Rip & Roll ready to roll again
A year on after controversy whipped up by Christian groups transformed a gay safe-sex ad into a national talking point, a new Rip & Roll campaign has been launched this week with posters to once again appear on billboards and bus shelters across Brisbane and Queensland.
The campaign produced by Healthy Communities, now into its third year, attempts to promote subtle safe sex messages in a fun and positive light.
This year’s poster features three gay men enjoying a laugh as one of them holds a small, bright green condom packet.
The ad will appear in 35 bus shelters in inner-city Brisbane and on billboards in Surfers Paradise, Townsville, Cairns, Capalaba and Albion.
Last year’s campaign became the most complained about ad in Australia, with the Advertising Standards Board receiving 222 complaints. The Board eventually rejected all complaints on the basis “the public health message overrides any social sensitivity”.
Outdoor advertising company Adshel pulled the ad down after being bombarded by complaints linked to the Australian Christian Lobby but days later reinstated the campaign after a massive swell of community support for the messages in the ad.
Michael James, who along with his partner appeared in last year’s Rip & Roll campaign, said the attention received and last year’s ensuing discussion was too big an opportunity to miss.
“There was too much good that came of that campaign. You can’t listen to those small voices of opposition and go; well we shouldn’t do that again,” he said.
“You’ve got to come back with a stronger message, a more powerful message – that what we did last year was important and it’s still as important.”
Executive director Paul R Martin said despite Healthy Communities losing $2.5 million in annual funding from the Queensland Government after Health Minister Lawrence Springborg claimed the 28-year-old grassroots organisation was not reaching its HIV prevention targets, it would continue to promote campaigns based on peer education and a sex positive approach.
“Campaigns that promote fear, guilt or blame only serve to turn gay men off safe sex messages, while campaigns that validate the lives of gay men and allow them to enjoy sex, safely, are the most effective,” Martin added.
In a first for the Rip & Roll campaign, a series of ‘behind the scenes’ videos have also been produced to show how this year’s campaign was developed and why it remains so important for gay men.
To view the ‘Rip & Roll’ videos, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/qahc
- Tags: Adshel, Advertisement, Advertising Standards Board, Australian Christian Lobby, Brisbane, Gay Men's Health, Queensland, Queensland Pride, Rip & Roll, Safe Sex, SX
Comments (12)
The article states that this campaign promotes good things about gay life. Well, clearly not if you're HIV positive. Life does not end after a positive diagnosis. The worst thing for HIV positive gay men is rejection and dehumanisation from HIV negative gay men. This campaign is great for keeping negative men aware and weary, but should they fall prey to the evil HIV, they drop off the radar and cease being valid. Then again, telling HIV positive people that they can and do still live long, healthy and fulfilling lives is QPP's responsibility. Making them feel as though they are the walking dead is the job of QAHC.
Callum, I've always been invalid.
The increased risk of self harm Homosexuals are shown to have, is proven and reported in a number of medical research projects. The increased risk of self harm of Homosexuals is not disputed. By encouraging Homosexuality you are encouraging self harm. The reasons be they, social discomfort, isolation, family estrangement, self loathing, whatever.... If you encourage Homosexuality, you are encouraging people to self harm. Homosexuals need to be treated for whatever the causes are for this increased risk of self harm, not encouraged to pursue whatever are the causes for the increased risks of self harm
Fostering the idea that homosexuals are sick and unnatural causes them to self harm. You cannot hand them the noose and then point with validation when they hang themselves. Do you not see that?
It's disturbing that people like 'regn ' can believe the rubbish they spout.
Have a look at the poster, they are real men who have the same emotions as anyone. They are not different to those who are not gay.As the responses have suggested, any self harm is caused by ignorant attitudes and treatment by bigots.
ReH1N1, if by self harm, you mean suicide or harm associated with anxiety and depression, you can blame the unjustified, cruel and bigoted attitudes displayed by those who feel obliged to marginalize and hate those whom they believe to be 'other' or 'different' to themselves. All people, regardless of sexuality, are capable of and often pushed by the cruelty of others, to self harm. Homosexuality et al, are not reasons in themselves, for people to cause harm to themselves. The ignorance and cruelty of self righteousindividuals and
Rehn, to continue my previous and prematurely posted submission...
The ignorance and hatred of self righteous individuals and groups marginalizes their targets eg. This community of decent people.
In conclusion, the work ofQld
Ah yes, Homosexuals are at greater risk of self harm and I support protecting them. This attitude empowers you to call me; cruel, unjustified, bigoted, a hater, a persecuter / hunter,
ignorant, self righteous and possibly , indecent.. Consider this; Does an anorexic person starve themselves to death because someone called them fat or because of a whole range of reasons including ones that can be treated by appropriate medication and therapy?
Sorry, phone lost charge...
In conclusion, Qld Healthy Communities has contributed vastly to Qld culture, health-care and education.
Finally, R.C, I hope you find your job to be safe afterall. Your creativity and talent has help this community service for a long time. Keep up the good fight. The work you have contributed to this organization is vast and invaluable. Who owns the organizations copyright if they cease to exist? Perhaps time for a beautiful glossy fund raising book of Aids Council/ Healthy Communities poster art etc. Got to keep servicing communities in need no matter what steps retrograde governments take in dismantling the good that has been done.
Peace and love,
Kx.
Oh Regn, really? What a silly comment! Do you really believe that? Homosexuality is normal for gay people - ads don't make it so. No ad can turn you gay & you can't choose who you fall I love with. If someone forced me to become gay it would damage my psyche as much as forcing gay people to be straight. It's stupid to think you can change people's innermost feelings and it's sad that people like you want to continue to push gay people into some closet. It's hurtful and unnecessary.
SydneyGirl, while "no ad can turn you gay", it's culture which keeps most people exclusively straight.
Homosexuality should not be encouraged. Homosexuals are at higher risk of self injury. Campaigns like this/ these advertisements will act to normalise Homosexuality and resultantly encourage it.