Burger King's Proud Whopper

Now trending. Awesome idea & execution for this year's pride.

Ad Spotlight: Lucky Charms

Lucky Charms is back this year with their #LuckyToBe campaign celebrating our differences that make the world colorful and interesting. This is one of my favorite efforts. While not explicitly or exclusively an LGBT campaign, the timing and tone seems spot on for the youthful brand. General Mills scores a perfect 100 on HRC's Corporate Equality Index.

Ad Spotlight: Honey Maid

And their awesome response to the hate mail: 

Read more here. 

The Muppets vs. Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A does so many things right – great food, outstanding service, iconic advertising... I hate that we have to boycott them. But it's an obligation to boycott any company that funds groups working to deny us our equal rights.

Recently, Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy upset many when he told the Baptist Press his company was "Guilty as charged" in supporting the "biblical definition of the family." "We are married to our first wives," he said. Apparently only men work there?

His comments didn't sit well with Lisa Henson, CEO of the Jim Henson company, who makes toys in Chick-fil-A kids meals. Last week, The Jim Henson Company posted the following Facebook message:

“The Jim Henson Company has celebrated and embraced diversity and inclusiveness for over fifty years and we have notified Chick-Fil-A that we do not wish to partner with them on any future endeavors. Lisa Henson, our CEO is personally a strong supporter of gay marriage and has directed us to donate the payment we received from Chick-Fil-A to GLAAD."

 Within days, the post generated over 6,000 comments and over 14,000 likes. To add fuel to the fire, it appears that executives at Chick-fil-A created a fake Facebook profile to advocate on the company's behalf.

The aftermath? International press coverage, cities around the country blocking the restaurant from entering their communities, and the complete loss of control of Chick-fil-A's Facebook page, which has become the central target for activism against the establishment.

To be fair, Cathy had every right to make his comments and the company can advocate for whatever definitions of marriage and family it believes in. But when it simultaneously funds groups working to legally restrict other definitions of marriage and family, it goes beyond just expressing an opinion. This is the future of human rights in this country that they're playing around with here, and that's why people are upset. Hopefully its a lesson learned: Don't attach your brand to the minority side of a hot button cultural/political issue – just stick with chicken.

As for the Jim Henson Company? They've suddenly emerged as a relevant brand. Who knows, maybe Kermit and Miss Piggy might just be the new faces of the LGBT rights movement.

Related:

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.

New Photos of The Out NYC

These new computer renderings have surfaced of The Out NYC, a gay hotel/nightlife complex that is under construction on 42nd street between 10th and 11th avenues. The 105-room boutique hotel will include a spa, wellness center, business center, an 11,000-square-foot nightclub, a 24/7 café and a restaurant called Kitchen. The nightclub is scheduled to open in November, and the rest of the property will open its doors in early 2012. 

White Castle Makes Valentine's Day Ad More Gay-Inclusive

BEFORE: 

AFTER:

This may be the funniest headline that's ever appeared on this blog, and this story is dead true. A few weeks ago, a St. Louis man by the name of John Todd successfully convinced White Castle to edit an online advertisement which read, “Call now to reserve your table at White Castle and your place in her heart.” The ad, Todd argued, excluded gay men. Sure enough, the company's marketing department responded by changing "her" to "their." And even if you think it's funny, I'm sure the one gay couple in America who celebrated Valentines Day at White Castle is very grateful. Click here for the original story. 

The Gay Doritos Commercial Taking the Internet by Storm

Apparently this is consumer-generated and not officially endorsed by Doritos. I've seen this idea recycled 100 times. I'm not offended by it, but I'm not really impressed by it either. 

Ad Spotlight: McDonald's

That's right, McDonald's has a new TV ad featuring a father and his gay son. It's a part of their new campaign in France that features the tagline "come as you are."  

The spot opens with a young guy looking at his class photo in a McDonald's when his cell phone rings. "Yes, I was thinking of you," he says into the phone. "I'm looking at the class photo, and I miss you," he adds as he lovingly strokes one of the other guys in the photo. "I have to go," he says as his father approaches with their meal. Dad asks, "Is that your class photo?" The son nods and hands it over to him. "I looked just like you when I was your age," says nostalgic papa. "I did quite well with the girls." Awkward moment as the son looks away from his father. But then dad saves the moment by saying, "It's too bad there are only boys in your class...You have all the luck." Smiles and loving looks of understanding all around as a folk singer begins to croon, "I'm going on my road..." Fade to black and the new McDonald's slogan: "Come as you are." 

Great ad. I wish they'd run it here in English.

Whole Foods CEO Calls it Quits

John Mackey, the Whole Foods co-founder and CEO who wrote an infuriating editorial in the Wall Street Journal a few months ago against Obama's healthcare plan, is finally stepping down. Mackey has held the position since 1978, and his departure comes as a welcome Christmas present to many of Whole Foods' left-leaning shareholders. CtW Investment Group, a shareholder activist group that works with union pension funds, said Mackey "attempted to capitalize on the brand reputation of Whole Foods to champion his personal political views but has instead deeply offended a key segment of Whole Foods consumer base."