Virgin Atlantic Goes Diversity Mad.

[anotheoldgit]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6878005/Virgin-Atlantic-replace-flying-lady-emblem-diverse-men-women-
representing-modern-Britain.html

[andy-hughes]

I assume you are looking for a comment?

Personally, I don't have one to offer.

[retrocop]

I would like to know how, in their wisdom,will they portray a picture of a gay man. What does a gay man look like? Ridiculous but then who runs the show?

[ladybirder]

I think all the men look gay, not just one.

[ludwig]

// What does a gay man look like? //

He wears hotpants with a rainbow on - according to Virgin,

[sanmac]

How fantastically flamboyant of Virgin. They should name the airplane with the soaringingly happy chappie pasted on it The Enola Gay.

[andy-hughes]

Actually, on reflection, I do have a comment after all -

Since, as advised, the original logo might have been seen as tongue-in-cheek, or an homage to previous images, but it was close to the line when it first came out, and has only looked more incongruous and inappropriate as time has passed.

To continue that design, and 'expand' it, seems rather to miss the point of diversity altogether.

Personally, I thought the black man icon was the gay representation, until I saw the image with the flowing locks and rainbow design.

If I were a gay person, or a person of colour, I would take exception to this level of trite standardisation and caricature that is the very essence of what diversity is actually fighting against.

And, as advised, if I was disabled, I would be miffed at not being represented at all!

[naomi24]

retrocop, the gay man has a rainbow leotard. Quite sad, I think, when iconic symbols are abandoned.

[ToraToraTora]

Perlease!

[andy-hughes]

I am also intrgiued as to why the black lady looks like a cross between Diana Ross and Beyonce!

If the designers had realised that stereotyping inb this manner is not only crass and offensive, it is utterly at odds with the concept of the diversity it claims to embrace, they may have decided that a completely new design, in keeping with the age we live in, was the way forward.

[ludwig]

Which one's supposed to be the lesbian? Shouldn't she be wearing dungarees?

[retrocop]

//I am also intrgiued as to why the black lady looks like a cross between Diana Ross and Beyonce! //
Wouldn't recognise either of them in Sainsbury in any case.
As a matter for future reference what is the correct address nowadays.
Is it person of colour or black lady.? I thought we were treading on eggshells if we dared use one or the other. I forget.

[ludwig]

It's not that diverse, inclusive or representative of modern Britain anyway. I don't see any fat or bald people represented for example.

[naomi24]

//If the designers had realised that stereotyping inb this manner is not only crass and offensive//

I'm not offended. I think the whole idea is naff though.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - // I'm not offended. I think the whole idea is naff though. //

I'm not offended either, but not being black or gay, I am not someone being stereotyped in an offensive manner!

[sanmac]

Perhaps Virgin Airlines should change its name to Peter Pan Airlines.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, //I'm not offended either, but not being black or gay, I am not someone being stereotyped in an offensive manner! //

But you're assuming they will be offended. They might be delighted for all you know.

[Calicogirl]

Can we please stop over analysing everything?
Firstly it's just a logo, it didn't really need a redesign for people feel they were included, anyone with a brain knows they already are. It's just free advertising because it's made the press. Secondly how do designers portray black people except by drawing a black person? Gay people cannot 'look gay' so you have to add a well known emblem of 'gayness' in this instance a rainbow- we don't need to beat them up because they have drawn stereotypes, what else could they have done within that sort of remit?

The whole thing is, as Naomi right says, naff.

[anotheoldgit]

Where is the Chinese person also a Jewish person, not to mention a Muslim?

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - // But you're assuming they will be offended. They might be delighted for all you know. //

I am assuming - but i am also puting forward my own view, which is that the orignal design was on the edge of being tacky and unsuitable at the time it was introduced, and that opinion has only strengthened as time has passed.

Black and gay people may be delighted, but I wouldn't bet on it!

[sanmac]

That's a fair enough analysis of the situation.