The bus shelter advertisement which was removed
Media Release
For release: May 31, 2011
The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) says a grass-roots campaign has been successful in removing sexualised advertising at Brisbane bus shelters.
ACL’s Queensland State Director Wendy Francis has applauded the decision of Adshel, the provider of advertising at bus shelters, to remove condom advertisement targeting homosexual men.
The ads were part of a marketing campaign agency Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC), which receives state government funding.
“The ad featured two men in an act of foreplay with a large condom pictured in the left hand corner and the slogan ‘RIP&ROLL’ as well as the wording ‘A safe sex message from healthy communities’,” Mrs Francis said.
Ms Francis said it went against prevailing community standards to introduce sexuality to young children through forced exposure in public.
“A massive groundswell of people power has won the day when it comes to the bus shelters which have been pulled down over night,” she said.
However, Mrs Francis called for GOA Billboards to remove the same offending ads on billboards which remained on busy roads, such as a billboard on an intersection on Sandgate road.
A billboard on Sandgate Road
“Complaints have been lodged to the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) and General Outdoor Advertising (GOA) billboards,” she said.
“We are disappointed with the response of GOA billboards in not removing the billboards. The company said it won’t remove the advertising unless directed by ASB.”
The ACL questioned the role and strategies of today’s marketing media and called upon governments to respect the right of children to be protected from inappropriate and sexualised billboard and outdoor advertising.
The ACL has participated in two inquiries into billboard advertising so far this year and hopes for some positive improvements in advertising standards.
Although I Appreciate what you guys are trying to do. I think you’ve taken it a bit far this time. That is not ‘foreplay’ nor would children even know what condoms are. I think, as Christians, we might as well love people for who they are and wish for them to stay safe and healthy. While still preaching the love of God.
This article is confusing as Adshel are denying that the Australian Christian Lobby are a part of this……
In a statement received by Mumbrella this morning, AdShel said:
Adshel responded to a series of individual complaints to the Adshel Office, Brisbane City Council and the Advertising Standards Bureau. All complaints were made by individual members of the public; none were identified as stemming from the Australian Christian Lobby.
Adshel does not have, and never had, any dealings with the Australian Christian Lobby and has not responded to any requests from this organisation.
A brave effort by you to stop this. On Mothers day last we were on the train for Sydney and on the single seat downstairs was “genetic material” showing that someone had been used. When the ticket man came through to check the tickets, I told him what I had seen downstairs on the single seat.
Not long afterwards all the people in the carriage were told to move into the next carriage because the one we were in had to be cleaned. These ads are not safe they are offensive to the community. No one person can do as they please. It is offensive to spit in public. Our spit carries germs. Recently I heard that back in the early twentieth century people who spat were fined for doing so.
There is nothing safe about using a condom. The genetic material contained in the rubber could possibly contain a virus and it has not proven to be safe. How many men have died of AIDS even though they thought what they were doing was safe. This is demoralising. The recent food poisoning outbreak in Germany where is it from? Hopefully not on account of someone’s “safe” sex practice. This is destroying civilisation as we know it. (see /the Australian for article about contaminated cucumbers)
I am often offended and as disappointed as Wendy is about inappropriate advertising. The billboards and bus shelter ads are often inappropriate and I would love to see G rated only … sadly this is not yet the case. Whilst I support your fight for G rated billboards I struggle to see why this ad was so offensive. It primarily shows two men hugging. YES.. there is a condom pictured. If you know what a condom is – you know what it is. If you don’t, then you dont know and you dont even notice it. The wording is also very PC and G rated. I listened to Wendy in several platforms yesterday and really felt she undermined her perfectly valid argument for G rated boards by grouping this advertisement with others which include words or images which are inappropriate for children. Drawing similarities which did not exist. The only reason this ad garnered attention is because the couple were gay. The campaign to have the ads removed is nothing to be proud of. It has since come to light that it was an organised campaign (as since admitted) and that Adshel (are claiming) to have been blindsided. I also dont think it is appropriate to say people power (80 people max) won in having the ad remove .. given that people power(30,000 people) actually had the ads reinstated.
It is unfortunate that the repulsive and inappropriate Rip&Roll advertisements remain. But it’s to be expected under the politically correct regime our society is under.
The politcially correct thought-police have resorted to intimidation/abuse for several decades now to silence the majority and impose their prejudices upon us all. This latest episode a good example.
Don’t dispair! Leave it alone now and do our own bill boards proclaiming the gospel. Short and to the point. Like “What’s it all about?” and just a verse of scripture.Or “Eternity.” Where are you heading? and a verse of scripture. Don’t give up – we will be rewarded for our faithfulness. So many issues like bullying, peer group pressure, suicide, divorce, facebook agression, road rage, Don’t preach, people won’t read it. but a word in season and out of season will reach the right person. God will do the work…….
Does the Australian Chrisitan Lobby also protest against the general sexualisation of media, or just homosexual? It seems to me that sex is displayed everywhere- on busses and general advertising. Maybe a wider campaign is needed?
Yes Am – please read these articles:
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2746976.html
http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/who-is-wendy-francis-20110603-1fkbe.html
Well I am reading some polite comments that suggest the campaigning is misguided, confusing, selective. And some suggesting this particular ad really didnt say what the campaigners said it did.
Hmmm.. to the general public it is very obvious what the ad is about and it seems the advertisers agree or they wouldnt waste their money on it.
So therefore the question is is it offensive and what we want in our public arena.
To all who have been a child, have had children and have grandchildren I would suggest the answer is NO it is not what we want, please take it down!!
Well the ASB said today that the post was G rated and that it should stay up! So how does the ACL and Wendy now justify their campaign to have this sign removed if the independent umpire says it is G rated!
Keep up the good work. We know we are on the right side and walk in the light.
The opposition are always very unhappy and walk in the dark.