A bus shelter ad company says it is reinstating a poster promoting safe sex that features a gay couple, despite removing it after a Christian lobby outcry.
In a press release on its website, Adshel said it had not been aware that a series of complaints about the ad were orchestrated by the Australian Christian Lobby.
“It has now become clear that Adshel has been the target of a coordinated ACL campaign.
"This has led us to review our decision to remove the campaign and we will therefore reinstate the campaign with immediate effect,” CEO Steve McCarthy said in the statement.
HOMOPHOBIA
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
Both sides of Queensland politics condemned the campaign to scrap the advertisement, saying it was motivated by homophobia.
The Rip and Roll ads feature a hugging gay couple holding an unopened, unbranded condom and the slogan 'Rip and Roll'.
Safe sex campaigners Healthy Communities designed the black and white ads to promote condom use, but the ACL argued the men were in an act of "foreplay" inappropriate in public view.
Adshel pulled the ads this week.
'GET WITH THE TIMES'
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said ACL needed to get with the times.
Its Queensland director, Wendy Francis, a former Family First Senate candidate, argued the ads may expose children to sexual images.
Mr Fraser said this argument was "rot".
"Check the calendar, it's 2011," he said.
"I think we should call it for what it is and this is basic homophobia.
"These ads have been a part of public programs for a long time, they serve a public interest.
"Anyone who suggests that these are explicit I think is not telling the truth.
"They are actually just revealing that what they don't like is the fact that this addresses the nature of a relationship between two people of the same sex."
BE MORE ACCEPTING: LNP
Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman called on the public to be more accepting.
"I have a very open mind about these things and I urge other people to be tolerant and open minded as well," he said.
In a statement, Adshel said it responded to a series of individual complaints to the Adshel Office, Brisbane City Council and the Advertising Standards Bureau.
"All complaints were made by individual members of the public, none were identified as stemming from the Australian Christian Lobby," the statement said.
"Adshel does not have, and never had, any dealings with the Australian Christian Lobby and has not responded to any requests from this organisation.
"Adshel does not take a position regarding the views or position of various community groups."
