Adorable! An obviously happy family, and it's that what most strive for? Anyone bothered by the makeup of that family is missing out on the real secret of life. Love. That's all there is.

I felt uncomfortable. It's the kids in the commercial that pulls at me. Their home is serene, their parents are good, but outside the safety of home they face ridicule and rejection by their peers.

As an ad, I thought it was brilliant, as it will imprint the name of that mayonnaise into the minds of millions and that's what advertising is all about - brand recognition. But that's not your point. I had not the least discomfort with the couple's relationship or with their role as parents. My only discomfort is with the terminology. None of the gay couples I have known have gone the 'Mom and Dad' route. For one thing to them - as to me - a new concept of family needs a new terminology that's free of all those centuries of accumulated meaning. Secondly, it is heaps easier for a child to say that he or she calls parents/caregivers by their given names (there's a certain cachet about that in kiddie circles) than to have to explain that 'Mom' is a man.

I was thrown by how badly the "Mum" treated his son, compared to how he treated the girl. It didn't feel gay, it felt like The Odd Couple.

I liked the ad. Just loved the 'aren't you forgetting something' part. I wonder if they'd show it in France?

I loved this ad. It has made the email circle among the 'community' in my small town as I'm sure it has all over the place. I'm biased, of course, since I am half of a gay couple, too.

What's amazing to me is that a few small voices (read small minds) of complaint can scare off a huge corporation. Why doesn't it work that way when we complain to them about environmental issues or out-of-control profits?

I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other about one man being called 'Mom'. I think that could be left to the children to decide as they reach various ages.

I think that ads like this one, and one I saw for an online dating service that featured two men, can help to open minds. I'd like to see more.
I'd also like for those who rush to complain about a 30 second mayo commercial consider the question:
Do I add to the love in the world, or do I add to the fear?

Thanks, Jan. Great post.

I know several gay couples who have raised/are raising families, and have seen no instance of the kids running into ridicule in the community. these have grown up to be perfectly normal kids, rebellious teens and college graduates. However, names have always been used. "Dad," and "partner's name," "Mom" and "partner's name."

I just loved it!! It was so sweet.

Children of gay people do not come in for the ridicule that people think they will. I wasn't given a hard time. Of course there will be some knuckleheads but those are the same idiots that will give ANY kid who isn't exactly like them a hard time.

Children of gay parents become normal adults who may or may not have a good life just like the children of people who are not gay.

Mythster, it sounds like you are open to gays having rights and that's good. The word mom is from mother which generally does mean a female but does not have to be that. Mothering someone is nurturing and caring. In the ranch it can be a steer that takes over mothering a calf that lost its mother or a horse doing it or any animal so drawn.

From what I know of it, I think only a transsexual would want to be referred to as 'she' but for the mother, it would be whoever is filling that role. Some gay families have two moms or two dads and the kids are okay with that too. I think when children are loved and nurtured, they aren't the ones particular with what words are used.

The survey used 10 or 15 year age cohorts and then lumped everyone over 65 in the same group. I would be interested in knowing if there is a difference between people in their 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. My views are a lot different than my 92 year old Mother but they lump us in the same group. It was people my age who were in the forefront of coming out and working actively to decrease the stigma of being gay or lesbian.

I think after we heard a child call one of their male parent's Mum a few times we would get used to it. Just as I got used to my lesbian friends referring to their partner as their wife or husband however they chose to describe the relationship.

shakespeare said it: "what's in a name?"

my friend annie's mother used to refer to herself as "the old she"--i.e., her kids used to say things like, "where is she?" "she said we could go." "she's mad at you."

i had a coworker years back who referred to her girlfriend as "my wife." i cringed when we were riding the train one night after work, and she mentioned her "wife" to a fellow passenger who was yet another coworker, an older churchgoing lady born in another country. i thought, here we go! but the churchgoing lady didn't miss a beat. she said, "oh, you're the other wife! i met your wife today at a meeting. now i know both wives." the churchgoing lady was not only pious, she was classy and kind. i was impressed.

i have one more comment on the Mom issue. Perhaps the children wanted to call one of the partner's Mom because the other children all had Moms.

What a shame they pulled it. It's darling. I have one set of son in laws raising a grandaughter. They too are darling. Yes, slowly but certainly they are aging out. Thank heavens.

I thought it was a cute ad and probably wouldn't have thought too much about it had it been shown on TV in the U.S.A. I did find the language terms using words so long associated with specific genders awkward i.e. Mom. Perhaps it hinges on an individual's self-perception. But, guess they're entitled to use whatever words they like. Heaven only knows we heteros use a huge variety of terms for our partners.

In real life, I've never heard the ordinary family gay men or lesbians I know use "husband/wife, dad/mom" to differentiate themselves to their children.

I think same sex affectionate kisses are difficult for most heteros to become comfortable seeing for the first time, much less the truly romantic sexual ones. Many years ago when I first saw gays exchange kisses I did feel uncomfortable, but that was coupled with the newness of the concept associated with people I knew quite differently.

Perhaps desenitization applies as it has with cultures, races. Some people are uncomfortable with public displays of affection between heteros too. Who knows what all the dynamics going on are.