GAY SAFE SEX ADS REMOVED, THEN REINSTATED

Bus shelter ads promoting safe sex among gay men in Brisbane, Australia, are to be reinstated after they were removed due to complaints.

The ads, which show fully-clothed male couples hugging, are part of the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities’ ‘Rip and Roll’ campaign urging gay men to use condoms.

Adshel, the company which manages the bus shelter ads, said that the decision to remove the posters was made on the basis of the almost 50 complaints received, most of which were apparently instigated by the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL).

“Any condom ad in public spaces to children is unacceptable!” said one complainant. “This billboard is completely contrary to prevailing community standards as it introduces sexuality to young children – this is unacceptable and must be removed.”

‘We will therefore reinstate the campaign…’

Adshel refuted claims that it had caved in to pressure from ACL, insisting that it was not initially aware that the complaints were from the organisation but had believed that they were from individuals.

“It has now become clear that Adshel has been the target of a coordinated Australian Christian Lobby campaign,” said CEO Steve McCarthy.

“This has led us to review our decision to remove the campaign and we will therefore reinstate the campaign with immediate effect.”

The ban led to one of the men featured in the ads, Michael James, starting a