The idea was very simple and the response was stunning. The people behind the Human Rights Campaign’s cry for marriage equality led to 2.7 million people changing their Facebook profile pictures in a week.

At first it was interesting to see so many of our friends with this sign on their profiles but then we realised that life was just that little bit duller with everyone using the same profile picture. So the parodies began. Some are funny. Some are thought provoking. Some are downright disturbing.

The Real Red Equal Sign

If you didn’t have a clue what I was on about earlier you do now, don’t you? This is the classic, original red equal sign which swamped the internet a few months ago. Like all of the best symbols it is simple and stylish looking. Now for the parodies.

The Yoda Parody 

This little fellow gets everywhere which his pearls of wisdom. Would he be an advocate for equal rights if he really existed? He is an enlightened Jedi master so I like to think so. I just read that he has been voted as the 25^th best movie character of all time. Seriously?

The Mario Bros Parody   

I loved the Mario Bros game. If you used this red equality sign parody as your Facebook profile picture then I congratulate you for your taste and discretion.

The C-3P0 and R2D2 Parody

If marriage equality had existed in a universe far, far away then these guys would have made a great couple. Come on; don’t try telling me that you had never thought of them like this before.

The Toy Story Parody

This red equality sign parody is different from the rest in that it doesn’t feature the famous symbol. However, it is clear that even Buzz and Woody were taken aback by the popularity of the campaign.

The Guns Parody 

Having been brought up in the UK I think of guns as being scary and exotic things which are only possessed by madmen and burly soldiers of fortune who are on the run after being branded war criminals for a crime they didn’t commit. Clearly other people see them as some sort of basic human right. Discuss.

The Bert and Ernie Parody

These are a couple of other fictional characters who are often – rightly or wrongly – described as being gay. Are they? I like to think so.

The Abortion Parody 

I got shown a horrific video about abortion at school when I was about 10 and it gave me nightmares for weeks afterwards. It is a debate which seems to go round in circles with neither side giving an inch. Will it ever be resolved?

The Beatles Parody 

We might as well finish on a lighter note, with the Beatles crossing Abbey Road in one of the most famous photos ever. I went there once to take a picture of me crossing Abbey Road. It is one of my most embarrassing photos ever but this is a nice parody of the Facebook red equal symbol.