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:

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.

Richard Branson: No Business With Ugnada

In a recent blog post, Sir Richard Branson condemned Uganda for recently passing a law that severely criminalizes homosexuality. Originally dubbed the "Kill the Gays" bill, the death penalty was ultimately dropped from the law, but it does call for life imprisonment in most cases if found guilty. In his post, Branson says "the dreadful witch hunt against the gay community and lifetime sentences means it would be against my conscience to support this country." He also urges other businesses to take a stand by not doing business with Uganda. Uganda's "Kill the Gays" bill was supported by Tony Perkins, president of the "Family Research Council" in the United States. 

American Airlines Supports ENDA

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

New Graph of LGBT Rights by State

From The Gaurdian. Click for the full interactive chart and site.

Sally Field at the 2012 HRC National Dinner in DC

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.

Campaign Launched to Support Marriage Equality in November's Election

The Four 2012 is an online campaign to help support marriage equality in the four states it's on the ballot in November: Washington, Maine, Maryland, and Minnesota. It looks like they're encouraging user-generated content, but I don't see much. So why not consider contributing something? Just go the site and click submit.

Here's a word of encouragement from Maryland governor Martin O'Malley:


By the way, to support marriage equality, people should vote YES in Washington, Maine, and Maryland to legalize it. In Minnesota, the vote is just to enshrine the existing ban into the constitution, so people should vote NO there.

Google Launches International Campaign to "Legalize Love"

Google recently announced that they’re launching an international campaign to help promote safer living and working conditions for LGBT people around the world:

Though our business and employees are located in offices around the world, our policies on non-discrimination are universal throughout Google. We are proud to be recognised as a leader in LGBT inclusion efforts, but there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality. Legalise Love is our call to decriminalise homosexuality and eliminate homophobia around the world. 

At Google, we encourage people to bring their whole selves to work. In all of our 60 offices around the world, we are committed to cultivating a work environment where Googlers can be themselves and thrive. We also want our employees to have the same inclusive experience outside of the office, as they do at work, and for LGBT communities to be safe and to be accepted wherever they are. 

Read more about the campaign here and here.  

Vote No to Minnesota's Marriage Discrimination Amendment

Take a look at this new ad from Minnesotans for Equality, which I did the strategy for. Really proud of how it turned out... please share with your friends and encourage any Minnesotans you know to vote NO!

The Cost of Marriage Inequality

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."

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

Prop 8 Ruled Unconstitutional (Again)

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

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. 

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. 

2011 LGBT Year in Review