Comments on: Is a new Prostate Cancer awareness campaign Homophobic?

By: JoAnne Turner

JoAnne Turner — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:28:45 +0000

Also- Manuary seems to be a total rip off from the global mustache growing charity for cancer called Movember.

By: Sheldon

Sheldon — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:57:23 +0000

Manuary, 29, I had the robotic percedure. And for this I am so thankful and cancer Free.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:44:02 +0000

While the ad shows a little lack of imagination regarding what is “manly”, it certainly doesn’t seem homophobic to me. What they are trying to say, I think, is that guys should “man up” and get tested. A gentle and polite reminder to them that not only straight men get prostate cancer would probably go a lot further than some kind of “campaign”.

By: Russell Windle

Russell Windle — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:31:19 +0000

Same old testosterone posining. Not homophobic.

By: BerkshireBear

BerkshireBear — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:29:19 +0000

“Manuary” sure comes across as suggesting that being “manly” is pretty exclusive to the couch-potato, slovenly, and pseudo-bear stereotype perspective of what’s manly. While these stereotypes are not the exclusive realm of the heterosexuals they certainly are not appropriate for most men I know (whether homo or hetero). Where are the descriptors of the manly men who:
* attend or coach our (grand)children’s games and concerts,
* go to the ballet, symphony, or opera
* dress up clean and sharp
* take our husband or wife on a special date
* volunteer in our community
* repair / remodel the house
* mentor a child
* drive for a senior citizen
* cook a special meal for friends
* sing barbershop ?

Indeed, this campaign comes across as weak, borderline offensive, borderline homophobic, and inappropriately stereotypical. Next year come up with a better concept, and it might just be appropriate to link it to the official Prostate Cancer month — called September.

By: John Olson

John Olson — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 22:40:20 +0000

It’s certainly playing up to a certain definition of manliness that is probably more associated with straight than with gay guys (though there are a lot of gay guys who find beards and flannel shirts very manly!)

I think the gender stereotyping here is just a little odd. I suspect there are straight guys who would find it so as well. It doesn’t seem that it would be effective for a PC awareness building campaign.