Alex Antic rubbishes petition to rename Golden Gaytime and is accused of deflecting bigger issues such as toxic workplaces

An SA Liberal politician has compared calls to change the name of Golden Gaytime ice cream to the tactics of a Soviet dictator. In turn he’s been accused of trying to “deflect the issues of the day”.

A South Australian politician has rubbished calls to change the name of the popular Golden Gaytime ice cream, comparing the idea to the tactics of a Soviet dictator.

The idea addresses concerns the name is offensive to Australia’s gay community, and has sparked debate on social media since it was first suggested.

Australian man, known only as Brian Mc, launched an online petition earlier in the month and has since gone to war with ice-cream giant Streets and its parent company Unilever.

Liberal Senator Alex Antic on Wednesday night published a video dismissing the idea as “the latest news out of woke land”, and featuring himself and Senator Matt Canavan eating the ice creams.

On Thursday, he explained the idea was “something more insidious”.

“This kind of cancel culture that we see is actually a tactic used by Stalin in the ‘50s and ‘60s when he would simply airbrush out his enemies from his photos,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“There’s a famous photo of Stalin walking with three comrades, and then a later photo, the same photo, walking with two comrades – one who he had had knocked off.

“That’s, of course, a bridge further than we’re talking about at the moment, but the premise is very similar. What we’re actually talking about here is another incursion into this cancel culture.”

Senator Antic compared the situation to a controversy over Coon Cheese, which resulted in the brand changing its name to Cheer Cheese and pledging to build a “culture of acceptance”.

“We’ve seen this over and over again and we’ve effectively created a social licence for people to feel offended,” he said.

“The trend here is a totalitarian trend towards ‘anything that I am offended by, I will shut down’.”

Labor Upper House state MP Ian Hunter, who is gay, said he takes no offence at the name Golden Gaytime.

But he said Senator Antic’s time could be better spent.

“This is a chap who has to deal with issues such as bullying and toxic workplaces, a prime minister caught out being tricky, lacking empathy, and he’s trying to deflect the issues of the day over to ice cream,” he said.

“I think ‘give it a break, mate, get on to the real topics’.”

The Golden Gaytime petition has gathered more than 800 signatures so far.

Mr Mc described the name of the ice cream, which was first released in 1959, as “outdated” and “offensive” and is calling for the term “gay” to be banished from its title.

“As a part of the LGBTQIA+ community I believe my sexual identity is owned by me, not a brand and that the outdated meaning no longer applies. Isn’t it time for this double entendre to end?” he said in the notes below the petition.

A petition has been launched to change the name of the Golden Gaytime. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

Mr Mc is calling for Golden Gaytime to receive the same treatment as other brands with discriminative connotations, such as Coon Cheese.

“Under the law they are seen the same, discrimination means being treated unfairly or not as well as others because of a protected characteristic like age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race or disability,” he said.

“It’s not my place to tell Streets what to call their rebranded product, but I do feel it’s time that the Golden Gaytime is called out for being outdated, especially when Streets is releasing new products and cross promotions in 2021.”

Mr Mc said he had been subject to personal attacks for speaking out about the name but stood by his view that it was outdated.

“Just to be a gay man, even in 2021 is still hard … (we) still have a long way to go to be fully accepted as equals, but if we see an area in life that’s not equal, and we are able to change it for the better, why wouldn’t you speak up,” Mr Mc said.

“This is why I'm speaking out against Golden Gaytime.

“I’m not calling for the product to be cancelled, I’m calling for the product to remove Gay from its name.”

The popular ice cream launched in 1959. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

A Streets spokesperson told NCA NewsWire that the Golden Gaytime was released in Australia during 1959 when the word “gay” had not yet been applied to gender preference.

“The origin of the ‘Gaytime’ name was and remains related to having a joyous or happy time and is meant to capture the pleasure that comes with enjoying an ice cream,” they said in a statement.

“The ‘Gaytime’ name is not and never has intended to cause offence and this petition is the first that we have been made aware of.

“As a Unilever brand, Streets has a deep and longstanding commitment to help build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society for all.”

Golden Gaytime has a different name in other countries. In New Zealand it is known as a Cookie Crumble.

“Gay and Gaytime no longer mean what it used to. Now gay is either ‘I'm gay’, and not as in happy, or ‘that’s so gay’, which is an insult. But either way this ice cream should be called happytime, “ one respondent to the petition said.

Unilever has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Alex Antic rubbishes petition to rename Golden Gaytime and is accused of deflecting bigger issues such as toxic workplaces