Miller Lite Ads Invoke the Straight Man's Fear of Being Perceived as Sissy

MillerCoors a beer company marketing its Miller Lite brand has created two commercials that embraces sexist and transphobic ideas. One commercial features a man asking the bartender for a light beer. She asks him if he cares how it tastes and since he doesn't she tells him that when he starts caring he should "take off his skirt" and get a Miller Lite. The man looks obviously humiliated and the commercial then says "man up" He then goes to his friends saying "check it out, I lost the skirt and got a Miller Lite."



The other ad features a man asking the bartender for a light beer, she asks if he cares how it tastes. He responds that he does not, and she says "when you start caring put down your purse and I'll give you a Miller Lite."



What do these commercials teach us? That women can't handle a "real beer" and that men who drink other light beers are sissies. In order to fit the image of a true masculine heterosexual male, you should lose the "skirt or purse" by purchasing a Miller Lite.

Tell MillerCoors to drop this sexist and genderphobic ad.

Contact MillerCoors corporate offices via e-contact or by phone at 1-800-645-5376.

Equality Forward - New Study Released on LGBT People of Color

The Human Rights Campaign has released the newly completed study called Equality Forward, At The Intersection Race, Sexuality, and Gender which examines the lives of LGBT people of color. It is part of a broader initiative to unite gay and straight people of all races and ethnic backgrounds in the quest for equal justice.

Key findings of the report:

• Voices of LGBT POC are not at the forefront of groups fighting to end racial injustice as well as in LGBT equality groups.
• LGBT POC share the same concerns as the rest of the population and have broader issues beyond LGBT specific ones. They are concerned with health care and economic priorities.
• More than 50% of LGBT POC feels as though the Church treats them as outsiders and sinners and feel unwelcome at religious institutions.
• LGBT POC do not feel represented in media, often seeing a lack of LGBT characters altogether, and when present usually white.
• They feel that racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia are issues that must be tackled to prevent violence, discrimination.

HRC encourages feedback and discussion on the topic matter by urging you to share your story.

Is the Meat Industry Homophobic?

You don't have to look far to see how the meat/dairy industry perpetrate sexist and misogynist attitudes throughout their marketing campaigns as illustrated by the brilliant author of the Sexual Politics of Meat Carol J. Adams. Click here to see the slideshow she created of sexist and outright offensive ads against women.

It got me thinking that if the meat industry is sexist are they possibly homophobic as well? There have definitely been subtle hints throughout society that meat is somehow associated with masculinity, and to abstain from meat means you become a "vegetable". Vegetables are healthy, how did the pro-meat advocates turn that around on us into something negative? Recently Hummer came out with a commercial showing a man buying some tofu products, the man next to him gives him a strange look, piles up tons of meat on the counter. The man buying the tofu feels odd and has to "restore the balance" according to Hummer and reclaim his masculinity by purchasing a Hummer. What is this clip really trying to show? To me the commercial is implying the man buying the tofu is a sissy and that real men eat meat and buy Hummers (a man's car). The video clip is below.



Burger King recently launched their "Eat Like a Man" campaign. Below is a video of one of their commercials. Where this man gets sick of eating "chick food" ie: vegetarian. In a show of masculinity he bursts out of the restaurant into a parade of men who are reclaiming their masculinity by eating meat. This implies men who choose not to eat meat or eat less meat are somehow sissies or less of a man.



I find this topic really interesting and there are many more examples of it, if you are all interested in the connection between gay & animal liberation, please read my earlier post here entitled Intersection Between Animal Liberation & Queer Liberation.

So what do you think, is the meat industry the culprit of these homophobic and gender stereotyping ads from Hummer, Burger King and others?