Offensive billboards should go -- but then you'll have a group of idiots who will defend their rights to be placed there. The network news now has more commercials for big pharma drugs than anything else. Still wondering about the two bathtubs at the end of the 'cialis' commercial -- what is that about?

Well, first of all, you can no longer call yourself a liberal feminist. "Church Lady" sounds a little more accurate. I can't help but shake the belief that if this was a man and a woman kissing you wouldn't have taken such a stance. Stop trying to mask your homophobia by mentioning you have "gay friends." This is L.A., lady, get over it and learn how to be parent and talk to your child if it's required. Seriously, you contacted the company? With all that is going on in the world and in this city, this is where you have decided to take your stand?

The 'Grinning Viagra Guy' just got his blue pills (probably in Vegas) -- I still don't get the two bathtubs though. What do they mean?

The editor's note is a lame attempt to broaden a narrowly focused complaint. There is no mention of the ads for pot shops, stripper clubs and phone sex her son is subjected to on a daily basis wherever they go in LA, Its the theme- casual homosexual sex-that makes her uncomfortable, I hope she can protect her sons innocence in a way that shields him from her own fears and insecurities and doesn't obstruct other's right to freedom of speech and expression.

I don't understand how a picture of two people almost kissing constitutes a loss of innocence for your child. Do you never kiss your own husband or partner in front of your kid? Even if your kid asks about the billboard out of curiosity, what is there to explain anyway? "When two adults like each other, sometimes they kiss." There is no reason to explain what sex is, let alone that there is an app to make it easier for people to find casual partners. If your child insists on asking what the advertisement is for, just say it's for an iPhone app, but don't say what it is. Or just say you don't know. It's not very difficult for you to explain such an advertisement and it's certainly not a loss of innocence for your son.

This is part of being a parent. Explaining things to your children that either are too difficult or too adult for them to understand. There are advertisements about divorce lawyers, abortion alternatives, and HIV testing too. Those three things are arguably much more difficult to talk about than two people *almost* kissing. But no one ever complains about those.

So, because there are two men almost kissing on the billboard, you assume that they are just hooking up as opposed to two men who met using the website, dated, and are now in a relationship? That in itself is an interesting statement about your views of gay relationships. Hopefully you won't pass that along to your children, as it is just as harmful as many of the more blatant forms of homophobia.

They're in a liplock? Time to break out the reading glasses, people. Their lips are NOT touching in this ad. Or how about the Michael Kors underwear billboard ad nearby this one that has the female with her hand down inside the front of the guy's shorts? I'm sure that's just OK, right?

Calling oneself a liberal feminist does not make one so. Get a grip.

Why can't we just get rid of ALL billboards? They certainly don't enhance anybody's quality of life. They're a huge distraction and I doubt they create any incentive to buy or use a product or service. To me they're as welcome as a phone call from a telemarketer.

Two things Miss Cole...first your liberal feminists veneer is shattering. That lip service you give to "equality" is now exposed as a sham. If this was a straight couple you would not hesitate to quip that it is a dating site at the beach (to cover the bare chest thing) and if it was two women your pseudo "liberal feminist" machismo would have kicked into hyperdrive to explain it was natural. ....but it is two men and for some reason you need to come up with a way to "explain" to "9 year old who loves Army guys" what the billboard is about... how about it's a dating site at the beach...just like for straights?
How about " you know uncle bill and uncle joe like to kiss? well its a place for good men to find each other to data"? Your "gay friends" should be crucifying you at this point.

I for one did not like having the Christian Hate mongers control my Important Talking Points Agenda with my daughter, and I certainly was uncomfortable when one of her 4 year old friends said bluntly "my mommy says your daddies are evil and an abomination. She says you are all going to burn in hell so I can't play with you." so your discomfort have to explain a dating site for gay men, who you claim to support, is not even a blip on the radar of "problems" that so called Christians cause for gay parents. either get over yourself Ms. Cole or admit you are a hypocritical bigot. A liberal only if you don't have to feel uncomfortable with equal treatment of LGBT folk.

One more thing, we also called another company for a billboard on Sunset and Cresent Hights and that billboard is now whited out, it was a Burberry advertisement, and the girl was not wearing anything, not even underwear! We even wrote the Burberry Company in the UK.

To all those complaining that the billboards shouldn't be near schools... the company LAMAR has a policy that they should not be within 500 yards of a school or preschool. They strictly enforce this policy and do regular checks to see if the billboards comply or if a school has recently popped up. This particular billboard got moved because of that, and not because of any complaints from so-called liberal moms.

There is nothing offensive about this billboard. Please get over it. There is nothing to explain to your children either. I am sure they have seen you kiss your spouse, and so a picture of two people almost kissing should cause no confusion. How is the explanation "it's an advertisement for an app to help adults meet each other and date each other" really that hard? The article makes it sound like you need to be Shakespeare to somehow come up with a creative explanation that circumvents the truth to maintain the precious innocence of a 9-year-old boy. Get a grip.

I see a billboard with 2 men who are not even touching leaning in for a kiss. They're not illegally unclothed (shirtlessness is not normally considered risquee for men).

So why is this so-called gay friendly mother having so much difficulty explaining that 2 men kiss to her son?

And I like how she invokes "casual sex" when nowhere in this billboard is that mentioned. But it's nice ivnoking of a homophobic dog whistle

And your PC cred? thank you for belittling homophobia like that. And yes homophobia - hey son, 2 men kiss because they like each other, just like men and women kiss. Is that hard to explain to your son? if so, congratulations, you're a homophobe
Or does your 9 year old live in a world where he has never seen a kiss before? really?
You are objecting to two men kissing - who aren't even kissing. You are using talking points right from thje religious right to do so

Oh and do keep waving your "gay friends" around. I'm sure none of us have heard the "I have gay friends" line before. Let alone the "I'm not homophobic but..." lead in you have here,.

Gay friendly? Not to this gay you're not. At least with the religious righties they're honest about their prejudice

Q: "What's that mom?"
A: "It's a dating website for gay men."

I totally understand that it's a tacky ad (and I agree with that). However, there are an endless amount of tacky ads everywhere...

"I know some would tell me to use the opportunity for an illuminating conversation. But I don’t need Manhunt Mobile to set my Important Talks Agenda. Our family really could have gone awhile longer without that particular conversation—and should’ve been able to do so."

Bless. Your. Little. Heart. What are you going to say when your son's friend shows him a pornographic website? You don't want Billy the Neighbor setting your Important Talks Agenda? Or when a peer shows him drugs for the first time? You don't want Jack the Sixth Grader setting your Important Talks Agenda?

Life happens, lady. You want to shield your child? Move to rural America, home school him, and don't own a TV or computer. Let me know how that works out for you.

Thanks to many of you for your thoughtful replies, both negative and positive. I thought long and hard before I wrote this piece because I knew the criticisms I would hear.

I'd like to address a few of the points made:

1. The 3 billboards in question were within a very close proximity of 3 elementary schools and 2 heavily used parks, on a stretch of street that my family can't avoid. 6 impressions a day, 30 impressions a week.

2. I don't believe anyone should be objectified or reduced to one element of their humanity in order to sell products. My piece was about one example of that, not all examples of it.

3. My son wanted explanations for the text in its relation to the image, not the image alone. "Why does that say man hunt with those two guys kissing? What does zero feet away have to do with it?" The two guys part of it was not what he was interested in.

4. My personal moral compass certainly comes into play. I don't care if my son grows into an adult who desires men or women. I do care that he becomes a teenager and an adult who acts on those desires with great respect, empathy and judiciousness toward himself and others.

5. Manhunt Mobile may have more uses than random hook-ups. But it's a stretch to say they are advertising anything but that with the ads in question.

While I believe in nurturing childhood AND adult liberties, I have a son who still believes in Santa. It's a delicate balance I feel is best tipped towards him on this one.

Hello Sparky, Is that your nom de guerre? What are you afraid of? How about using your REAL name.

"You try explaining the “Zero feet away MANHUNT MOBILE” phone application to your 9-year-old son." No... YOU explain it. It's your job. He is YOUR child. It's not the job of people around you to raise your child. You brought him into the world, so it's your responsibility to raise him. All this fuss because you don't want to have an uncomfortable conversation with your child? So what does that teach him?

1. Mom feels uncomfortable abut two men being intimate (aka homophobia--especially dangerous is your son is gay).
2. If he questions anything, Mom can't handle the "bad" feelings, so don't say anything (a sure fire way to make him feel ashamed because YOU can't handle his "bad" feelings).

Doesn't seem like very good parenting to me. How about having an honest conversation with your son? Something like: "Honey, some boys like other boys, and this is how they meet each other." Gee, no mention of tantric sexual positions. Just a simple truth that a six year-old might understand. Maybe add: "And some boys like girls, and they can meet each other in similar ways."

This always makes me wonder why people have kids. Did situations like this not cross your mind? Did you make plans for it? Maybe read a book, ask a mental health professional their opinion? My guess is no. Instead, just get rid of the gays and their icky lifestyle.

“No matter what one's politics, religious beliefs, or moral compass says about this, does it not seem obvious that this ad is inappropriately placed when it becomes forced viewing for hundreds of children daily?” Oh, really? Forced? It's just like the gays to force themselves on poor, unsuspecting straights! If you're really the "liberal, sex positive feminist" you say you are, then you would realize that you are simply perpetuating another evil fallacy about gay men. That we "force" our sexuality on the unwilling. That we "recruit" others into our shameful and dark exploits. Give me a break!

It's kind of like the house-collapsing cialis commercials that are on every channel several times an hour..

In all fairness, Ms. Cole did not write anything particularly homophobic. Her issue is that the ad is overtly sexual and about an overtly sexual product. She is having difficulty explaining the ad and the product to her son. I think it is wrong to continue to label her a homophobe or putting words in her mouth. She is not saying gays force themselves upon anyone, she is not saying that gays are wrong, she is not even saying that she is having difficulty explaining to her son what it means to be gay. She is simply stating that explaining the product itself is difficult and having the billboards supposedly too close to school intensifies that difficulty since her son sees the ad every day and may be prompted to continually ask questions about it.

Please before you label someone homophobic, check your own biases and read the person's words. Don't insert your own. I happen to be a gay man, but I did not find the article homophobic. Yes, there are some parents who probably object to it on the basis that it's two men, and on that basis alone. But I am not hearing about those parents. I'm hearing about Ms. Cole's experience. I also thought to myself "well, this would never happen if it were a man and a woman". But then I thought that it actually does. Also, there is no app similar to this for straight couples and so an ad for a product aimed at straight people has never come up. I checked my biases. Can you do the same please?

I'm not sure she's a homophobe, but Ms. Cole is definitely a sex-phobic nut who lacks any ability to be remotely self critical. I wish she and the other members of the uptight citizens brigade would ask themselves the same questions about lots of ads for things that I find much more offensive than this - firearms, religion and politics come to mind.

Listen up mommie bloggers: if you can't tell junior that there are adults out there who want to enjoy each others' company, that's your problem. Don't force your problem on the rest of us.

I just read this and thought I was going to barf:

"While I believe in nurturing childhood AND adult liberties, I have a son who still believes in Santa. It's a delicate balance I feel is best tipped towards him on this one."

Hey Kelly, you actually expect the rest of the world to bend in support your propensity to feed your demon spawn freakish fairy tales about bearded daddies who bring presents to children? Really?

You should quite while you're ahead. You're definitely up for face palm d'or prize on this post. And you've made a lot of otherwise perfectly nice Californians hate you.

Kelly, please stop using your kid as a shield for your homophobic campaign to suppress free speech. These ads, as crude as they may be, are protected by the First Amendment. Where in the Constitution does it say that a kid as a right to believe in Santa Claus indefinitely? My parents (actual liberals, unlike you) raised me in SF's Castro, where this sort of advertisement can be found on nearly every storefront. I turned out just fine. If your son still believes in Santa, you've failed to do your job as a parent. Growing up is full of uncomfortable and awkward truths, but because you're too cowardly to honestly confront these truths with your son, you want to suppress everyone else's right to free speech. The youngest generation will face a set of economic, environmental, and population challenges greater than any other generation has ever faced before. Sheltering them excessively from the real world will only damage their ability to confront these problems when they grow up. Don't kid yourself - you're really much closer to a Christian fundamentalist than you are to a real feminist. You should just "come out" as a homophobe already.

I never thought this would be me: A conservative homemaker complaining about a narcissistic liberal trampling on free speech and exhibiting homophobia. Like that would ever happen.

Well, it has and here it is. Because I’m also a single mom complaining about her child’s premature loss of innocence, caused by having to explain to my 8 year old daughter why some people's narcissim and homophobia is more important than free speech. Thanks a lot!

Still seem to be a lot of people labeling her a homophobe and not reading the actual article. I think the so-called liberals and non-biased people responding with such vitriol just see that some mom is upset over an ad with two guys almost kissing and automatically think she hates gays. Really? Come on.

Oh. My. God. Your life as a liberal feminst is SOO HARD. It must be difficult thinking about how difficult things are for you. And your little boy, oh the horror! Having to have two sweaty ga- I mean - "army" men in front of him! You might as well put him in a Ron Jeremy movie! I don't know HOW you've managed to be such an amazing mom until this point - I mean, your child still believes in Santa! Here's my solution:

1) Move to the country
2) Eliminate all forms of communication, both in and out.
3) Don't allow dictionaries in the house. They have potty language.
4) Keep telling your son that you're a liberal, he'll believe you.
5) Buy a camera, film yourself as a newscaster, and make up happy news.
6) Eat at Chik-fil-A a lot.

Conservative moms (with dysfunctional views on sex) shouldn't be allowed on the internet, let alone blog about their day to day ignorance. If you want an audience for your morals and witch burning, set a play date with the rest of your kind.

"A liberal feminist complaining about a sex-positive, homosexual billboard."

Clearly you aren't what you claim. If it was a hetero couple on the billboard for the same type of app, you wouldn't be writing about it.

Text book closet homophobia.

It's interesting that in all the back and forth regarding the appropriateness of this image, we're forgetting that it's a commercial advertisement meant to profit Manhunt Mobile; it's not a piece of art or form of social/political expression.

Yes, businesses have a right to sell their service or product, but there needs to be standards to ensure that the message is responsible (i.e. not inauspiciously placed near schools to promote sex, alcohol, tobacco, etc.).

It seems to me that the gay community should be no more defensive of the right for this particular advertisement to be near a school yard than I should be of an ad for Mondavi Vineyards merely because I drink wine. It's not about attacking the subscribers of the content; it's about controlling the *mature* (not gay) messages that permeate the space around children.

Yes, sex-- er, 'almost kissing' as we're calling it-- is a normal part of life, but it should be at the parent's discretion how and when to broach that subject with their child - not Manhunt Mobile's discretion, and for God's sake, not the hyper-defensive "true liberals" who confuse commerce for a sacrosanct piece of social expression.

LH, "but there needs to be standards to ensure that the message is responsible (i.e. not inauspiciously placed near schools to promote sex, alcohol, tobacco, etc.). "

Why do those standards always seem to only come up to suit anti-gay or conservative agendas?

And why is it we are so hyper sensitive to it here. Take a look at ads in Europe compared to here, and there is no comparison to the openness. And it has been that way for years and years.

They aren't having any issues with their children there.

Hey Kelly!!
Simple solution.... move to Texas or Utah that way you won't have to explain anything to your kid - and he'll be free to beat and bully gay kids in school!.... Have the cake and eat it too.

PS: Are you really as moronic as you sound?

I understand that gay individuals have been the victims of discrimination and social persecution and that is not right, but I really don't think the controversy over this billboard is an example of that kind of injustice. If this post were about the million pot shops on Ventura blvd., I would be just as vocal. And we all know local residents are very vocal about that issue, and according to an earlier respondent, also combatting 'straight' sexually-charged ads.

Yeah, I suppose some conservative agendas are against drugs, sex, AND gays, but I can assure you, I'm just against poor taste, and call me crazy, but I think ads *selling* sex in close proximity to schools is inappropriate.

Of course kids are going to learn about sex from various peers/influences, but does that mean we should give businesses the green light to push their ads under the nose of kids just because Europe does it? Yes, Europe is way more unabashed about sex, and their adverts are on a completely different level of candor, but this isn't Europe, it's America.

And, btw, Europe too has debates over the appropriateness of sexually explicit ads:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/2686538/EU-wants-to-ban-sexist-TV-commercials.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/french-in-uproar-over-oral-sex-antismoking-posters-1908559.html

This woman is homophobic.

http://gawker.com/5863564/mommy-bloggers-need-to-shut-up-about-this-dirty-gay-billboard

Sorry that raising your children is proving difficult for you, but culture doesn't need to stop for you. Pathetic.

When I was really little I heard the song "Let's Get Physical" by Olivia Newton John on the radio and asked my mother what it meant. She said "two people who like each other sometimes like to hold hands and things like that." I remember being a little confused and certainly not traumatized. But it successfully reduced a suggestive song to something innocent. If you don't have skills to relate an adult world to a child you should ask other parents how they handle living in a city like Los Angeles. If the fact that they are two men is part of what is troubling you, maybe you should think about your comfort level in a world where diversity is slowly being accepted (though we have a long way to go because of people like you.)

"Because I’m also a single mom complaining about her child’s premature loss of innocence..."

Yet, because you choose to voice your lifestyle choices, I'm forced to explain to my child that some parents have children out of wedlock and that some parents can't stay married to each other. Now, there's a loss of innocence for you.

i say move on, get a life and worry about real problems than two guys on a billboard- I've had to have your hetero agenda crammed down my throat for years and yet, somehow i grew up an active productive member of society
and i'm sure will as well

I'd like to donate a Manhunt account to Kelly because I'd like to stay as many feet away from this "concerned parent" as possible.

Ew, ickky!!! I have to explain BUTTSEX to my child!!! Give me a break. All you need to do is tell the kid that some boys like to date other boys, and the ad is for a place where they can meet each other. As for the dog tags, I think it's safe to explain that even though he's wearing dog tags he's not a real soldier, it's just pretend. You aren't nearly as open-minded as you think you are, lady.

I'm a heterosexual woman who finds the author's comments to be both homophobic and heteronormative. The fact of the matter is she wasn't inspired to complain about any sexually graphic billboards that portrayed heterosexual couplings, she was inspired to complain about this billboard.

I dismissed her pious and sanctimonious rant when I read she was a single mother. Read the well-documented stats about kids raised by single mothers. Her status as a single mother poses a much greater potential danger (and one that's real) to her child than does the billboard or gay people in general.

The author is making NO comments about how it is the *gay* men that are hurting her son. She is commenting that she finds it difficult to explain what a web site for anonymous sex is. She has to explain what "ManHunt" and "Zero Feet Away" mean. If she were to tell the absolute, unadulterated truth, it would certainly confuse her son. The fact that the product is for *gay* men is absolutely irrelevant.

Just there are so-called self-proclaimed liberals responding to this article that just read it as "OMG MOMMY DOESNT LIKE GAYS". But you're not actually reading the article. Very likely those saying such comments just see someone saying something negative about something related to gays and think they must vehemently defend gay rights. This has nothing to do with gay rights. Why isn't anyone saying she's racist because it shows two white men almost kissing?

The most you can say is that she has poor skills when it comes to explaining adult issues of a sexual nature to her son, specifically how to explain that some adults use web sites to find anonymous sex partners within their neighborhood. I happen to think that she is wrong in her concerns since I find it very easy to explain this advertisement to any child.

Seriously, how can you say she is homophobic or attacking gays? What specific line shows that she is homophobic? (And if you actually quote something directly from the article, make sure you interpret in context; anyone can quote mine.)

I can't stop posing about this because it infuriates me that so many people have such poor reading skills.

Many responders also take her offense at an ad with a gay couple as evidence of her lack of offense at similar ads with straight couples. But there is no evidence of that in this article *and* there is no evidence that ads for similar products aimed at straight people are advertised in roughly the same vicinity. Whether such products for straight people exist is irrelevant. In her vicinity there is an ad for a product that is used primarily for finding anonymous sex partners in the neighborhood. It just so happens to be one marketed towards gay men.

The author finds it difficult to explain to her son what such an app is used for, whether it is for gay or straight men. The most she says beyond that is that having such billboards near schools and playgrounds is irresponsible since it can be detrimental to children. And she is right. Without a parent or trusted adult to put such advertisements into context, a child will be left confused. This reasoning is part of why tobacco and alcohol advertisements are banned in such areas.

I want someone to respond that the author is racist too. She's clearly offended at the billboard because it shows two white men almost kissing. She thinks showing white people having relationships is detrimental to her children and that these images just promote the White agenda. She doesn't want white people telling her son how to live.

Joe, just because you've never witnessed a billboard by AshleyMadison or the like doesn't mean they don't exisit.

How about a billboard of a hetero couple, naked, kissing on Santa Monica Boulevard? Ya think that would get some complaints from the Gay community?

If I had kids, I wouldn't mind talking to them about how one of their classmates can have two daddies that love each other. But this billboard would force the sexuality aspect on them, and that's something I'd like to bring up when I feel they're old enough, not have it forced upon me. I'd have the same issue if one of those guys on the billboard was replaced with a sensual, half-naked female.

Not near schools... I mean, come on. Really?

Why do you people live in an area that allows billboard advertising in the first place? In civilized areas we don't allow billboard advertising.

Honestly, I'd be more worried what kids do in private on their cell phones and computers. All kids seem to have these gadgets, no matter how young they are. A public billboard is not going to sully your child. (Take a look at all the pedophile crimes in the news lately. ALL involve PRIVACY and CELLPHONES.)

She is correct - this is not a gay dating site. It does not show two men having lunch. It shows two men about to have sex - please, people have to be idiots not to realize the site for what it is. The site has a right to exist, just as two men have a right to go find what ever they are looking for. But the billboards are offensive - I don't want to see either hetero or homo sexual couples about to have sex while driving my kids around. This is precisely why LA has become a pit. If we don't have some standard for our neighborhoods - and this includes everyone - then all of LA is going to become one large suburban ghetto.

I totally love the billboard,however, it shouldn't be near the school. Maybe it should be put at least three miles out of the school zone.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

My personal take, (not a qualified expert in other words.) Almost no one mentioned what I believe to be at the heart of the problem. Ms Cole has a problem with fear. Her reaction to the billboard has little to do with homophobia or gayness or even "poor parenting skills." Those things, if they are real, are responses to her fear. They are not the issue. Without the fear I am reading in her post, she would have no difficulty in giving the appropriate, and honest, answer to her child of any age. What that specific fear is that is driving her actions, is for her (or with a therapist) to determine and work through.
We all have fears, and they drive our actions. Like anger against gays, other religions, the use of recreational drugs, or the whole assault on sex from the evangelical christian right. Mostly, as Ms Cole does above, we hide from that fear by blaming others (the billboard company here) rather than admitting to our fear, what ever that fear is, and taking responsibility for our shortcomings.
In short, this is a case of saving face by justification. I.e. if I can show that they are wrong then I am OK. It is their fault, not mine.

Oh, no. What if your son sees the (now viral) picture of that gay Marine kissing his boyfriend after returning from defending your freedom and your son's freedom?

Uh-oh. Gap has posted a billboard that shows two men inside one t-shirt. Somebody save the children.