Tel Aviv: The Next Big Gay Tourism Spot

That's right, Tel Aviv is emerging as an iconic international gay vacation destination. Did you know that Tel Aviv hosts the largest pride parade in Asia? Or that it was named by Out Magazine as the gay capital of the middle east? Or that the city devotes more than a third of its marketing budget to attracting LGBT tourists with campaigns like this one? Or that gays serve openly in Israel's military? I didn't. Here's an interesting article to learn more. 

Fortune Best Companies List Hits LGBT Milestone

For the first time in history, all companies on Fortune's best 100 companies to work for list have sexual orientation nondiscrimination policies. Google tops the list. 

Washington Governor To Introduce Marriage Equality Bill

For those who haven't seen this yet, it's worth watching - Washington Governor Chris Gregoire gives a beautifully articulate speech in support of marriage equality. This is perhaps the best example I've seen so far of someone utilizing my recommended strategy of focusing on the license itself and pointing out how legalizing government-issued marriage licenses in no way forces a church to marry a gay couple. Bravo. 

A Call for Digital Activism from Edna Jean Robinson

Oh how I miss seeing her perform at JR's in Dallas. Kudos to her for this inspiring video. 

LAN Airlines Launches LGBT Site

LAN, a Latin American airline, just launched a new microsite that showcases the diversity found throughout South America, and is a one-stop-shop resource for LGBT travelers there. LAN's new LGBT microsite features a host of information and resources for the prospective traveler to South America. It includes detailed descriptions of key South American destinations with information of interest to gay and lesbian travelers. The site also features recent LGBT-related news pertaining to countries throughout South America, as well as events of interest to gay and lesbian travelers to South America, including trips from leading LGBT tour operators.

2011 LGBT Year in Review

New Study: Openly Gay Applicants 40% Less Likely to Get Job Interviews

Openly gay applicants are 40 percent less likely to be granted an interview than their heterosexual counterparts, according to a study published Tuesday in the American Journal of Sociology. The study was the first of its kind to test the receptiveness of employers to gay male job applicants. It sent two fictitious resumes to more than 1,700 entry-level, white collar job openings in the U.S. The resumes were nearly identical, except each mentioned a different affiliation with a school organization. Read more here. 

New study on how gays and lesbians perceive advertising

A new study from the University of Miami interviewed 25 gay and lesbian Americans of different age, ethnic, and professional backgrounds on their reactions to commercials exemplifying dominant gay and lesbian portrayals. 
According to the study, five specific strategies emerged within these minority consumers to interpret the messages catered to them:

• Gay men accepted the perception of "higher disposable income of gay male households" and transformed material consumption into a definition of self-worth. "I was on many consumer panels because I fit the profile of gay men who have disposable income and travel a lot," one participant said.
• Participation in the mass market was equated to membership in mainstream society. "We got money. We contribute to the corporation. We contributed to big business. We got families. We are part of the mainstream now," a participant said.
• Targeted advertising was identified as an essential step in achieving social political inclusion. "Consumer rights and citizenship, civil rights are intricately connected in the United States […]. And when we express our identity as a consumer, that reinforces and strengthens our identity as a citizen," a participant said.
• Perpetuating problematic depictions of gays as effeminate men or lesbians as "sexualized femme" was tolerated in the interests of social inclusion. "I was ambivalent when watching this commercial. It's playing up the stereotype. But for me, if you can see gay people on TV in Texas, it's positive," one participant said.
• Participants were willing to give up something of their subcultural identity for the sake of total acceptance in society. "When we are truly accepted in the society, we will just blend in […] even that might mean sacrificing our uniqueness," a participant said.

Source: "How Minority Consumers Use Targeted Advertising as Pathways to Self-Empowerment: Gay Men's and Lesbians' Reading of Out-of-the-Closet Advertising" Journal of Advertising Vol. 40 No. 3 Fall 2011.

The Cost of our Prison System

Here are some interesting facts on incarceration in the US, which costs taxpayers 60 Billion per year. 

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Marriage in Australia: It's Time

Here's a fantastic new ad from GetUp Action for Australia in support of marriage equality. Next week, Australia's Labor Party will decide their stance on the issue. To sign the petition, click here. 

Group Urges Reframing the Marriage Equality Message

A group of high-profile Democrats and Republicans who back legalizing same-sex marriage are calling on advocates to shift the focus on the issue from an argument about equal rights to promoting the value of commitment. This is, in my opinion, an example of the need to speak in the language of your audience. While this might not be the politically correct approach in the minds of many in the LGBT community, it may certainly be the fastest. Staunch opponents of same-sex marriage either don't believe the LGBT community exists or believe being LGBT is a lifestyle choice - therefore the equality argument doesn't work since they see us as already having the same opportunity to marry somebody of the opposite sex. Hence why they always argue that we don't deserve "special rights." In essence, this new strategy is to seek equality without acknowledging that's what we're seeking. Read more here. 

70 U.S. Companies Formally Oppose DOMA

70 U.S. businesses are part of an amicus brief opposing the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in Gill v. OPM. The companies point out that DOMA forces them to treat their employees differently based on their sexual orientation, and as a result, the businesses assume an administrative financial burden to correct the inequity. Here are some of those companies: 

For the full list, click here. 

Today's LGBT History Month Icon: Pedro Zamora

New Santorum Campaign Ad

Lagging behind in the polls, it looks like Santorum is trying to appeal to the religious extremists by telling them that God told him to run for President. The ad, by the way, says nothing about why he'd make a good president. 

New Marriage Equality Ads in Maine

New marriage equality ads are hitting TVs in Maine. Here's one featuring Paul and Jeanette Rediker, a straight Maine couple with a gay daughter:

In 2009, a "people's veto" reversed legislation that would have legalized marriage equality in Maine. Supporters of marriage equality are now trying to reverse that action through the very same process. 

Ad Spotlight: Absolut Vodka

Absolut is celebrating 20 years of LGBT advertising. In 1981 it ran its first gay-targeted ads in The Advocate and After Dark. To celebrate, Absolut is launching a national $4 million outdoor, digital, and print campaign. Click here to read the full New York Times article.

New Stat on Support for Marriage Equality by Age

No surprises in the pattern here. Again, I'd be curious to see how the question was phrased. As I always caveat when sharing marriage equality data, in my opinion the question should be phrased as, "Do you believe same-sex couples should have the right to access civil marriage licenses?" This is because there is a difference between "favoring something" and believing people should have the right to it. As an example, some redneck American out there might not personally "favor" interracial marriage, but that doesn't necessarily mean he believes interracial couples out there shouldn't have the right to marry. Furthermore, the distinction between the two types of marriage - civil and religious - must always be made clear when it comes to polling on this issue. Language matters. 

Study Paints a Better Picture of Today's Real Modern Family

Edelman has just wrapped up an interesting study on changing US family dynamic and demographics. Among the most interesting findings include that just 4% of US families have stay-at-home moms and working dads with children under 18 years old. That's right, just 4%. Furthermore, the study points out how economic pressures and blended family models have redefined individual roles within the family: skill sets have replaced gender, and 62 percent of moms and 54 percent of dads feel that parenting roles will be redefined away from the traditional “mom and dad” roles of the past. This creates a new opportunity for marketers to think in terms of skill set versus gender, opening up the entire family as a target. The study, which was commissioned in August 2011, included in-depth interviews with 2,482 consumers among a cross-section of today’s modern family: single parents, working moms, gay partners, multicultural heads of households and grandparents.

Today's LGBT History Month Icon: Dan Savage

Today's LGBT History Month Icon: Ryan Murphy

New Documentary on Maine's Marriage Equality Vote

This looks quite good...

Today's LGBT History Month Icon: Constance McMillen

Today's LGBT History Month Icon: Michael Kirby

Ad Spotlight: Kimpton Hotels

Kimpton Hotels has launched a new website dedicated to communicating the various LGBT services and programs they offer, including LGBT marriages, ceremonies, honeymoons, parties, and events. Check it out here.

Today's LGBT History Month Icon: David Kato