Ad Spotlight: CVS Health

Read more here.

Allstate "Safe in My Hands" LGBT Video Goes Viral

Allstate Insurance - long known as a champion of LGBT causes and believing everyone deserves to be in good hands - has created a breathtaking film in celebration of Pride. The video features the song "Safe in My Hands" by singer/songwriter Eli Lieb, who's perhaps best known for his 2013 hit "Young Love." The film and song are going viral for good reason - they're both outstanding. They celebrate the true meaning of pride - not feeling different, vulnerable or ashamed because of who you are - but accepting who you are and living your life openly. To download the song and participate in Allstate's #OutHoldingHands effort, check out their LGBT site: http://lgbt.allstateonline.com/

American Airlines Urges Veto of Arizona Discrimination Bill

Doug Parker, CEO of the New American Airlines, just sent this letter to Arizona governor Jan Brewer:

Ad Spotlight: Chevrolet

Now airing during the Olympics.

Coca-Cola: My Take on The Super Bowl, The Olympics, and the Opportunity

Kudos to Coca-Cola. The company broke history a few days ago by being the first brand to feature a same-sex couple in a Super Bowl commercial. In case you missed it, here it is:

While I enjoyed the commercial seeing it live, I didn't particularly notice the scene of the gay couple. Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention. Maybe the scene was too quick. Or maybe I'm just so used to it that i didn't phase me. Or maybe it was a combination of multiple factors. Nonetheless, I like the spot - and Coca-Cola - even more now. And so do many LGBT groups and supporters here and aroung the world. But the spot sparked both positive and negative reaction. Here's just a sampling: 

• San Diego Gay & Lesbian News
• WCRB TV
• The Wrap 
• The New Civil Rights Movement
• CNBC
• The Back Lot
• NewNowNext
• Towleroad
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution 
• Advocate
• Elle
• On Top Magazine
• Hollywood Reporter
• Huffington Post

Perhaps my favorite response was from this reporter who criticized the critics of the ad by pointing out what the above article did - that the songwriter of "America the Beautiful," Katherine Lee Bates, was a lesbian: 

Still though, some in the LGBT community see Coke's effort as one to try and combat the negative press they received from supporting the Olympics. And if you live under a rock, the Olympics are being held in Russia, a country with very anti-LGBT laws including a law against gay propoganda. Because apparently our "choice" to be gay is something we can be persuaded into as children. Get real. 

But even if Coke is trying to do something nice for the LGBT community to combat the bad press surrounding the Olympics, my response is... bravo and thank-you. It's something pretty big. And after all, Coke's Olympic marketing isn't a celebration of Russia - it's a celebration of the Olympics, something the Coca-Cola brand has long been known for. Pulling out of the Olympics wouldn't be right for the brand, wouldn't be fair to the many LGBT Olympic athletes or to the billions of Olympics fans around the world. Nonetheless, many LGBT activists are angry at Coke and even boycotting the brand through campaigns like DumpCoke. 

So what can Coke do? The bottom line to the critics within the LGBT community is that Coke's endorsement still supports Russia both by association and in more tangible ways. So I believe there is just one more step Coke must take: Issue a simple statement distancing your brand from Russia's anti-gay policies and denouncing them. 

Coca Cola is the world's most iconic brand. It's in the hands and bodies of more people in more places every day than any other brand. They have a platform not just to support the global LGBT community, but to elevate and invite more people into the conversation about equality and human rights around the world. And wouldn't that be an amazing thing for a brand like Coke to accomplish?

Not to mention, the very culture of the Coca-Cola company is a model for inclusiveness and pro-LGBT policies - so much so that they have a perfect 100 rating from the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT advocacy organization in the United States. 

Coca-Cola has done something amazing and historic not just in the Super Bowl spot it aired, but in the culture of inclusiveness and happiness it has created both internally and around the world. All they need to do to seal the deal is take a lesson from AT&T by posting their stance against Russia's policies on their corporate blog or website. Coke: The world is rooting for you. 

Swedes are Amazing

...because 2,000 of them just gathered in a stadium in Stockholm to sing the Russian national anthem in support of LGBT Russians.

Tom Daley Comes Out

Introducing FourTwoNine: A New Kind of LGBT Print Magazine

Love this.

As Gay Culture Goes Mainstream, So Must Advertising to Gays

"If brands are not inclusive in their marketing, they could be unwittingly communicating that they are exclusive." Check out Doug Ray's full AdAge article here. 

American Airlines Supports ENDA

It would be great if all of corporate America could organize together behind this initiative.

This is Awesome

This is exactly the kind of stuff we need to see more of in this world. Amazing. And done in support of Washington Referendum 74, which will legalize access to civil marriage licenses for same sex couples.

New Documentary on Maine's Marriage Equality Vote

This looks quite good...

GLAAD Applauds Next Season of Dancing With The Stars

The next season of Dancing With the Stars on ABC will feature Chaz Bono and Carson Kressley, and GLAAD approves:
“With both gay and transgender contestants represented on this upcoming season, ABC will send viewers a strong message about the diversity within the LGBT community,” said Herndon Graddick, senior of director of programs for GLAAD, in a statement. “At a time when transgender representation in the media is sorely lacking, Chaz Bono joining the cast is a tremendous step forward for the public to recognize that transgender people are another wonderful part of the fabric of American culture. Appearing on such a high-profile show will allow millions of Americans to get to know him in a whole new light.”

2011: A Prouder Pride

Seven years ago, I wrote this editorial in my college newspaper as George W. Bush was proposing an amendment to the U.S. constitution that would outlaw marriage equality across the country. A week later, somebody responded to my editorial saying that "if they let a man marry another man, what's next is that somebody will want to marry their tractor." Dead serious. 


Now, many years later, same-sex couples have the same right to get married in New York state as opposite-sex couples. Those of us who have fought tirelessly for this issue in New York for over a decade almost never thought this day would come. But finally, it's here. 


And it' s a huge reason why we all should be even prouder this pride. The number of people living in this country in a state that recognizes marriage equality has just doubled. I'm no longer a New Yorker, but I'm proud that I went to college in a state that now treats its gay and lesbian citizens with equality and fairness. I'm proud that my parents live in New York state. And I'm proud to be an American. Events like last night show that there are good people in politics on both sides of the aisle. And when we fight hard enough and long enough for what we believe in and what we know is right, we will prevail. 


I hope we all take some time to thank the republican senators who put what's right for New Yorkers ahead of what's right for them getting re-elected. I hope we thank the many organizations who have participated in making this happen over the past decade - Empire State Pride Agenda, Freedom to Marry, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, and NGLTF, just to name a few. 


So let's party like there's no tomorrow this weekend, but let's not forget that there's still much work to be done. As long as there's places in this country where it's illegal for you to obtain a government-issued marriage license because you're gay, there is blatant discrimination embedded into our laws. Remember, these pastors and churches who have been such vocal opponents DO NOT OWN CIVIL MARRIAGE. Their arrogance never ceases to amaze me. They own RELIGIOUS marriage as they define it within their own religion, but they don't have the right to impose their religious views onto the civil rights of us all. When it comes to religious marriage, churches have always been able to marry and deny marriage to whoever they want, and they always will be able to do that. What the government is involved with is CIVIL MARRIAGE, which has nothing to do with a church. It's simply the right to access a marriage license issued by the government. So don't be fooled by the dynamic that this is an issue of gays vs. the church, because that is not at all a fair portrayal, and it's especially not fair to the many churches, religions, and people of faith who support marriage equality. 


I hope the actions of the New York lawmakers will inspire each of us be a little braver, a little stronger,  and a little more vocal as we move forward. Let people know you're here and that you're gay, not just on gay pride weekend, but whenever it really counts - especially at the voting booth. As strong as our spirit may be this weekend, we need our actions to match that strength when we determine who we put in power and who makes the rules. That's one right they can never take away. 

Let's Get Loud: My Article on Pride Marketing in the April/May Edition of Echelon Magazine

Another article I wrote has been published in Echelon, a national magazine serving the LGBT business community. This latest article focuses on the do's and don'ts of marketing during Pride, and appears in the current April/May edition. Click here to check it out. 

Multicultural Marketing in 2011 and Beyond

Top multicultural marketing experts have weighed in with their informed opinions on what to expect in Multicultural Marketing in 2011 and over the next decade. Read on to learn what these experts have to say about marketing to African Americans, Asian Americans, Muslim Americans, the GLBT consumer market and people with disabilities. Click here. 

The Business Case for LGBT Inclusion

Thought this was a nice article by Mark Kaplan from Diversity Executive that would be worth sharing to my readers:

The driving force behind the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) civil rights movement is fair and equitable treatment. For companies, a key driver is a compelling business case. There are four elements to the business case for LGBT inclusion:

Legal: The legal environment is evolving. More and more countries are establishing legal protections for LGBT employees. In the United States, while there is no federal law in place, 21 states and several municipalities have laws against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, covering more than 150 million Americans.

Most of the nations of Western Europe, as well as South Africa, ban discrimination based on sexual orientation. In Hong Kong, a similar ban on workplace discrimination has been discussed but not yet passed, and India recently decriminalized same-sex sexual behavior. While laws don’t necessarily create the most compelling business case — with the exception of avoiding discrimination claims — a legal framework is often the starting point for inclusion.

Recruitment and retention: Successful global companies are continually working to attract and retain the best staff. Given that LGBT employees are 5 to 10 percent of the working population, it has become increasingly important to be able to show both a favorable reputation and a solid track record of inclusive practices to attract this increasingly visible segment of the workforce. LGBT visibility is rising in most major business centers across the world, even in places traditionally hostile to the notion of equality based on sexual orientation.

The millennial generation has grown up with positive images of LGBT people; thus their attitudes are far more inclusive. As organizations compete for these highly skilled newer entrants to the workforce, it will be important to demonstrate inclusive policies.

LGBT employees are more likely to stay with employers who practice inclusion. Stonewall Institute in the U.K., a counseling and research firm, found that LGBT employees who are able to be “out” at work are less likely to leave. In a 2009 study by nonprofit inclusion association Catalyst, researchers found LGBT employees working in organizations with effective and inclusive diversity practices believed they had better workplace relationships, as well as greater organizational commitment and career satisfaction, than LGBT employees working in organizations without them.

Productivity and performance: Productivity suffers when LGBT employees are on guard, worrying about the consequences of exposing such basic parts of their lives as family and personal relationships. When an organization is clear and proactive about having an inclusive environment, LGBT employees can put all of their energy into work tasks.

A recent study conducted by Stonewall Institute revealed that LGBT employees who are able to be out at work are 20 to 30 percent more productive. Moreover, the Catalyst study found that LGBT employees who work in organizations with employee networks, resource groups or mentoring programs are anywhere from 7 to 16 percent higher in their workplace experience scores. Feeling safe to be out at work is critical to being able to build important workplace relationships.

Marketplace: Numerous studies have documented the financial opportunity presented by the LGBT market. For instance, LGBT buying power is expected to reach $845 billion in 2011, according to research by public relations firm Witeck‐Combs and consultancy Harris Interactive. Moreover, 89 percent of LGBT respondents to a 2006 poll by Harris Interactive said it’s important for employers to have nondiscrimination practices.

Mark Kaplan is president of MGK Consulting LLC, an international consulting practice headquartered in the U.S. He can be reached at editor@diversity-executive.com.

Hillary Clinton: It Gets Better

My Article in Echelon Magazine

An article I wrote has been published in Echelon Magazine's October/November 2010 issue and is even featured on the cover. The magazine can be downloaded and read online here. A short bio on me also appears in the contributing writers section on page five.

Why Are Marketers Missing Out on Opportunities With LGBT Audiences?

In this week's AdAge, Chiqui Cartagena questions why more marketers aren't jumping at the chance to target LGBT consumers in addition to Hispanics. 

Both are racially and socio-economically diverse; both are trend-setting, technologically savvy, early adopters and heavy influencers; both are highly concentrated in the top ten DMAs of the country; both get the short end of advertising budgets, and yet both are fiercely loyal to brands that make an effort to reach them in relevant ways.

Read the full article here.