Bench speaks up on controversial Pro-Gay Billboard

A billboard from Bench about their pro-gay advocacy shows a gay couple with their hands blackened, the billboard made rounds on different social media sites last week, gaining a lot of questions on why the part where the hands of the couple holding together are blackened.

Bench made it clear then through a statement sent to the fashion website Style Bible that the billboard along EDSA-Guadalupe showing creative director Vince Uy and boyfriend Niño Gaddi holding hands was not vandalized as initially observed by netizens.

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Bench’s advertising and promotions manager Jojo Liamzon explained that the gay couple’s hands have been blackened by Bench as the brand’s way of complying with the material it submitted to the Ad Standards Council or ASC.

“When the billboard images for Bench’s ‘Love All Kinds of Love’ campaign were submitted to the governing body ASC, the company received concern over the photo of Vince Uy and his arm around partner Niño Gaddi, hands clasped in a show of affection. Prior, the governing body had rejected photos of the couple looking lovingly at one another, citing ‘traditional Filipino family values’ as a reason” Jojo Liamzon said.

He also clarified that Bench decided to push through to the display of the billboard with the blackened hands because the company believes that its message was still intact.

“While the message has been compromised to an extent, the most important thing is that at least, for the duration that the billboards are up, the voices, lives and loves of the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community are unavoidable and undeniable on an avenue Filipinos from all walks of life cross every day,” he added.

The said billboard was released for Bench’s “Love All Kinds Of Love” campaign for Valentine’s Day. The campaign shows all types of love, including same-sex relationships.

 

 
(Photo Source: When In Manila)