Watching the national TV news may be quite an educating experience. One evening I turned the TV on and had my dinner with the news as a background noise. At some point there was a report on a diversity campaign that gained too much attention and opposition from the officials. To put it in a nutshell, two buses painted in rainbow (i.e. gay) colours were supposed to ride the streets of Vilnius and Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania. But the "gay buses" never left the garages: in Kaunas the bus "broke down" while the Vilnius bus company simply opposed the idea. The TV reporter asked Vilnius Mayor to comment on the "bus scandal". His reply was something like "People shouldn't expose their hobbies but should rather keep them to themselves." This made my eyebrows rise.
At first I wasn't sure if I heard what I heard (rushed to blame my attention deficit:). But when the Mayor tried to expand and referred to the same "hobby" again, it became crystal clear that to him being gay is a hobby.
Well, he may not have come up with a better euphemism if he needed one but clearly he needs PR advice and media training.:) Not to mention a general education "refresher" course. I was wondering - what the former, PR-minded, Mayor of Vilnius would have said in this situation?
Now beware if someone asks you or tells you about hobbies and make sure you understand well what they mean... Do you have a hobby? :)
People with hobbies. Elektrenai, May 2007. Photo by Asta G.
3 comments:
The former Mayor was more careful showing off his precious sense of common sense. Nevertheless, when it came to rumours about a Lithuanian gay pride (which would of course look just like the ones in San Francisco!) to be organised, he said something like 'over my dead body'. Just to let you know;)
The present Mayor is obviously a dreamer. Why people disturb his beautiful mind with talks about their hobbies anyway?? Go to your knitting circle and knit yourself whatever you want for Gods sake! The Mayor has more important things to do. Pssst... He dreams about a metro in the very heart of the Old Town...
To be earnest, the subject is so nasty to them that I don't think any PR-minding is minded - populism rules. And it is Lithuania after all.
Cheers to everyone who is at least PR-minded :)
Excellent observation! It could make 'The Quote of the Day' of any self-respected newspaper. Both in Lithuania and abroad.
I dont't think your mayor needs PR advise, I think you need a new mayor ;-) But a nice story, and a nice subtitle for the pic, too. It let me finish my daily work with a smile. Greetings from Essen
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