This McDonald’s ad featuring a son coming out to his dad is facing a lot of controversy in Taiwan
Though major strides have been made when it comes to LGBT rights in the U.S., we can’t forget that many LGBT people around the world still face serious discrimination.
This week, McDonald’s Taiwan debuted a new commercial featuring a father and son drinking coffee in a McCafé. The son writes “I like boys” on his coffee cup and shows it to his father. Initially, his father seems upset, even slamming his fist on the table, but then comes back and responds to his son’s message, saying, “I accept that you like boys.” The overarching message of the TV spot: “Let there be more warmth in conversations.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CfgO56C0I8
The ad has more than 1.6 million views on YouTube and more likes than dislikes to boot, but that hasn’t stopped Christian groups in Taiwan from railing against the spot. One in particular, the Alliance of Taiwan Religious Groups for the Protection of Family, claims the video poses a threat to children who go to McDonald’s and sends them the message that homosexual behavior is acceptable.
“Because McDonald’s is frequented by many children, it is especially important to oppose the promotion of same-sex behavior,” Chang Shou-yi, of the Alliance of Taiwan Religious Groups for the Protection of Family, told Taiwanese news outlets.
Luckily, the Alliance seems to be in the minority here. Though Taiwan has yet to legalize gay marriage, same sex couples in some areas can register their households and President-elect Tsai Ing-wen has proved supportive of same sex couples, saying that, “In the face of love, everyone is equal.” McDonald’s, for its part, is defending the spot and seems to have no plans to pull the ad.