Worth Watching...

Marriage: Why the Media Matters

I've become quite disappointed with the media in the way they continue to cover the marriage equality issue in this country. First, they keep asking the question, "Do you support same-sex marriage," and when you really think about it, that's the wrong question. What you personally support, based on your religion or whatever else makes up your personal viewpoint, is a different issue than what rights you believe citizens in a free society should have access to. In 1966, about nine in ten people didn't "support" interracial marriage. But on June 12, 1967, The Supreme Court made it clear that "The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men." 


Secondly, I'm angry that the media isn't doing a better job calling those opposed to marriage equality out on their talking points. They keep saying "I'm not anti-gay, I'm pro-marriage." Well guess what, when you impose your unique religious view of religious marriage into the realm of civil marriage, you're voting to exclude a group of citizens from access to civil marriage licenses and all the rights and benefits those licenses afford them. That's not just Anti-gay (with a capital A), it's Arrogant, and worth the media calling bullshit on. It would be the same as someone saying "My religion tells me being black is bad, so I'm voting to prevent blacks from being able to marry. But I'm not anti-black."

New Obama Ad Slams Romney on Marriage Equality

Ad Spotlight: Gap

New Ads Against North Carolina's Amendment 1

Some new ads are floating around the internet in opposition to North Carolina's amendment one, which would enshrine discrimination into the state's constitution defining marriage as a right only for heterosexual couples. Same-sex marriages already aren't allowed in North Carolina - this amendment would just make sure it stays that way forever via the constitution. If nothing else, the ads should serve as conversations starters and make for a great Facebook background.

New British Marriage Equality Ad is Going Viral

Logo programming to become less gay

But it's not necessarily a bad thing. Logo's GM, Lisa Sherman, said, "we are increasingly more interested in entertainment that is for us than entertainment that is exclusively about us." This came in a nicely written article in the Huffington Post that provided interesting rationale for the programming shift. The decision was influenced by research conducted by Starcom Mediavest group indicating that less than a third of us want to socialize exclusively with LGBT people, and a majority are proudly out but don't necessarily see being LGBT as something that is always front and center in our lives. But not to worry - your favorites, including RuPaul's Drag Race, aren't going anywhere. 

OUT Magazine lays off entire editorial staff

Things weren't getting any easier on their own for the struggling gay magazine. In a shocking move, the entire editorial staff has just been laid off. This comes just two years after The Advocate, once the country's leading LGBT news publication, ceased being available on newsstands and is now only available as a subscription in combination with OUT. Is this the beginning of the end of all LGBT print publications?

Mike & Ike Call it Quits

Well this is interesting... a new marketing effort designed to generate buzz among teens has announced that Mike & Ike are getting a divorce. Yes, apparently they were gay. Who knew? Not to fear - company execs alluded to a likely possibility of the pair getting back together very soon. More here.

Love This

22 million YouTube views within a week... not bad.

EA Games Continues to Include LGBT Characters, Despite Political Criticism

Good for EA Games - despite a lot of political pressure and right-wing criticism, they're continuing to include LGBT characters in certain video games. Why shouldn't some video games reflect the real cultural landscape we live in? More on the story here.
EA, by the way, is responsible for one of my all time favorite "It Gets Better" videos:

2012 GLBT Travel Expo Dates: Chicago, Philly, & NYC

GLAAD puts anti-LGBT commentators in their place

Tired of seeing Tony Perkins and Maggie Gallagher brought on to "balance" every news story about LGBT rights? I am, and so is GLAAD. They've just launched the "commentator accountability project," which "aims to put critical information about frequent anti-gay interviewees into the hands of newsrooms, editors, hosts and reporters." I'm really happy about this. The need to "balance" every story with two viewpoints - even if the opposing viewpoint is such a small minority or that of a hateful lunatic, is one of the reasons I lost some respect for broadcast journalism in college and ventured into marketing. I hope people view this resource for what it is - a resource for reporters and producers who might not have time or knowledge to do full background/lunatic checks on these people for their stories. It's not a blacklist, but a way for us to hold the media accountable for bringing on opposing commentators that are at least legitimate and at least represent the average opposing viewpoint. 

Coca Cola to Sponsor NYC Pride

In a surprising move, Coca Cola announced today that it will be the presenting sponsor of NYC gay pride this year. Surprisingly good, that is, that the top global brand in the world is openly making such a major commitment to the LGBT community. With support for gay rights highest amount younger age groups and with kids coming out younger and younger, it seems like a good business decision too. 

Here's what they said via press release: “At Coca-Cola, one of our seven core values is diversity, and we define that in a simple way - we are as inclusive as our brands,” said Hallie Lorber, Director of Field Marketing, Northeast region. “Through our partnership with NYC Pride, we hope to promote diversity by recognizing the valued members of the Coca-Cola family who help build our business every day, as well as people in the LGBT community for whom our brands inspire moments of optimism, happiness and refreshment.” 

Nebraska Churches Take out Full Page Ad to Oppose LGBT Nondiscrimination Protections

Get this: 214 churches in Nebraska recently pitched in to take out a full page ad in Omaha's World-Herald newspaper to oppose an LGBT nondiscrimination bill. If passed, the bill would provide basic protections to LGBT people in Nebraska. Currently, LGBT people in Nebraska have no protections on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and thus can be fired from their jobs or denied housing just because they are gay. And 214 churches across the state came together to make sure that keeps happening. Apparently it's just the Christian thing to do. 

Dance Weekend

Coke's Great New Olympics Work

Finally, a social use for QR codes

From Leo Burnett Warsaw.

Dance Weekend

Obsessed.

Fame Friday - Making its Return on BrandFabulousness

"It is up to us to live up to the legacy that was left for us, and to leave a legacy that is worthy of our children and of future generations." -Christine Gregoire

"Time"

I'm so happy over the progress made recently with advancing toward marriage equality in Washington and Maryland, but so angry over what just happened in New Jersey that I wrote this poem to express this unique feeling of excitement and anger:

Time

Do they know

How it feels

When a stranger can pull a lever

And cancel your wedding

What are they forgetting

When one man can veto your dreams

To further his career

When your hopes are so near

But rest on a popularity contest

Do they know the difference

Between their blind faith

And our deserved place

In a society that promised us humanity

Yet we settle for this insanity

Our rights to life

Liberty

The pursuit of happiness

Are passing us

Can’t they see through the stained glass

Of those houses that profit from spreading false fear

Can’t they hear

Our silent cries

The plight of our pride

The meaning inside

What kind of liberty is this

When they can deny our existence

Exclude us from chapter 14

And frame it a political scene

How can they be so selfish

The struggle may be different

Than in 1967 from those who were black

Of our mothers and grandmothers from 92 years back

But our dreams are the same

And all that stands between us

Is time

Because we have a voice

Because we have a say

They’ll tear us down again

But we won’t go away

One day they’ll look back

In history in shock

But that day will come sooner

The more we stand up and talk

So come my brothers

And sisters

Even further on out

Let’s get mad

Let’s get together

Let’s scream and let’s shout

Take your passion from every pride parade past

And live it and breathe it each day – to the max

I know we can do it

I know we’ll be fine

But let’s hurry because

It’s about time

Illinois Launches LGBT Tourism Site

Illinois tourism officials have launched a website dedicated to promoting LGBT tourism in the state. The site lists resources available throughout the state as well as recommendations on the best places to eat, play, shop, and stay. Its clear the cash-strapped state is looking for its share of the gay dollar – the average LGBT person in the U.S. spends $1,974 a year on leisure travel.

Whitney Houston: 1963-2012

The world has lost an icon, and tonight's Grammy Awards will surely be one to remember. Rumor has it that Jennifer Hudson is pulling together a performance to honor Whitney in time for tonight's big show. Here are my favorites from one of my favorite artists all all time.

JCPenny Stands by Ellen Degeneres as New Spokesperson

As part of a corporate rebranding, JCPenny recently redesigned their logo (shown) and hired Ellen Degeneres as their new spokesperson. The latter decision didn't sit well with the social conservative group "One Million Moms," who started a vicious campaign to try and get JCPenny to change their minds. Well, they're not changing their minds, and Ellen took some time out of her show the other day to respond:

And JCPenny's CEO, Ron Johnson, reiterated their stance in support of Ellen this morning on CBS. Click here to watch.

Prop 8 Ruled Unconstitutional (Again)

Read the full decision here:
Ninth Circuit Prop. 8 decision