New Zealand’s Advertizing Standards Authority has thrown out a complaint that suggested that a billboard on a church that suggested that the baby Jesus was gay was tantamount to hate speech.

The billboard was erected by Auckland Anglican church St Matthew-in-the-City and depicted the baby Jesus in a manger with a rainbow halo alongside the slogan ‘It’s Christmas – Time for Jesus to come our.’

Complainant, M. Voorend had written to the Authority’s complaints board to ‘object to the billboards suggestion that Jesus was gay.’

‘Under sections Untruthful Presentation; Decency; and Offensive [of the advertising standard’s code] I list my objections. I find this representation of Jesus akin to hate speech.’

The complaints board found that while the ad may have caused offense to some, it was not serious enough to have breached advertising standards.

‘Speculation about Jesus’ sexual orientation did not reach the threshold to be considered offensive in light of generally prevailing community standards,’ the board found.

Another complaint, about a billboard showing the Pope marrying a gay couple, was also thrown out.

The complainant had argued that the ad was misleading about where the church stood on the issue and was humiliating to the Pope who’s privacy had been violated by the billboard by using his image without his consent.

The board had previously thrown out another complaint against the church about a billboard that depicted Mary and Jesus with a pregnancy test and the slogan: ‘Poor Joseph – God was a hard act to follow.’

St Matthew-in the-City is known for its use of controversial billboards.

In December, a Colombian gay couple who posted a photo of a nativity scene with two Josephs but no Mary received death threats after the country’s Catholic Church declared it sacrilegious.



