterworthy queens! An outrage! Outrage!
of course the models are caucasion. (my snarky comment for the day, thank you).
Towleroad has proof the pic is of Big Brother Jessie Godderz. (Isn't that copyright infringement?)
http://www.towleroad.com/2008/09/big-brothers-je.html
is it possible for gays to reach out to one another in a non sexualized way?
apparently not...
and they couldn't have found an out of the closet man tit?
#10 -just talked to them.
ERW has endorsed the Death with Dignity Init.
I called, curious, at the first of the week.
Good for them.
Gay men are more likely to suffer from "subclinical eating disorders" than straights, but not full blown anorexia or bulimia. That means they engage in some of the same behaviors as anorexics and bulimics, but they don't suffer from the mental illness that makes it nearly impossible for them to stop starving themselves. It's rare to find a male with a full blown eating disorder.
Just thought I'd share.
They leave something as important as the poster design for political campaign to an intern? What else do they leave to the interns? Policy?
It just gives more fuel to the conservative fire that gays are living a "sex-obsessed" lifestyle. Awesome.
@16: So... does this mean we shouldn't worry about gay body image issues, anorexia, and bulimia?
Given the number of Gay men that have big bellies, smoke alot, drink alot, use drugs for kicks, and are not spending any time what so ever at any gym, I'm wondering what Gay men they are targeting.
@20 -- ex-ACT-ly. The only aspirational thing that poster inspires in me is the desire to suck that guy's tit.
It doesn't make me want to vote. Issues take care of that, thanks.
Titillating but ultimately useless.
Craig Ferguson, host of the CBS "Late Late Show," is a recently naturalized US citizen and the sharpest comic on American TV. Watch his Sept. 10 monologue about voting as a citizen's right and duty:
"If you don't vote, you're a moron."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdRVQ4xwwmQ
Why does the lesbian one suck? Why can't the picture have a nipple like the guys' one? Us gay girls deserve better!. :)
While everyone is busy debating over the look and underlying themes of these posters time is ticking away to register to vote and protect GLBT rights in the November election. Register to vote in Washington State by October 4 here: https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/secure/pages/Onlinevoterregistration.aspx
Thanks for the publicity Dan!
inkweary - spare me the stupdity. You're saying that designing a poster is the same thing as designing policy? These are two separate areas. Why don't you get informed enough to know something before putting your foot in your mouth. A little research would show you that this is the same group that just helped land the community 170 new rights extended under the state's domestic partnership law. But from your response, I suspect you are one among our apathetic and ill-informed...
Obviously the intern is into beefcake because the woman's poster is lame. But it DID make me look. Isn't that the point of adverteasing? But next time, my dears, I expect to see a series of Real Queers gracing your GOTV posters. You know who I mean. Start with that skinny little intern who crafted these things; make the boy who made the posters the poster boy. Then I want to see a transwoman who will never pass but proudly doesn't give a rip. Then show us a lesbian and a female ally, and ask the viewer to dare decide which is which. Shall I go on? What? Oh, ok Dan, I'll give you your soapbox back now.
XXOO,
M'e
p.s. Margurite HEARTS Equal Rights Washington, even in their more tasteless moments.
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