Gay apps ads pulled from trains as ‘public sex is against the law’
A public rail network have removed all adverts for cruising website Squirt from their trains.
Adverts for the hook-up app had been running in throughout Toronto since June 10 and were recently introduced to subway trains.
However, last week, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) removed all posters from their trains, claiming they encouraged gay commuters to “break the law”.
“The ad was taken down as it promoted sex in public places, which is against the law,” TTC spokesperson Danny Nicholson told Metro News.
Pink Triangle Press – owners of Squirt and publishers of the Daily Xtra – say the were shocked by the sudden move, as the were not provided with the complaints’ contents.
“Yelp also has cruising listings, but I very much doubt the TTC would remove a Yelp ad,” argued marketing director Andrew Nolan.
“We run ads in the UK, the Netherlands, Australian and New Zealand and we’ve never had any problems.
“So to have them removed in a diverse city like Toronto was disappointing,” he added.
According to the TTC at least ten customers complained after the ads – showing shirtless men embracing – started to feature on subway trains.
This has led some users to accuse the TTC of buckling to pressure from the city’s homophobes, as opposed to its law-concious citizens.
However, without further information from the TTC, Nolan stated that he did not want to speculate about the possible homophobic background to the advert’s removal.
Despite this, since the ads were removed, Pink Triangle Press have taken to social media to highlight other ads that contain sexual tones – including Tinder – but have still been approved by the TTC.
Sadly, this is not the first time Squirt has received criticism this week.
A few days ago, an ex-marine was caught on video ranting homophobic slurs – before destroying an advert for the company featuring two topless men.
After spotting the poster, the man walked over to the display case, before launching into a homophobic rant.
“I’m 66 f**king years old,” he barks – although his lack of teeth and obvious smoking habit make him a little hard to understand.
“I have nine children, two boys, seven girls. I don’t want them seeing this f**king bulls**t on the streets of the US of A.”
