09/19/2005
Kisses More Offensive than Flesh
A series of billboards for Ra-Re clothing shot by veteran photographer Oliviero Toscani is causing controversy on the streets of Rome. The most controversial depicts two fully clothed men having a kiss on a sofa.
A spokesman for the parents association MOIGE said: 'These posters are vulgar and a bad example for our children. It's not a matter of sexual orientation. They would be crass even if they featured a man and a woman.'
Toscani replied unapologetically: 'There's a big discussion going on about homosexuality in Italy so I thought it was the right time to do something like this. I don't think it's vulgar. It's just two men having fun together. These parents who are complaining - their kids already know about this stuff. The Vatican is not too happy with me either but the church is an anachronism in the world today. I don't think it has any influence on young people.'
With all luck, Pope Benedict XVI can see the advert from his bedroom window.
Italy snaps over gay poster excess [observer]
Italian Debate Over Couples Heats Up [ap]
Posted 10:07 AM EST by Andy in Art & Design, Gay Marriage, Photography | Permalink
Comments
Fun photo, but Toscani needs to wake up and smell the still burning incense. Or, as Ted Koppel said to FEMA's BROWNnoser, "Haven't you been watching television?" Unfortunately, MILLIONS of "young people" are still influenced by the Catholic church, as evidenced by the gigantic numbers who cried at Pope Paulina's passing and large numbers who journeyed to Pope Ratface's recent conclave for naive minors. But as I've bitched before, artistes like Toscani are just as guilty of evaluating the world through their only insulated inner circle as the Right Wing. That's to be expected, but I'm saddened that a militant, homophobic "Protect the Children" movement is alive and mentally ill in Italy as in the US.
Posted by: Leland | Sep 19, 2005 10:38:25 AM
I loved this comment from some group called The Citizens Defence Movement:
"'Obviously we respect homosexuality but it can be difficult to explain to young children,' a spokesman said."
Is it really? Seems to me lots of kids growing up with gay parents pick up the concept quite easily. Yes, I suppose once you've filled the kids' heads with the notion that the only acceptable, healthy love is that between one man and one woman, then "explaining" why millions of gays and lesbians reject this concept and have happy, healthy lives nonetheless can be quite difficult. It's always difficult to explain to someone why you've been feeding them a line of bullshit.
Posted by: Glenn | Sep 19, 2005 10:54:47 AM
I want that little doggie.
Posted by: Vic | Sep 19, 2005 12:44:13 PM
Leland, you should never underestimate the Catholics' talent for finding new bottoms to their abyss of hypocrisy. The vast majority of the young people who cheer the Pope at these annual meetings will enjoy at least ten years of wild sex with multiple partners using all kinds of contraception before they take their pious marriage vows. And then, as soon as they get the feeling God has bestowed enough kids on them already, they will be back on the pill. The Italians, who all love their holy church from the bottom of their hearts, have in the past passed laws on divorce and abortion with convincing majorities at referendums. I can totally see the Catholics incorporate tolerance towards homosexuality into their schizophrenic world-view in the near future. Actually, some have already done so – the members of the numerous associations of gay Catholics who just can't accept the fact that Yahweh actually wants to see them stoned to death. Toscani is right on time, helping Italians to bend over backwards in their thinking once more.
Posted by: borut | Sep 19, 2005 2:48:52 PM
Here is a link to their site, if anyone is interested...
http://www.ra-re.it
Posted by: Michael W. | Sep 19, 2005 5:44:18 PM
I sometimes miss Rome.
Posted by: Patrick | Sep 20, 2005 12:54:17 AM
I'm sure the pope would interpret this ad as yet one more evil obtaining from "moral relativism"....as if believing in religion wasn't relative.
Posted by: Peter | Sep 22, 2005 12:45:20 AM
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