Big Gay Ice Cream Truck

Ben & Jerry’s is getting attention with Hubby Hubby, but the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is all-gay all-the-time.

Yeah, ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s is scoring a marketing and PR coup by cleverly (albeit temporarily) renaming its popular ice cream flavor Chubby Hubby to Hubby Hubby in support of gay marriage .  (See BEN & JERRY Go PromoSexual w/ Hubby Hubby)

But Ben & Jerry’s, with its temporary promotion, is just a switch hitter compared to the committed Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, an independent that services the patrons of New York.  The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is all-gay, all-the-time.

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is the love child of Juilliard-trained bassoonist Doug Quint, who started it as a summer gig and has turned it into a New York phenomenon.  But BGICT is more than a pretty rainbow-sprinkled face.  It features some pretty intriguing and creative toppings, including Ginger Cookies, Espresso Malt Balls, Brandied Peach Puree, Nilla Wafers, Dulce de Leche, Cayenne, Sea Salt & Nutella.

Big Gay notifies fans of his changing location by Twittering once he’s parked.  Check it out at @biggayicecream.

Doug Quint and the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck may be tweaking attitudes as well as taste buds.

A blog post (The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck Takes Manhattan) at Heeb magazine quoted Doug saying that BGICT has had an unanticipated positive impact on young customers:

“Usually the kid is between seven and 12, I’d say. You can tell that they only think of the word ‘gay’ as an insult. The parents brush it off. I can see that some of them do so naturally, and others take a brief moment while they decide how to react. They shrug, or tell their child, ‘Yep, it’s the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck.’ Sometimes they even come over for a cone.

I wonder if my silly banner, and the child/parent reactions to it, might be a good thing. Maybe one or two of the kids that pass by my truck will now think twice before using ‘gay’ as an insult. If that keeps one kid from hearing it the way I (and lots of you) did—as a personal attack— I’m proud.”

The Big Gay Ice Cream Truck just launched this summer.  What do you think?  Is it a future franchise?

Also read: BEN & JERRY Go PromoSexual w/ Hubby Hubby

Mister Softee Accused of Threats & Thuggery

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Image:  June 28, 2009 by finalgirl License: Creative Commons

Post from: Franchise Pick