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London Underground considers GT ad too raunchy for Londoners

Gay Times tube ad banned

Monday, 23 July 2007

If you go down to the tube today you'll be in for a big surprise. Well not that big, we've seen bigger, but apparently two gay men blown up to poster size was considered too raunchy for London Transport. Yes Gay Times prove they are further ahead of the times than the underground bosses as an advert promoting their Freedom Campaign and the fortieth anniversary of the legalisation of homosexuality was seen as too raunchy for public consumption.

Seems our commute can’t be too exciting or there’ll be trouble. The London Paper has been running an online poll to see just if Londoners are offended by the ad and the response so far has been a staggering "no!" Some comments included the enlightened "This is not homophobia - it is customer phobia. Come on LU, your customers are Londoners and this is the 21st century. Take a long hard look at your prejudices, and then get rid of them please!" and the commuter frustrated "Just goes to show their views are as out-dated as their services I guess!" Maybe LT should be encouraging more light relief for their customers not banning it outright.

A spokesman for Gay Times also expressed their disbelief saying "In our opinion, their refusal­ is totally unjustified considering some of the heterosexual ads on display at the moment. By having a couple in a natural pose, consumers can infer that they are a couple. The freedom issue is all about celebrating this fact, and the fact couples of the same sex have the same rights as heterosexual couples.” Rights it seems London Transport don’t wish to keep underground.

Check the out images (banned and acceptable) and join the poll at www.thelondonpaper.com.