Adding whimsy to gay activism the Big
Gay Ice Cream Truck is taking its big gay message to the streets of
Manhattan.
“Let's face it, ice cream trucks are
kind of queer, and a middle-aged white man driving one is pretty
suspect,” owner Doug Quint told New York-based food website Serious
Eats. “That's not to say that I'm a rolling hotbed of perversion.
Hardly the case. It's all in the name of silly.”
Quint, a bassoonist by trade who just
finished coursework for his musical arts doctorate at CUNY, is a
strong advocate for gay marriage. Will an ice cream treat help make
a gay visibility message go down a bit smoother in a state where gay
marriage finds itself at an impasse in the Senate?
Aside from the campy gay theme, the
truck's selection of toppings also aim to get people talking, olive
oil, sea salt, Nutella and bacon included. And Quint aims to reach
out to customers via the Internet. A Facebook profile has attracted
hundreds of followers and Twitter updates (@biggayicecream) will help
followers locate the over-the-rainbow truck for a quick queer treat.
Expect to find the The Big Ice Cream
Truck in the West Village throughout the day and prowling the East
Village/Chelsea bar scene at night.