Billboards preach gay love to Christians

Billboards preach gay love to Christians

Queensland media company Goa Billboards fought back against religious intolerance last night, posting a series of pro-gay signs on their digital billboards throughout Brisbane.

The billboards read: ‘Our God loves everyone gay & straight’ and the company plans to follow up the move with more signs of support to be posted on the digital screens until the end of the week.

Unlike fellow advertising company Adshel, Goa refused to remove the controversial Queensland Association of Healthy Communities (QAHC) ‘Rip and Roll’ advertisements from its outdoor sites throughout the state, despite pressure from the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL).

“The advice I have is that this advertisement does not breach the Australian Association of National Advertisers codes nor any Australian law,” Goa Billboards managing director Chris Tyquin said.

“The ACL’s claim that these men are engaging in an act of foreplay is drawing a long bow. If that’s foreplay, then clearly I’m doing it wrong.”

Tyquin said he supported Adshel’s decision to reinstate their advertisements.

“We live in a diverse community where freedom of speech is valued,” he said.

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48 responses to “Billboards preach gay love to Christians”

  1. Oh Iain …. since when were you authorised to speak on behalf of God?
    Did he sit down with you over a cuppa one day and ask you speak on his behalf? I seriously doubt it …
    You say he doesn’t approve of homosexual activity – assuming you are drawing this from the Old Testement …
    I’ll draw your attention to paragraphs when he also condemns to consumption of shellfish and the cutting of hair.
    And let’s not talk about all those cows, sheep and, if you are poor, pigeons, you are supposed to be sacrificing at specific times throughout the year.
    Are you obeying those laws as well?
    Must be costing you a small fortune in livestock every week …..

  2. Dave, how many times do you have to be told that homosexuality is not condoned by mainstream Christianity? Your desperation to convince people otherwise does not make it so.

    By the way, the poster is exactly right. God does love everyone; gay or straight. This doesn’t mean that he approves of homosexual activity though. Good to see that the message is slowly getting through. We just need the ACL to keep chipping away and eventually the right message might get through. We can only hope….

  3. Supercalafragelisticexpealidocious – Did the engineer calculate the floor space of all the balconies, businesses and apartments and second and third floors of bars overlooking the parade route as well?

    People don’t just watch the parade from the footpath- virtually every building with a view of the parade is full of parade watching parties on the night.

  4. Excellent GOA! If I can support your organisation in anyway I will! You have really helped to establish equal rights!

  5. Supercalafragelisticexpealidocious – you’d have more fun on grinder than here closet !

  6. @Supercalafragelisticexpealidocious

    i dont want to get anywhere near your children… thankyou!

  7. The homosexual movement has been very successful in promoting their perverted lifestyle. They destroy our families, seduce our sons and daughters into also becoming homosexual, all on government funding. Yes, love your enemies, but defeat them before they defeat you. 50 years ago Australians were revolted by homosexuality. Reject this evil!

  8. Gee Laurence it looks like I touched on raw nerve with some of the ALC cult members of half the train carriage. I know I was too generous. They are less than half. In fact less than 30. Because out of all the letters received in the complaint, we have no proof 100% of them like or associated with the ACL. So a large congregation is it? Bullshit detector anyone?

    Who could remember the uproar over Jim Wallace and his ANZAC day comments? Forums lit up across Australia as the homophobia went viral. The ACL clearly did not represent mainstream Christianity. Adshel, realising that this was a campaign of the ACL, certainly dropped the ACL like a hot potato. I run a company, and I can well understand the great damage to the brand, that could be done if associated with that mob. And if we are to consider the polls, the same ones the politicians use show over half of Australia support Same-Sex Marriage. So most Australians are Christian and supporting us, not the Christian Lobby. They are supporting us live as freely as the next person. And this is all we ask. Why not have a poster of two guys kissing, we see other kissing on posters.

    It is interesting if you look at the definition of a cult. I would say the ACL does fit it. They ask for money like a cult, the ACL seems to say they know God and Bible better then anyone. They arrogantly and rudely proclaim GLBTI cannot be Christian. They are thieves trying to take Christianity from people. You own your religious beliefs, not that lot. Even Gay Priest cannot be Priest according to that mob. They do not understand or accept some people who go to Mardi Gras are Christians. Even Penny Wong goes down to her local Uniting Church in Adelaide. In Victoria the Uniting Church funds anti-homophobic programs. We even have our own Churches. We have some Baptist Ministers that welcome us, many Uniting Church Ministers, many Anglicans Churches, even Catholic Priest like good old Parish Priest: Fr.R.J. (Bob) Maguire AM R.F.D. go out of their way for us.

    One can easily look at Anglican Bishop John McIntyre of Gippsland, who has travelled to many parts of Australia championing the rights of people in the GLBTI community and breaking down barriers. He is also greatly critical of religious businesses ability to discriminate.
    http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/bishop-to-bring-an-equality-message/2109935.aspx
    There are Bishops that have larger congregations then all the people the Australian Christian Lobby could ever hope to bring together who are battling for us. But I am very impressed with the great words of a particular Bishop who really understood discrimination. He said.
    “To penalize someone because of their sexual orientation is like what used to happen to us; to be penalized for something which we could do nothing (about) — our ethnicity, our race. I would find it quite unacceptable to condemn, persecute a minority that has already been persecuted,”
    Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu
    We must also remember that in the US, there are many Bishops that support the rights of GLBTI people. The bishops at the Episcopal General Convention voted by 104 to 30 to “collect and develop theological resources and liturgies” for blessing same-sex relationships, to be considered at the next convention in 2012.

    How laughable to say a homophobic engineer was on the case of Mardi Gras. One was it? Shame the police even disagree with his figures, and the organizers. I only went to one and I have not seen so many people before in my life. I could not move easily. Some nice folks invited us up to their balcony and we had a great time.

    And those who complain they tried to find love in toilet? Well. I have been with my partner for 10 years. We live as any couple. We did not meet in a toilet! I am just not sure love is to be found there if you straight or gay. We have many friends who have been together much longer then we have. The longest is 39 years I think. And what utter rubbish we are damaging ourselves spiritually. Here is an idea, I will decide what is right for me, and you decide what is right for you.

    The brand of the ACL is in ruins and people can see why. The best days are behind them. They have imploded and are clashing with other Christians let alone us. They are stuck and cannot go forward. You cannot run around creating a world of hate. If you play in the mud pit, some of that mud sticks. I think official Christian term applied to them is “Whore of Babylon”.

  9. @Dave (10:48am 2/6/11)
    I’m surprised there’d even be enough of them to fill just half a train carriage :P

  10. Have you people ever stopped to consider for one moment that the ACL may very well have tried to stop the herpes ads too?

    But that’s right… it doesn’t make good senationalism to mention things like that.

    This whole thing has nothing to do with christians being bigots. What it DOES have to do with is the ANTICHRISTIAN bigots out there, twisting the actions of a christian organisation and using the media to bash christian beliefs.

    The ACL is merely fighting for children not to be exposed to condom ads, the real bigots are the ones trying to make it about homosexuality and abusing christians simply for having beliefs different from their own.

    Why is it everyone can have free speech except christians?

  11. @says, we all know that you want to get at our children to convince them that homosexuality is all light and fun. What our children do or don’t do is none of your business and we don’t need homosexuals to tell our children what is normal in sex. In fact, they wouldn’t give you the time of day, In fact many of them would consider you a bit….queer.

  12. Dave, facts are not high on your agenda are they. Splatter a few wild accusations and hope everyone ignores the fact that they are no more than a bunch of lies.

    First of all, the Mardi Gras audience seems to be the same as it alwaqys has been. Originally the organisers said 700,000 lined the street. Now it is 300,000 and the route is just as crowded. So who is the liar?

    Secondly an engineer has done measurements and calculations for the route and the maximum possible is 125,000. A prominent homosexual in Sydney said the total was about 75,000. Sound very much like you suffer from truthphobia.

    You said “Millions of Christians around Australia do not want to be represented by the Christian Lobby,”…”

    Now, do tell me, what is the source of your claim or did you just make it up?

    You said “and there is growing anger about the government having any links to this fundamentalist cult.”

    Two things. This growing anger. Exactly who are you talking about…homosexuals? If that is the case, seeing as you only make up no more than 2% of the population, I would say that your anger is not at all representative.

    And as for the government having links to ACL, they don’t. ACL is just a lobby group that represents evangelical christianty and put their views to the governmemnt the same as any other lobby group. As up to 64% of the population claim some religious affiliation, I would say that their constituency is vastly larger than yours and that they have as much right to a hearing as you do if not more so.

    FYI A cult is usually led by one person and disassociates itself from other churches. The ACL is run by a Board of Directors taken from many churches and the organisation represents Christians from all over Australia from numerous denominations.

    May I suggest that you get that truthphobia looked at as it seems to be developing into a really serious infection.

  13. My straight mate has no trouble hugging me. I just love it.

    Funda-fruit-cakes are cold and confuse sex with sin.

  14. I smiled when I saw this. Well done GOA, this world needs more companies like you :-)

  15. Oh,Dave you are at it Again!! What a mind you Have,Dont you know that the Love we Gays Have is not the same as Christians! The Christian Love does Care if you Sleep with someone and get a disease of sorts,yet that is why they dont condone,anyone sleeping around! Gay or straight! Its all about being responsible,and at times thinking,(if I do what I want to do!! Will it affect someone else in a Negative way? Physically,Emotionally,Spiritually) you see there is more than just the act Now, It involves Later as well. You see I got HIV back in the 80s because my need For Love! Yet I now Know that it was just a lustful addiction,And dont say we are noy all like that! Well stop and think!(what is a MardiGra Party like in the Tiolets?

    Is that Love? Dave! If so What kind?

    I love you Dave! (not sexually)

  16. I don’t understand why sex ed is such a big deal nowadays, I remember being taught it in primary school and it didn’t affect anyone negatively. Also, kids are exposed to far worse sexualization than a condom and two guys hugging, pretty much every shampoo or perfume commercial on TV for example.

  17. RonW: Have you not seen the commercials showing straight couples (or singular people) engaging in all kinds of “foreplay” like behavior. Just to sell jeans, or makeup, or old man hair dye, or anything really? This is tame by comparison! I would much rather my kids see a gay couple hugging like this, than a straight couple rutting like animals in the park. And if they ask what the red thing in the guy’s hand is i can always do what parents do best if i feel they aren’t ready for that talk: Lie! haha

  18. God Bless GOA for practicing as Jesus would have done – tolerance, acceptance, brotherhood (and sisterhood of course) and love.

  19. @RonW

    I would argue that this particular issue is mainly about the same sex aspect of the ad campaign, with the issue of public display of adult matters being inextricably entwined.
    Some people may be concealing homophobia behind the ‘adult matters’ complaint, others may (and justifiably) believe that the issue is solely with having condoms openly on display – unfortunately this latter group of people will always be accused of being the former in situations like this and would probably be better off raising these issues in situations where the discussion will not be sidetracked.

    @ @(June2, 1:09pm)
    How on earth does asking for discussion on a topic and raising a question translate into someone applauding teenage pregnancy? By belittling people who are trying to raise a serious discussion you do your cause no good and considerable harm. I wholeheartedly agree that safe sex (regardless of the genders of the people involved) should be taught and at an early age – but by who and at what age is a reasonable question for discussion.

  20. @ Ron. Have you actually seen what ACL were complaining about? The advertisement doesn’t mention sex and has no sexual images. If the advertisement had showed a male and a female it would certainly never have been censored and probably not even complained about. This is a good example of how same sex relationships are treated differently to opposite sex relationships. This kind of bigoted double standard is always applied by groups like Australian Christian Lobby. We live in a modern secular society but some people still want to drag us back to the dark ages.

  21. @RonW

    In case you have been living under a rock for the last few decades, you would have heard that young people (gay or straight) are having sex earlier in life. Although I do not condone this, it is a simple fact of life. Safe sex should not be an “adult” discussion; if anything, safe sex and sex education in general should be part of the curriculum early on. That way, hopefully, we can make strides in combating homophobia before the “adults” can teach their kids all that they have learnt about discrimination and hate. This would also help in reducing the spread of STDs and unwanted teen pregnancies. Young people should not be sheltered from the realities of the world, we need to teach them about them so that they can face them on their own.

  22. @RonW – okay, so it’s about the age appropriateness of safe sex campiagns?

    So, why is this ad getting rammed by the Christian lobby while no one complained about the genital herpes campaign that’s been running for years? You know, the one on TV, in cinema bathrooms, on billboards where people of all ages can see it.

    Or what about the general STI ad running on free to air TV about “sleeping with one person, is sleeping with many?”

    Oh wait.. no.. those ads talk about STIs and don’t touch on homosexuality. They won’t get taken down by advertisers or slammed by the christian/homophobic lobby.

    But, this ad happens to covers the same STI topic, happens to use a gay loving couple in it, and it gets blasted as inappropiate.

    No RonW.. you aren’t being homophobic at all…

  23. @RonW

    by your logic, you applaud 13-14-15 yr olds getting pregnant/having children and becoming a burden on the taxpayer and welfare system (generally speaking of course)

    you’re right… spare them the ‘adult’ issue of safe sex… we wouldnt want them being responsible!

  24. Good work Goa Billboards. It’s nice to see people standing up for their convictions.

  25. The issue here is not the same sex relationship…the issue is public discussion of adult issues. The question is:where do we draw the line? It is irrelevant whether the couple protrayed are a same sex couple or a hetro couple….is it appropriate to discuss safe sex with all and sundry or do we accept that prepubescent people are not ready for this discussion?

  26. Fantastic to see someone like Goa making a stand. I encourage people to contact Goa and thank them for their actions just as they would have contacted Adshel to complain about theirs.

  27. It is great to see a company take a lead on important Civil Rights matters. I also hope Julia Gillard, the real one, is seeing that this was one of the most talked about topics on Twitter, showing that most Australians do want the influence of a half a train carriage that makes up the Christian Lobby.

    Millions of Christians around Australia do not want to be represented by the Christian Lobby, and there is growing anger about the government having any links to this fundamentalist cult.

    Dare we talk of the 300,000 people who went to Mardi Gras, dare we talk of the 100,000 at Midsummer. I have been to one Mardi Gras, and I know of many like me, so dare we talk of the many others who stayed home and did not go.

    I think Adhsell should show their support for equality and run billboards supporting it, at least that would go a long way with me.