"I Love My Boo" Campaign Hits Subways

The GMHC ads that were previously shown in bathrooms at gay bars. The subway ads show less PDA.

After being displayed only in bathrooms at gay bars over the past few years, the Gay Men's Health Crisis' "I Love My Boo" campaign is, err, coming out on the subway. The campaign, which prominently features Black and Hispanic gay couples, encourages young gay men to be proud of their sexuality and to get tested for HIV. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study showed men of color are the least likely to be aware of their HIV status, which the GMHC attributes to public taboos against homosexuality and testing. Is New York ready for this kind of campaign?

According to NY1, we are! Viewer e-mails to the channel show overwhelming support for the ads, especially in the wake of suicides across the country sparked by teen bullying. "Ads that make people accepting of who they are and thereby saving lives is a good idea and should be implemented without question," said Felix of Bay Ridge. "These 'I love my boo' posters may make a lot of people uncomfortable, but they are a step forward reversing all the bigotry that has been ingrained into our psyche," said Pablo of the Lower East Side. However, there were a few criticisms.

Victoria in Greenpoint said the ads could have been more tasteful, and asked, "Is the gay community trying to portray a better image for itself or trying to stoop down to the inappropriate sexual culture that engulfs our society?" And of course, there were the parents wondering if anyone ever stopped to think of the children. Manny from Brooklyn said, "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...What is this thing about imposing homosexuality on little children and saying that its for the good for all to see????" But as Lauren from Astoria asked, "For the sake of argument what about all of the weird sex ads that say 'don't let impotence ruin your sex life,' with the couples in bed?" So, are the ads just as harmless as Dr. Zizmor, or should somebody save the children seeing two men with their arms draped around each other? It can't be worse than this.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on October 5, 2010 3:19 PM

Comments [rss]

Atomicbelay

I dont understand why does being proud of being gay have to entail forcing your gayness onto everyone. Hey i like women with nice legs...i have pride...why dont i get a parade?

bananamonger

because we are not hated or persecuted for being heterosexual. heterosexuals are not denied the right to get married. and parade? heterosexuality is everywhere. you get hot girls in every ad. and heterosexual sex all over tv and internet. there's your parade.

isla

Yeah that. You cannot have it both ways.

sadpanda

These ads are no different than this ad: http://www.kerrydean.com/news/eva-mendes-calvin-klein-team-up-for-sexy-billboard-in-soho-nyc/

If that doesn't make you uncomfortable, than these shouldn't either. End of story.

isla

Yeah that. You cannot have it both ways.

Dogsbody

Just a couple of general thoughts (mostly as response to Napalm's craziness, and the people who respond)...

Why do people (on all sides of the debate) seem to place so much importance on whether being gay is something you're born with, or a choice? What does it matter? I think it's an irrelevance. Personally I think it's possible that it's neither a choice nor an innate, born quality, just like any other "preference".

Also, who cares what (if anything) the Mayan's predicted? If they were so smart, they would have predicted the arrival of the conquistadors and developed some artillery to fight them off!

VanessaBD

In your face communications are nothing new to New York. I even blogged about it on Our company Blog http://www.bluedaring.com/i-heart-information-consumption/

I think anyone who has seen an ad for American Apparel and didn't think twice should not find this offensive. As for Manny from Brooklyn NEWSFLASH you are raising kids in New York good luck keeping them sheltered from homosexuality buddy.

Bike Rider

"After being displayed only in bathrooms at gay bars over the past few years, ..."

no one has stopped the consider this: won't this kind of remind gays of being in the bathroom? might there be a Pavlovian response???

whitecastlerock

These guys have stickers on their hats too! Is that a GAY thing? Oh my we are overrun with GAYS!!!!

isla

It's probably all a part of the gay agenda.

donewithny

prisons are full of homosexuality and lesbianism.these photos look like a couple of ex-inmates who don't realize they are on the outside now and can't shake the urge.or maybe they are in a minimum security prison.anyway,that miserable,over crowded filthy rat hole that used to be NYC is the modern day sodom.i just hope all the decent people make it out of there before God sends his wrath upon it.

somestupidest

i can't even process this. jeez. i just wish everyone could walk around with a label. and i with a huge knife, or some type of smashing device.

Boogie Down

Wowee! This thread sure brought out all the crazies. Last I heard, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Argentina, and South Africa weren't being engulfed by the burning flames of hell. In fact, nearly all those countries enjoy a quality of life better than what is on offer here, especially relative to the states where they get really riled up about the big bad gay boogeyman. Please do go on enjoying that demented revenge fantasy of yours though. It's very entertaining.

Also, do the guys pictured here look like ex-inmates to you because of the color of their skin, by any chance? You really embrace the whole spectrum of bigotry, don't you?

robingee

Well, that person is "done with ny" so maybe they are also "done with commenting"

DEFIANTROA

Here is one way to keep gangs off and away from your neighborhood. Give the term gangbusters a new definition.

kleinpeter

OMAR COMIN'!!!

potsmoker

if its about trust and commitment, theres no better ad that some diesel ho mo thug with a big sea men sploo ooge dripping of his goatee...

I LOVE MY BOO, I TRUST MY BOO NOT TO GIVE ME KOOTIES

WHEN HE DUMPS HIS LOAD ON MY MOUTH

Mordicai

9-11 Invented Homosexuality From The Inside Job! Seriously though, you need to pick a drug that makes it harder for you to use the internet.

robingee

I KNOW RITE CUZ STRAIGHTS NEVER DO DAT GROSS STUFF LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!

napalm

You're disgusting!!

Abortion is also a free right in America, but would you also suggest ads that tell children that because its their right to abort human life that they should go out and get pregnant so they can exercise their freedom to do so?

You choose to be gay like you choose which outfit to wear, or like you choose your religion or belief.

Just remember that you're an exception in society not an obligation.

People don't have to except or agree with the lifestyle that you willingly chose.

In all reality, its abnormal, disgusting, unholy, wicked and sick.

Its also very disturbing to know that most of you who are parents actually force this on your children by telling them to embrace the gay lifestyle, and if they don't, then they are horrible monsters..

Sick fukaz!!