"We are open to all families" IKEA ad stirs controversy in Italy

Britain's Daily Mail reports that:

"Il Giornale, the newspaper owned by ruling prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has promoted himself as a defender of family values despite his involvement in a series of sex scandals has condemned the advert.

It labelled it as ''provocative'' and added:'’What's behind all this? It's not awareness of gay rights for gay couples. It's just a brazen marketing strategy.’

The paper went on to say that it was ''not an isolated incident'' but a clear attempt at ''Swedish Imperialism'' that tried

The paper went on to say that it was ''not an isolated incident'' but a clear attempt at ''Swedish Imperialism'' that tried to make everyone equal by having the same ''cheap furniture.''

Il Giornale, the newspaper owned by PM Silvio Berlusconi, has condemned the advert

The paper went on to say that it was ''not an isolated incident'' but a clear attempt at ''Swedish Imperialism'' that tried to make everyone equal by having the same ''cheap furniture.'' 

I am not sure what Swedish Imperialism is, though perhaps it's similar what used to be called Coca Colinization, the way American products washed over the cultures of nations after WWII.

However, what if this ad isn't trying "to make everyone equal by having the same ''cheap furniture.'' What if it is trying to convince heterosexual Italians that IKEA furniture is fashionable enough for gay couples to want to shop there, under the guise of saying they believe in equality?

Is this overthinking it? I don't know. But what I do know is that as a gay man, I sure don't want to have IKEA furniture in my home. I do I'm sorry to say, but it's for functional pieces only like book cases. Their chairs and couches are uniformly uncomfortable. In my opinion at least.

But 3 cheers to them anyway for the ad — not the first time IKEA has used gay (male) couples. Now if they could only do something about the garish logo.