Undertakers offer coffins for gay market

[Nagishkaw 510]

BERLIN (Reuters) – Two undertakers in the northwestern German city of Cologne are trying to tap into the gay market by selling coffins adorned with images of male nudes.

The prize piece in their display window is a coffin decorated with images of mostly naked, muscular young men in athletic poses inspired by Italian Renaissance paintings.

"We believe you should be able to have a coffin that lets you embark on your last journey in a way that reflects how you lived your life," undertaker Thomas Brandl told Reuters on Thursday.

The unconventional coffin, which costs 1,650 euros ($2,300), has aroused fascination among customers, said Brandl: "People are really interested because it's so unique. Reactions have been very positive so far."

Brandl, 32, and his 34-year-old business partner Michael Koenigsfeld, said they had branched out into the gay market in order to satisfy the increasing number of special requests they received.

"Even though the Lord Mayor of Berlin, the vice-chancellor and many others openly admit to being homosexual nowadays, marginal groups still face prejudices and bureaucratic hurdles," the pair said in a statement.

They said they provided an individual and different service which offered "a warm and fantastical departure for same-sex couples."

The gay couple also sell coffins and urns in rainbow colors -- the international symbol of the gay and lesbian movement -- and offer burials around a tree reserved exclusively for homosexuals.

Given estimates which suggest that around one in ten of Cologne's population is homosexual, Brandl and Koenigsfeld are well placed to serve the gay community.

The pair also cater for the heterosexual market in an unconventional way, giving customers the opportunity to get involved in designing coffins for their loved ones.

"You can choose different colors and designs," Brandl said. "You could go for Cologne's skyline or lots of women on your coffin. A grandmother might like images of her grandchildren on hers -- there are loads of possibilities."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101119/od_nm/us_coffins_gay;_ylt=A0wNdO6TK.lMEEEBGkbtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJqc2plNjAxBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMTAxMTE5L3VzX2NvZmZpbnNfZ2F5BHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9hcnRpY2xlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDdW5kZXJ0YWtlcnNv

[Fandango 1,439]

What an insult!

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

i want lesbians on my coffin

[Amby 490]

gay nudes in a coffin?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Mark Calaway, how could you?

[Nagishkaw 510]

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

i want lesbians on my coffin

They won't stay on top they'll want to dive into the box, head first.

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

They won't stay on top they'll want to dive into the box, head first.

[thongd4me 69]

i want lesbians on my coffin

Maybe what you need is a bisexual like this one =>

[alienlovechild 75]

i want lesbians on my coffin

What if your coffin is "decorated with images of mostly naked, muscular young men in athletic poses inspired by Italian Renaissance paintings" or ashes end up in a rainbow urn? Not much you can do about when you're dead.

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

What if your coffin is "decorated with images of mostly naked, muscular young men in athletic poses inspired by Italian Renaissance paintings" or ashes end up in a rainbow urn? Not much you can do about when you're dead.

nessa doesn't want me to haunt her afterward.

[thongd4me 69]

nessa doesn't want me to haunt her afterward.

That's why Nessa has to contact NASA - they could turn you

into an asteroid and smartass kids from MIT will be able to

look at you through telescopes.

[Ban Hammer 13,335]

That's why Nessa has to contact NASA - they could turn you

into an asteroid and smartass kids from MIT will be able to

look at you through telescopes.

maybe i'll just opt to be buried at the nearest pizza hut

[Captain Oates 911]

maybe i'll just opt to be buried at the nearest pizza hut

Do they have holes drilled in the sides of the coffin so they can look at the guy in the next grave ?