A maker of snowboards has apologized for a homophobic trade show banner that mocked its competitor. Some gay snowboarders are urging a boycott of the company’s products.

Much like Coors, I think this is going to require sponsorship at a whole bunch of gay ski weekends. Perhaps the employees responsible can be put in charge of creating signs for those weekends that are a bit more inclusive. That and make them responsible for the hospitality in the hospitality suite. wink

This is outrageous!!!!!! :mad:

As a person who has run many a trade-show/job fair, I can tell you that I could never have acted on my own to produce this type of banner. I would've had to provide several signatures of approval, ESPECIALLY when using the company logo.

Can you imagine if the banner read "Black" instead of "Gay"??

eek!

The employees should have been fired. There is no way that they can say that they were unaware of its potential to offend, and therefore need diversity training.

(I only wish I was a snowboarder so I could participate in a boycott)

[ March 11, 2004, 08:45 PM: Message edited by: CowboysHskrFan ]

Hey, maybe they will hire Mary Cheney to fix thier image like Coors did...lol

I've seen that joke (so to speak) before, on alt.skate-board, IIRC:

Q: What the hardest thing about rollerblading?
A: Telling your parents you’re gay.

My first two boards are Burtons, both made in Vermont. The last board I bought is, ironically, a Ride. I bought it at a yard sale along with a whole bunch of other stuff for $10.

I see that Ride is a brand name owned by K2. K2's used to be made on Vashon Island, west of Seattle, but my understanding is that their skis are now made in China. Perhaps it's just their lower-priced skis that come from China. I don't know for sure.

I'm sure the Ride stickers with the ill-fated slogans have all been ordered destroyed. Too bad. One, or several, would look good on my Burtons, either with "worst" replaced with "best" or not.

The story is at OutBoard as well.

I've written to Ride and to K2, and I hope readers will do so as well.

as a three-time Olympian who has worked productively and on a very friendly level with K2 in the past, I was deeply offended and felt betrayed.

Let them know!

Nat

I understand why the advertisement is insensitive and I don't disagree in the slightest bit that it's inappropriate. But, that said, am I a horrible person for thinking it's kinda funny? It makes me laugh despite myself...

As inadequate as the apology may be, it's more of an apology than I can recall hearing from any pro sports team for a player or coach's homophobic remarks. No "if anyone was offended" (which is like "sorry you feel that way" -- it implies "that's your problem"). And how many players, coaches, general managers, or team presidents have been suspended (with or without pay) or even sent to sensitivity training? Any?

I'm not defending K2, just saying this makes the gay-bashing in major sports all the more appalling.

Come one guys, are we really so surprised at the antics of straight guys in their late teens and early to mid 20s? I'm not defending them, mind you, but the gay insult young men like to hurl at each other isn't exactly earth shattering news anymore. Am I offended? heck yes. Should I lose sleep over it? no because it's what you'd expect. It just goes to show that some people love to show their ignorance. I feel sorry for those chumps.

My feeling is that Ride should not be financially rewarded for mocking gays in their promotion. Companies need to be called on this kind of stuff.

Terry's right, is this something to toss and turn until 3 in the morning over? No, of course not. But I'm sure that at some point, either the people that did it or someone here will cry "PC run amok!" or "You guys are taking this way to seriously, lighten up". No it's not, and we aren't.

I completely agree.


What's that damn sound? Uh oh. The earth is shaking!

I just noticed that Jim's article on the main Outsports page made it to the superb Queer Day news site. World media domination can't be far off!

I have to admit I am highly doubtfull that one single employee could do something like this - especially since the offensive banner went to a half dozen trade shows that week.

My response was to write to the Chairman of K2, tell him I spent around $300+ annually with his company for the last decade and a half; but that the money would be going elsewhere this year. I also told him I owned mutual funds (2)that have held his stock - one of them a long term investor... I had written to the Director of those funds expressing my concern (figuring that someone who controls $30M in K2 stock just might be listened to more appreciatively than someone who owns 100 shares).

I got a nice letter back from the Fidelity Fund manager who stated that the 'concern' would be raised with K2 executives when they meet next month; and that investments with K3 might be 'reviewed' if fund members expressed dis satisfaction.

I got a form email from the Chairman refering to their online 'apology' (thin though it was).

Some you win, some you don't - Personally, I will have to find a new Telmark ski mfg next year.

ITjock