G’ ay Mate

“Gay marriage is legal in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Spain, Canada, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Uruguay, and New Zealand.

“Australia — are we missing something?”

Gay marriage Australia poster

I’m not sure who designed this poster (via Kevin Finn). Very good, though.


Update: It’s by Interbrand, more details here.

“Through how-to-vote flyers, free G’ AY MATE t-shirts, social media conversation starters, a national poster campaign, and hitting the streets in pro-marriage equality marches, we played our small part in fighting for the greater good.”

Sadly, Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where same-sex marriage continues to be blocked by the DUP despite a parliamentary majority in favour.

Also good, Paul Belford’s relevant read on successful poster design.


Comments

17 responses to “G’ ay Mate”

  1. Gay marriage should be allowed everywhere and the fact that it’s not in this day and age is disgusting.

  2. Alexey Marichev Avatar
    Alexey Marichev

    I read your book and was inspired. I’m from Russia, from the city of Tula, and I thank you.
    P.s. I don’t know much English, writing this comment through a translator, but I would be happy to meet you.

    1. I appreciate that, Alexey.

  3. Strictly speaking about design, I’ve often said to my interns that graphic design is about communication first. It should communicate a clear idea whether it’s imagery, icons or letter shapes. This execution is quite brilliant since it not only communicates clearly with smart type, it also latches on to a familiar idea in culture making it more sticky.

    A brief thought on the content topic being from the US, sometimes grass looks greener on the other side but the human truth is forcing others to comply to something through laws only continues to sow seeds of quiet resentment in others. It doesn’t truly achieve the acceptance one is looking for. I’m an advocate for personal freedom and I believe our real solution lies in separating all marriage from being a government regulated item that merely serves tax benefits.

    Apologies if David would prefer us to stick to discussing the design elements.

    Best.

    1. Hi Brad, no need to apologise. The way I see it, even when the law is wrong, being written as law makes it right for many.

      1. Hi David,
        I’m sorry I’m not sure I understand your response, however I’m enjoying the dialogue.

        Your work over the years has been a huge influence and inspiration to me. Thank you.

        1. You’re very welcome, and we agree that marriage shouldn’t be treated as a tax incentive. I’m referring to countries where the law persecutes gays. The fact that people can be legally killed for loving someone of the same gender astounds me.

          On a lighter note, thanks a lot for the kind words.

          1. Agree completely. Laws are merely meant to serve the common good of the people and protect them from those that don’t exercise self control (while holding the violator accountable).

            Civil laws should not be used to control or force anyone’s life, motives or ideologies. However I know this gets complicated with more diverse populations.

            Please keep up the brilliant work as well as empowering other growing designers.

  4. James Patrick Avatar
    James Patrick

    Hi David,

    You are a great designer. Love the work. Keep it up!

    As for Gay Marriages… well, it’s a simple thing to understand. Let’s have a look at the Book of all Books.

    Holy Bible – Chapter 1: 20-32

    20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

    21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

    24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

    26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

    28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

    I will add though “Its always been about Adam and Eve NOT Adam and Steve!”

    Respectfully,

    James Patrick

    1. Hi James, it’s a potent force for atheism, that book.

  5. James Patrick Avatar
    James Patrick

    Hi David,

    Thank you for the reply. “Potent force for atheism, that book”. Care to elaborate a bit more??? This topic is always intriguing. Hope you don’t mind!

    James Patrick

  6. Not at all, James.

    “…God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death…”

    In the words of Noam Chomsky, the Bible is probably the most genocidal book in the literary canon.

  7. James Patrick Avatar
    James Patrick

    Hi David,

    It is unfortunate, but yet it is true… Chomsky with all of his academic qualifications and being a linguist hasn’t been able to grasp the true rehma – the deeper revelation of this Holy Book known as “The Holy Bible”. I must add… the last portion of the scripture in Romans 1:32 “…they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” — He fits this description without any excuse.

    As for “…God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death…”

    Romans 1:32 First evil demands to be tolerated. Then to have equal footing. Then it is held up as the best and even most moral way. It seems that we have gotten to stage three in every day life all over the world. Often those things that Scripture declares to be right and holy are now condemned as narrow-minded or even evil. There is a constant drumbeat promoting and lifting up sin of all sorts as the better way. The more loving way, etc. Just look back for a moment at the verses THAT PRECEDE Romans 1:32. Open the Holy Bible and ask yourself if you do not see these things on the daily news. Not only do sinners sin. But they sit in the bleachers and cheer on those who lead the parade of sin. In Hollywood this is often called “pushing the envelope.” And we may sit quietly by and find some joy in the very changes that God condemns. We no longer want to call sin “sin.” It makes people angry. It drives them away from the Church. But we are bound by God’s righteous decree. God grants to every Christian the strength to call sin “sin” without falling into the sin of the Pharisees. You know that sin – “God I thank you that I am not like other men.” Because the sin we see in the world we also see in the depths of our own hearts. We are secretly attracted to many of the things we outwardly condemn. It is not the outward words about sin that are wrong. It is the secret desire we have to be more like the world. God have mercy on us. We live in such a tainted world. And it has such a draw on our sinful nature. God be praised. While Jesus endured real temptation (He lived in the real world), He never succumbed. There was no inner enemy in the holy Son of Man. Human in every other way, in this way He was different. He had a soul untainted by sin. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And His holy life stands before God as our holy life. Our faith in Jesus agrees that His life is now ours in the eyes of God. And, having lived without blemish or spot, He dies and rises. As for us, we are free. We are free to live as saints in a sinful world. AND TO WATCH VERY CAREFULLY THE THINGS OF WHICH WE APPROVE.

    Cheers Mate!

    James

  8. “We live in such a tainted world.” Absolutely, James. So when two women or two men love each other it should be cherished, they shouldn’t be stoned or cleansed by fire.

  9. James Patrick Avatar
    James Patrick

    I think You are too focused on the word “Death” and therefore, everything I tried explaining is being overlooked. Regardless, I believe you are a brilliant individual. So therefore, I’ll leave you with this to ponder upon. I will be direct here… this will only make sense to you IF you believe in God – His existence.

    In life there are two realms. The physical and the spiritual. Both are governed by certain laws. Let’s take the physical for an example. If one takes a person’s life, that individual is given the harshest penalty for the crime because that individual chose to go against the law of the land. As a matter of fact, in majority of the countries a death penalty is given or life imprisonment in some. Hey, like the scientist say… “Every action has a reaction”.

    Now, as for the spiritual example… God has given mankind a manual/guide known as the “Holy Bible – BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVE EARTH” so that he/she can navigate through life, live a blessed life and attain salvation through the only door, “Jesus Christ”. If an individual chooses to go against the Word of God, it is his/her choice as God has given man the free will to choose. But unfortunately that individual(s) suffers due to his/her own chosen path. Yet God being so merciful, gracious, slow to anger and abundant in love still offers hope, forgiveness, peace and joy, salvation through His Son Jesus. All one needs to do is REPENT and come back to the straight path of righteousness for there is only one mediator between God and man “The Lord Jesus Christ!”

    Respectfully,

    James Patrick

  10. Hi there, that poster was part of a campaign by Interbrand in Australia to encourage voters to vote YES to same-sex marriage.

    You can read about it here: http://interbrand.com/au/work/g-ay-mate/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *