02/13/2006
Awaiting You in Phoenix
Strangely enough, the gay tourism ad for Phoenix features a guy who appears to be concealing a baseball bat. What they're attempting to go for is the hot rear-view of a ball player. Maybe there's more to this ad than is available here, but the first thought I had was that it seems a bit risky for a destination to lure gay travelers by banking on an image that could be considered one of violence.
Cities in Red States Play Ball with Gay Travelers [usa today]
Posted 3:58 PM EST by Andy Towle in Travel | Permalink
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Is the gay softball world series there this year? I haven't a clue, but that could explain the image. Otherwise, it is a bit disturbing.
Posted by: Kyle Childress | Feb 13, 2006 4:01:07 PM
well. the innuendo is endless here --
he has a big bat
carry a big stick
a butt and a big stick
Base ball -- ball player
and what could be sexier -- it is so Billy Bean
Posted by: david B. | Feb 13, 2006 4:01:26 PM
I could also be those pesky heterosexual art directors... god knows I work with enough of them... bless their innocence.
Posted by: J.B. | Feb 13, 2006 4:19:02 PM
Next we'll see pithy Wyoming spot featuring a tire-iron captioned "The Welcum Mat Is Out".
Posted by: hadassah weinreb | Feb 13, 2006 4:23:54 PM
Put me in the "looks like a gay-basher" column....a fighter, not a lover.
Posted by: Ted B. (Charging Rhino) | Feb 13, 2006 4:39:04 PM
My first impression of the photo is one of fear. I generally tend to avoid people concealing weapons, and after the baseball bat attack in "Torch Song Trilogy", this is just not... a good light for AZ. They could have come up with a better campaign.
Posted by: Rad | Feb 13, 2006 4:48:09 PM
I agree with the "pesky hetero art director" theory--although it is impossible to imagine how someone could not catch the implicit violence in this image. The Wyoming tire-iron comparison (above) is an apt one. Scary...
Posted by: gordon | Feb 13, 2006 5:00:53 PM
It's a baseball player, holding a bat. With which to play baseball. I think you might be reaching a bit on this one. Arizona is a spring-training mecca, looks like to me they tried to repurpose an existing ad...save $$ on rights to an image they already used...
Posted by: Lano | Feb 13, 2006 5:14:19 PM
There are heterosexual art directors???
Posted by: Myackie | Feb 13, 2006 5:21:05 PM
Yeah, it probably is an over reaction, but it bothers me. I too flashed on the Torchsong Trilogy scene. Although, I must say - nice ass. I'm so conflicted.
Posted by: Mike in the Tundra | Feb 13, 2006 5:22:00 PM
...and Alabama is known for the fabulous White Sales at Penny's.
Posted by: Rad | Feb 13, 2006 5:23:35 PM
Maybe I'm just horny but I interpreted it as a gay athlete insinuating he wants to meet for sex in phoenix. Besides whats more sexier than a gay athlete? Does everything have to be interpreted as violent? Can't people just get over it?
Posted by: Charlie | Feb 13, 2006 5:26:07 PM
I don't know... it doesn't seem violent to me. It's a bat, which can be an isntrument of violence, but it's being held by a guy in a baseball uniform. I mean, people get stabbed with knives all the time but when Julia Child held one it was a different thing entirely.
Posted by: Brian | Feb 13, 2006 5:42:30 PM
I grew up in Phoenix and I was only gay-bashed with a baseball bat once. Oh, wait.
Posted by: Kenneth | Feb 13, 2006 5:54:54 PM
I think you're reading too much into it.....sometimes a baseball player is just a baseball player. Try to relax and get out more.....
Posted by: spanker | Feb 13, 2006 6:37:30 PM
Considering they are trying to ban gay marriage there this year, I think this is a subtle message about violence.
Good thing that they are warning us at least.
I'll boycott that state.
Posted by: Downtown Lad | Feb 13, 2006 9:53:33 PM
I'm pretty sure I could do a better job of "concealing" a baseball bat, if that was the intention.
The address on the bat leads you to a page where you can order a Gay & Lesbian Chamber Visitor Guide, among other things.
There's also a link to the '06 World Baseball Classic.
www.worldbaseballclassic.com
Posted by: Jay Croce | Feb 13, 2006 10:32:59 PM
As a gay man living in Phoenix, the first thought I had when I saw the picture was, Oh boy, spring training starts on Thursday! It wasn't until reading the commentary here that I thought anything other than, yay, baseball is about to start again!
Posted by: Jim Wigg | Feb 13, 2006 11:43:39 PM
Very disturbing. Even after reading that the person is wearing a baseball uniform, my instinct is "AVOID".
Posted by: Mike | Feb 14, 2006 7:50:18 AM
The fact that we're having this conversation means that the ad was poorly designed. It's not the bat per se, but how he's holding it, the way a basher would as he approached you. Says "stay away" to me.
Posted by: Gary | Feb 14, 2006 8:03:59 AM
It's a baseball bat that can be seen from all directions. That's how many baseball players hold their bats while waiting for their turn to hit the ball the bat is designed to hit. I agree with the faction that thinks it is just a guy holding a baseball bat in a state where spring traing is a big deal.
I miss football already.
Posted by: Donald | Feb 14, 2006 10:44:15 AM
So I think from the above comments, the poster is designed to attract those who can interpret the semiotics of baseball imagery. Having lived in a city where a baseball bat is a weapon-of-choice for gay-bashers, my reading is different. Enjoy Phoenix.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 14, 2006 12:13:26 PM
When will we stop supporting these cities with our money? Wouldn't it just feel so good to see these red states fall into a financial nightmare because WE chose not to vacation/visit there and spend our money? If our piece of the travel pie amounts to so many BILLIONS it seems to me we have some clout then. The BILLION dollar question is, why aren't we using that clout?
Think people, money talks! So lets start talking!!!
Posted by: Matthew | Feb 14, 2006 1:46:24 PM
>>I agree with the faction that thinks it is just a guy holding a baseball bat in a state where spring traing is a big deal.
Calling Dr. Freud....Hey, Sometimes, a cigar is just a cigar.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Feb 15, 2006 12:48:41 AM