If you've spent time in New York City, you know the demanding ring of a Mr. Softie ice cream truck, but now there's a new truck parking its ice-box-white wheels wherever it can — the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck. Doug Quint, the owner, knew that a middle-aged gay man driving an ice-cream truck would draw good and bad attention. So he went all out, painting rainbows on his big, gay ice-cream truck. And if that isn't enough reason to love him, this quote is:

Usually the kid is between seven and 12, I’d say. You can tell that they only think of the word "gay" as an insult. The parents brush it off. I can see that some of them do so naturally, and others take a brief moment while they decide how to react. They shrug, or tell their child, "Yep, it’s the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck." Sometimes they even come over for a cone.

I wonder if my silly banner, and the child/parent reactions to it, might be a good thing. Maybe one or two of the kids that pass by my truck will now think twice before using "gay" as an insult. If that keeps one kid from hearing it the way I (and lots of you) did — as a personal attack — I’m proud.

If you're in New York, follow him on Twitter to find out where his truck will be parked next. He's best known for his Choinkwiches — caramelized bacon-chocolate ice cream sandwiches. Yum!

Photo by Flickr user Bryan Petroff