# Has anybody else seen the gay Kindle commercial? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 3, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870 "2013-03-03T01:59:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/1 "2013-03-03T01:59:08Z")
There is a kindle commercial, where a man and a woman are on the beach, and he is complaining about his sub-par e-reader. She tells him of her superior Kindle, and he ends up ordering one. At the end, she makes reference to her husband, who is getting her a drink. At first, it would seem she is blowing him off. But he cheerfully tells her his husband is also getting a drink. The commercial ends with a cutaway to two men waving back. The gay reference is subtle; there’s no commentary about it, and it’s displayed as perfectly normal (in fact, my wife missed the fact that the guy referred to his husband until it was pointed out to her). No preaching or moralizing. Just another step in normalizing gay acceptance in American society. Good job, Kindle. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/2 "2013-03-03T02:40:40Z")
A [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS3t9reE364) is worth a thousand words. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/3 "2013-03-03T02:44:27Z")
Awesome! ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/4 "2013-03-03T03:35:17Z")
Yay! And when people don’t even think to mention such things on message boards, we’ll really be there 🙂 Now let’s have a moment of respect for the millions of gay men and women in third world countries who are persecuted (sometimes to death) for their sexuality. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/5 "2013-03-03T04:11:33Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Yay! And when people don’t even think to mention such things on message boards, we’ll really be there 🙂 Yep. I’ve been quietly pleased that it hasn’t been talked about all over the internet. Of course, I couldn’t mention how pleased I was, 'cause that would be talking about it all over the internet! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/6 "2013-03-03T04:14:56Z")
Shit. Does this mean using my Kindle is making me gay? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/7 "2013-03-03T04:21:59Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > The gay reference is subtle; there’s no commentary about it, and it’s displayed as perfectly normal I disagree. The commercial doesn’t really work except for the expectation of the audience that the guy is heterosexual. Course, its still a sign of progress. Certainly no mainstream products would want to be seen as associating themselves with gay couples a decade or so ago. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/8 "2013-03-03T04:36:11Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Shit. Does this mean using my Kindle is making me gay? Of course not. Obviously, it was the sub-par e-reader that made him gay. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/9 "2013-03-03T13:27:04Z")
I’ve seen it a few times. Frankly, I thought it was heavy handed. Why say something out loud when it can be conveyed in another, more humorous or more poignant, way? ---
**Author:** ![diggerwam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/919ad9/32.png) [@diggerwam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggerwam)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/10 "2013-03-03T15:14:06Z")
Underwhelmed. Kinda lame ad. It’s nice that gay couple get acknowledged but commercial is blah. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/11 "2013-03-03T15:36:50Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I’ve seen it a few times. Frankly, I thought it was heavy handed. Why say something out loud when it can be conveyed in another, more humorous or more poignant, way? Could you give a few examples of what you think would be more humorous or poignant and less heavy-handed? I thought this commercial was adorable, especially because sure, she assumes he’s straight and hitting on her, BUT when she’s told he’s gay, her reaction is awesome! It’s totally, “oh, cool!” with a genuine smile instead of, “ohhhhhhhmg, so gross!” and looking uncomfortable/embarrassed. My reaction to seeing this commercial being called “heavy-handed” is :dubious:. “Mine, too!” is heavy-handed? Two words? Sorry, but I can’t help but see this attitude as similar to people accusing gay people of “flaunting” their sexuality by doing horrifically deviant things like holding hands with their partner or mentioning their partner in the same conversations where mentioning a heterosexual partner would be totally normal. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/12 "2013-03-03T16:02:09Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Yay! And when people don’t even think to mention such things on message boards, we’ll really be there 🙂 > > Now let’s have a moment of respect for the millions of gay men and women in third world countries who are persecuted (sometimes to death) for their sexuality. Umm…so, should I apologize for posting the OP? While there is indeed worse persecution of gay people in countries other than the US, there are still significant indignities that gay people experience in America. A sign that the level of opprobrium is abating, however slightly, is worth a nod, is it not? ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/13 "2013-03-03T16:30:29Z")
Well, I’m glad it was mention as I have no TV and would never had known about it. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/14 "2013-03-03T16:37:31Z")
gay dude is hot ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/15 "2013-03-03T17:07:13Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Yay! And when people don’t even think to mention such things on message boards, we’ll really be there 🙂 I was watching The Chris Matthews show earlier (because I like my morning show hosts to yell at me) and someone said something like “To young people, being gay is just about as interesting as being left handed.” Forsooth. Whenever I see old people making a big show out of teh gay, I’m like, “Are you people still talking about this?” I mean, sure, I realize the rest of society doesn’t feel the way I do, which is why we’re still squabbling over marriage equality, but I don’t pee myself in excitement every time something gay happens. Who cares? Also, commercial is lame. If you ignore the gay brownie points it earns, it’s just a commercial where some dude bought a Kindle. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/16 "2013-03-03T17:23:29Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Could you give a few examples of what you think would be more humorous or poignant and less heavy-handed? …By saying it with actions, so that we could piece it together ourselves at the same time the woman is figuring it out. That could have been a hand squeeze, a little kiss, or even a lingering look. That would have been funnier, IMO, than how they did it, which was practically, “I’m a MAN and he’s my HUSBAND. Get it?” > [@zweisamkeit](#): > > My reaction to seeing this commercial being called “heavy-handed” is :dubious: . “Mine, too!” is heavy-handed? Two words? Sorry, but I can’t help but see this attitude as similar to people accusing gay people of “flaunting” their sexuality by doing horrifically deviant things like holding hands with their partner or mentioning their partner in the same conversations where mentioning a heterosexual partner would be totally normal. FTR, I also disliked the Jared commercial where the woman shouts, “I love this man!” for the exact same reasons. Despite your conclusions to the contrary, it has nothing to do with them “flaunting” their sexuality, and everything to do with heavy-handedness of the message. Good directors know how to convey something without shouting it you like you’re some deaf, old aunt who can’t pick up on subtle clues. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/17 "2013-03-03T17:55:29Z")
I am old enough to remember seeing the first, or at least one of the first, TV commercials with only black actors! I don’t remember what they were advertising, but it was a black couple playing tennis. My grandmother (sweet woman, but inbred racist) was scandalized. I thought it was cool. And while there have been ads with fairly obvious Gays and Lesbians, it is probably noteworthy that the word “husband” is used - so yeah, kind of a “I remember when…” moment. We should remember this and I see no problem with commenting on it. I mentioned in my recent thread about my partner and I celebrating our anniversary that we are looking forward to (hopefully) good news from the Supreme Court in June. However, it takes far more than legislation for things to really change and progress. Little steps - a simple TV commercial for instance - can be the first step in showing life goes on and the world will not come crashing down when things change. So yeah, it would be great if this were a “ho hum” moment and nobody noticed or cared much, but at the same time, I realize this is still a novelty of sorts with many people. Some, like my late grandmother, will be disgusted and offended. But I think there are others (like my younger self watching that black couple play tennis ages ago) who will simply say, “cool” and move on. And that is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/18 "2013-03-03T17:59:06Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Good job, Kindle. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/19 "2013-03-03T18:06:34Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Umm…so, should I apologize for posting the OP? While there is indeed worse persecution of gay people in countries other than the US, there are still significant indignities that gay people experience in America. A sign that the level of opprobrium is abating, however slightly, is worth a nod, is it not? No, absolutely not. Please do not apologize or feel bad. My comment was not supposed to come off that way and I apologize for being rude or out of line. I’m glad you shared the commercial so I could learn about it. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870/20 "2013-03-03T18:16:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Good directors know how to convey something without shouting it you like you’re some deaf, old aunt who can’t pick up on subtle clues. True, but I don’t expect an Emmy contender out of an ad for an e-reader that works well in bright sunlight. As it is, the dude’s gayness is brought up casually in the last few seconds as an aversion of the trite trope of the exchange about products being some sort of Meet Cute romantic icebreaker. “Telling” rather than “showing” is an easy way to do so quickly without competing with the product pitch itself for valuable seconds of your attention. And hey, it’s progress, which is worthwhile even if It’s Taking Longer Than We Thought. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-anybody-else-seen-the-gay-kindle-commercial/651870.md?page=2)