[Photo via @DemandaDahling]
Now available at Gallo Nero, an Italian restaurant at 95 Seventh Ave. South. … right near the West Village location of Big Gay Ice Cream…
Head to Twitter for some reaction to this.
@biggayicecream @GalloNeroNYC Vanilla with some homophobia on the side?
— Melissa Marks-Shih (@mmscooks) September 14, 2014Big Gay Ice Cream celebrated its third anniversary in the East Village on Sept. 3.
Updated to note that the sign is at the West Village location, not the Midtown address.
Updated 9-17
Gothamist talks to the restaurant owner.
"The chef was making his own ice cream, straight ice cream right from his kitchen, like, he didn't buy the ice cream, he was making his own," Besim Kukaj said, explaining why Gallo Nero posted a sign that advertised "Big STRAIGHT Ice Cream" across the street from Big Gay Ice Cream's second location on Grove Street. "I love gay people, I have nothing against gay people."
Has anyone gotten an explanation from the restaurant? I would love to hear what the manager has to say about this. Yet another reason not to eat at this midtown shitholes.
ReplyDeleteHonestly. Why can't it be capitalizing on a franchize and simply a joke. There's nothing inherently homophobic about the ice cream.
ReplyDeleteThat's hysterical!
ReplyDeleteI'm very shocked at this. Obviously, I know homophobia exists, even in New York City, but to be so blatant about it? And now I'm sure someone will insist that "straight" ice cream is not homophobic just like reverse racism is real and we need a Men's History Month.
ReplyDelete"Straight" ice cream will never be as good as gay ice cream. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could be a fly on the wall and listen as people walk in and chew out the manager for this ridiculous sign. If anyone does it, please share your story here!
ReplyDeleteMen get a free high five, woman get an oh my god with every straight purchuse
ReplyDeleteHas anyone spoken with the owners about the intention? I thought it was a funny wink wink nod nod to the East Village's Big Gay Ice Cream. As a gay man, I personally don't find this the least bit offensive. I could be wrong, but I really can't imagine a business opening up in the West Village with a sign like this and having it be anything other than a joke.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this story on Gothamist:
ReplyDeletehttp://gothamist.com/2014/09/14/big_straight_ice_cream.php
The reporter's exchange with the manager of Gallo Nero is telling. Here is the passage from the story:
Reached by telephone, a manager at the restaurant seemed confused about what we were asking about.
"What's the issue? We can call our ice cream whatever we want," he said.
Asked if the sign was a reference to Big Gay Ice Cream, or if he could see how it may be interpreted as homophobic, the manager, who declined to provide his name, replied, "They have their own way, we have our own way."
He added, "I didn't have anything to do with—I don't know anything, no."
I am not supporting violence but that store needs a rock through its window
ReplyDeleteBecause there's nothing more straight than a big burly man licking a nice big, wet, dripping ice cream cone.
ReplyDeleteNext up would be the White sushi, or the Anglo taco, or Julio the Straight Bar.
ReplyDeleteyes, passion fruit greek yogurt just sounds so manly
ReplyDeleteI'm hearin' Robin williams and Joan Rivers riff on the sitchy-a-shun....
ReplyDelete.....sigh....
So sensitive- actually so PC- love the idiot who wants a rock thrown in the window - this is just a stupid joke - and to the com mentors who are just shocked.by homophobia in NYC - there is a reason shelters for lgbt youth are in manhattan- these kids have been run out of the outer boroughs - ranting but.this ice cream is just somebody being dumb - save the venom for.the real issues
ReplyDeleteThese comments read like a liberal version of Fox News. Lighten up, it's a joke.
ReplyDeleteI prefer yogurt with fruit on the bottom!
ReplyDelete@ 7:09
ReplyDeleteYes, because homophobia is not a "real issue." Brilliant. Let's throw a rock at your empty head.
@ 7:27
How long have you worked at that restaurant?
Hey 7:27
ReplyDeleteExplain the joke to the rest of us.
You can't explain comedy to people lacking a sense of humor. I'm afraid you're on your own.
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:09 can you read? My point was that this is just a stupid dumb joke that didn't work and there are bigger issues. As far as throwing a rock at me is concerned - I didn't realize that was OK to say that here. Please learn to read. And we can arrange a meeting if you'd like to attemp to hit me with a rock
ReplyDeleteSelf-righteous indignation. Another thing to love about the East Village!
ReplyDeleteYeah, this just seems stupid, and not particularly funny. If you're gonna make a joke then stand by it and own it. However, if Ray's Candy Store decided to hang a sign out front that said "Big Ray Ice Cream" I'd have myself a hearty chuckle. ("Hearty-Chuckle" is a flavor of ice cream over at Big Gay I believe.)
ReplyDeleteOpening Next:
ReplyDeleteSexually Ambivalent Gelato
Froyo with extra yo
Ice Cremaster Cycle
As a gay man, not only am I offended by the audacity of this flagship, I am galled they would imagine others, especially those in the West Village, would patronize this homophobic shit hole. Fuck these wannabes. Move to Palin land in Alaska. Gay Ice Cream Shop rocks!
ReplyDeleteYoung queens today have no sense of humor. They've all taken the Lena Dunham road of self-loathing. Tsk. Tsk.
ReplyDeleteLet me get this uhh straight, its ok to say Big Gay Ice Cream but not Big Straight Ice Cream. That is really the most retarded logic I've heard in awhile.
ReplyDelete1. This photo was incorrectly credited to Jeff Chatterton. The photo was actually taken by Thomas Bistritz @demandadahling. How do I know this? I was there on Saturday afternoon when it was taken.
ReplyDelete2. As this photo was taken we were at the restaurant in question and they were most definitely NOT homophobic. You are going to have to take my word for it on this one.
3. We both thought it was extremely SHADY being right across the street from the Big Gay Ice Cream shop, but not homophobic. It gave us a laugh and did not offend us in any way. It was posted to Facebook and Twitter because it was funny.
@ MTS
ReplyDeleteMy apologies on the mix-up with the credit. I fixed that in the post.
@MTS Thanks for clarifying. Just as I thought.
ReplyDelete"I thought it was a funny wink wink nod nod to the East Village's Big Gay Ice Cream... I really can't imagine a business opening up in the West Village with a sign like this and having it be anything other than a joke."
The Lena Dunham comment is spot on lol.
Even if it's homophobic, let 'em be homophobic! Last I checked, we are still free to be homophobic in this country. Anyways whatever the intentions are, this parody does little else besides pay tribute to Big Gay. It reminds me of musicians whose songs get spoofed by Weird Al Yankovic--usually they are glad because it means they have arrived.
ReplyDeleteNo one is saying these idiots are not allowed to be 'phobes. It's a free country - be an idiot if you choose. No one is stopping you, just like no one's stopping the rest of us from calling you small-minded idiots.
ReplyDeleteI especially love "I'm a gay man and I don't think it's homophobic, so it isn't." Duly noted, spokesperson for everyone.
If you're going to quote me, please do so accurately. I wasn't speaking on behalf of every gay man.
ReplyDelete"As a gay man, ***I personally*** don't find this the least bit offensive."
People have no sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteNot really offended by it, but this is totally unfunny.
ReplyDeleteOnly flavor they have is vanilla
ReplyDeleteIf only there were an interview with the shop linked earlier in these comments which provided some context.
ReplyDeleteI celebrate ice cream diversity.
ReplyDeleteIf the owner were gay, would it still be homophobic.
ReplyDeleteObviously riding on the success of Big Gay Ice Cream. It's the same as that Naked Cow Girl, or Naked Indian, in Times Square.
I am holding out for Bi Ice Cream. Hard and soft at the same time. Melts in your mouth and hands at the same time. Best of both worlds.
Everyone is allowed to have an opinion, as long as it follows the liberal status quo.
ReplyDelete