Being Gay Is Okay, Says McDonald's

Did you know that gay men eat at McDonald’s? Of course you did.

In France gay men are now being shown in an ad which is, of course, causing a little bit of controversy (video after jump).

This ad is part of a campaign called “come as you are” which is meant to show people from different walks of life. It acknowledges that everyone, including gay men, eat there.

The story is that a young man takes a phone call from someone who is obviously his significant other while his dad is paying up at the counter. He says he misses this person and looks longingly at their class photo. He hangs up the phone as his dad comes back. His dad says how it’s too bad he goes to an all boys school because the ladies would probably love him.

Some people have questioned why this ad ran at all and some have said that McDonald’s should be boycotted.

Conservative American commentator Bill O’Reilly asked if the next ad will show Al Qaeda and said “I guarantee you it will never run here”.

Obviously, we all know they are wrong.

The point of marketing is to make the brand appealing to the customers and encourage them to buy the product.

With France being progressive in many ways, including homosexual sex acts being legal since 1791 and being the country to push the UN to get gay rights recognised around the world, obviously, whether or not the viewer is gay themselves, seeing an ad like this would appeal to them.

And, even if it does stir a bit of controversy, this has got to be one of the most successful campaigns ever because the ad has gone viral and everyone is talking about McDonald’s. A little boycott from some right-wing Americans won’t hurt them one little bit.

Whether they are leading by example, or just following the trend of what people are already thinking, it shows McDonald’s as inclusive and welcoming to anyone. A friendly place you can go to have a meal, no matter where you come from or what your life story is.

And isn’t that the kind of place we all want to hang out in?