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Society

'Topless gender experts ride free': go-kart track

Published: 17 Jul 12 15:41 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/42072/20120717/

Following the recent backlash from a Swedish gender official about a “sexy” sausage ad, a go-kart company in southern Sweden has offered female gender experts a free pass on the condition that they ride topless.

“There’s been such a big discussion about this sausage advert that we wanted to mock the whole thing,” said Tomelilla Hyrkart employee Karl Västman to The Local.

The “offensive” advert, which included a close-up picture of a hotdog, two hands, and two red lips wrapped around the tip of the sausage, was taken down on Wednesday after a member of the local council in Simrishamn responded to a complaint by the municipality's gender expert.

Now the go-kart company, which is located in the neighbouring town Tomelilla, southern Sweden, has responded with their own ad.

“We're standing up for common sense. But it's mostly just for fun,” Västman said, adding that their offer is a “statement” – but also that they’re not taking it too seriously.

But the invite certainly appears to be official. On the company’s website, there is a section headlined “Gender official?” with a link that takes the reader to a page with more information.

“The only people who can ride free on our course are female gender officials who are topless. Because they, in some cases, have difficulty identifying their own gender, it will be our judgment that applies.”

So far, the response has been positive, according to Västman.

"People tell us they're behind us, but we realize that everyone has different opinions and we aren’t intending to offend anyone,” he said.

While Vastman claims that no gender officials have yet taken off their shirts for the free rides, which are on offer through July, he explains that the company is still hopeful.

"No one has taken up the offer just yet, but we’re hoping someone will soon," he told The Local.

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17:15 July 17, 2012 by fikatid
Awesome!! Love it.

But the gender experts may find some other things to complain. After all, that's what their job is all about.
18:22 July 17, 2012 by Vill
I have a preconceived notion of what a "female gender expert" looks like and I gotta say.....I don't want to see her topless.....
19:02 July 17, 2012 by Meee
Kärl Vastman.. Not Karl Västman? Considering no Kärl Vastman exists in Sweden :p
19:57 July 17, 2012 by johan rebel
Since these gender "experts" undoubtedly run on diesel, the company can save on fuel costs too.
21:10 July 17, 2012 by McChatter
It's all happening down here on Österlen! Why doesn't Tomelilla Gokart also invite Gudrun Schyman? After all, she's been mouthing off an awful lot about sausages recently.

A tip for those in the area: Österlen Table Tennis club is selling sausages next Thursday and Friday in Simrishamn. Of course, only politically correct and sex-neutral sausages!
21:43 July 17, 2012 by Vermaldeehide
What the hell is a gender expert, obvious logic aside, is this a position of some sort in the local government or is this just some busy body from the neighborhood like my brother who claims he is a video game expert?
22:17 July 17, 2012 by Just_Kidding
Gender expert is a position invented by the local government to offer a job to someone with a silver spoon.
04:32 July 18, 2012 by Marc the Texan
Ah yes, I can see it now. Gender Expert Certifications only available in Bangkok. Post-graduate case study training includes of being plied with alcohol and set loose on the streets.
06:09 July 18, 2012 by calebian22
McChatter,

Good grief, no! A topless Gudrun would be far worse than her, Feminists have better sex slogan. The thought of her bustin an 'O", would pale in comparison to seeing her flashing her Nortons. Well, maybe not, but oth are most certainly nothing anyone wants to see.
08:15 July 18, 2012 by HYBRED
The "...female gender experts" should ride bottomless so they're gender can be more able to be confirmed.
11:47 July 18, 2012 by rise
"[...Because they, in some cases, have difficulty identifying their own gender, it will be our judgment that applies."

ahahahahahaha! :-D So true! ^^
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