LONDON – Ads, which suggested gay people could be cured, that were due to appear on the side of some of London’s iconic red double-decker buses have been banned.
The Press Association reported that the campaign was due to run for two weeks on the side of vehicles serving five routes in the capital, including top tourist destinations such as St Paul’s Cathedral, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus.
The campaign was produced by Christian group Core Issues Trust, who describe themselves as, “…a non-profit Christian initiative seeking to support men and women with homosexual issues who voluntarily seek change in sexual preference and expression.”
The posters carried the message, “Not gay! Post-gay, ex-gay and proud. Get over it!” and were believed to mock pro-gay group Stonewall’s recent campaign which featured ads saying, “Some people are gay. Get over it.”
But following a huge public outcry which labeled the Core Issues‘ campaign homophobic, London Mayor Boris Johnson, who chairs Transport for London (TfL), London transports regulatory body, has ordered the ads to be pulled.
Johnson, who is standing for re-election next month, said, “London is one of the most tolerant cities in the world and intolerant of intolerance. It is clearly offensive to suggest being gay is an illness someone recovers from and I am not prepared to have that suggestion driven around London on our buses.”
The doomed campaign, which was backed by Christian group Anglican Mainstream and cleared by industry regulator the Advertising Standards Authority, claimed therapy could change sexual orientation.
Core Issues‘ co-director Mike Davidson criticized the decision to axe the ads, saying, “I didn’t realize censorship was in place. We went through the correct channels and we were encouraged by the bus company to go through their procedures. They OK’d it and now it has been pulled. I would be interested to know on what basis they have done that.”
But Stonewall spokesman Andy Wasley welcomed the move, saying, “We are delighted by TfL’s clear commitment to diversity. It is fantastic that no adverts will be promoting voodoo, gay-cure therapy in London.”
