Community | September 25, 2008 | 7 comments

Do we need more gay-inclusive commercials?

source: http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid62289.asp

Image
JanaPokana
The Commercial Closet Association has issued a letter to several major advertising firms stating that advertisements should be more tolerant and less homophobic.

The letter asked readers to "reexamine any lingering conventional wisdom that LGBT stereotypes, homophobia, and transphobia are considered successful approaches to selling products by actually testing it with general audiences."

Commercial Closet executive director Michael Wilke said ads from Nike, Heinz, and Snickers have been called offensive by many, but the response to customers' complaints have been quicker. "More often than in the past, advertisers are taking [insensitive ads] down quickly when they realize they're not being well-received -- and not usually with an actual apology, just acknowledging things are not going well," he said in the article.

The letter by Wilke was also signed by New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn and American Association of Advertising Agencies CEO Nancy Hill.
  1. groups:
    Community,   News and Politics,   Politics,   Sex and Love,   2 more
  2. tags:
    News,  News and Politics,  Politics,  Sex and Love,  12 more
  3.     
    |

7 comments // Do we need more gay-inclusive commercials?

  • SonofLiberty1
    • 0
      SonofLiberty1  

    • There is at least one Gay TV Channel you know.

      I agree with mcristina...

      You want to sell to the Gay community then by all means sell ads where Gays can see them.

      Otherwise, please don't gross the rest of us out....

      I'm having a hard enough time stomaching all the ads for Viagra (no pun intended).

    • 3 years ago
  • mcristina
    • 0
      mcristina  

    • I'm sure there are magazines dedicated to the gay community in which ad agencies can make their money if they don't already do. And there is no reason for people who are offended by homosexuality to be offended since i don't think they will search, find and pay for these magazines.

    • 3 years ago
  • rickm8
  • Chuck_st_chuck
  • Brockie
    • 0
      Brockie  

    • ad agencies have always gone after target markets. The glbt's money is just as green as anyone elses. The "gay friendly" compainies can smile all the way to the bank.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • Brockie:

      But with how much money?

      This is like requesting them to have more Asians in advertisement.

      They surely don't have nearly as many as they do black or white or even Hispanic.

      Same with Native Americans.

      It's, over all, a retarded request.

    • 3 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • They mean to say that they want more commercials that they can relate to. They don't mean to ask to be more tolerant. They need to stop BSing.

      Using words like Tolerant and Homophobic are scared tactics to force people to do something so that they are not these names that they were called.

      They are wanting commercials to feel comfortable while ignoring the fact that they are the minority and want what makes them feel comfortable while making other people (for now) who are part of the majority to be uncomfortable.

      They are asking businesses to sacrifice their business for the sake of pretending to care about everyone and how they feel. They care about selling and if the ad can't sell then they are not going to do it, nor do I think they should have to.

      If it sells then they'll do it even if it uses gay people.

      I don't think it has to do with Tolerant and Homophobic. They are not the moral code of the world, these business, so they couldn't possibly care so much about such things. They just care about $$.

    • 3 years ago
more from Community:
from the community

top videos