Critics of a new promotional video for Toronto Pride 2011 say that its focus on gay stereotypes “sets the movement back” by doing more harm than good.
The video — released by Tourism Toronto in partnership with Pride Toronto — showcases “dainty, over-sexed, workout-obsessed” gays:
Amid “sparkle crunches,” a “disco break,” a requisite “bear” appearance and a lesbian who is grossed out by a penis (some may be surprised to note that this woman has a deep voice), 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?
Watch:
“It’s bad enough that this video is making every gay person out to be sparkles and sodomy, but chiseled abs and glutes are a necessity too? That’s not Gay Pride. That’s Gay Shame,” wrote Chris Spags at Guyism.com.
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