Google’s “Legalise Love” campaign isn’t about gay marriage, as some media outlets have reported. It’s not "just" about supporting Gay Pride events, although it launched on July 7th at World Pride in London. It's really about supporting members of the LGBT community in countries that criminalize homosexuality, and using the brand's clout to lobby for change and open minds on gay rights.

The global initiative launched with Ernst & Young and Citigroup participating on behalf of their LGBT employees. "'Legalize Love' is a campaign to promote safer conditions for gay and lesbian people inside and outside the office in countries with anti-gay laws on the books," said a Google spokesperson in a statement to the Washington Post. The spokesperson elaborated:Continue reading...

Anybody who has even touched Facebook this week will be aware of the controversy a single cookie can make.

Kraft's Oreo brand chose to make a simple statement, in this visual social era, to show support for June 25th as Gay Pride Day with a rainbow-colored twist on its iconic cookie. The 100-year-old cookie brand posted a photo on its Facebook page on Monday depicting a gay pride-themed six-layer cookie with rainbow-colored creme filling and the words “June 25 | Pride” and the comment, “Proudly support love!”

It was also clear it wasn't real, with a small line of text reading "Made with creme colors that do not exist." 

The maelstrom of divided comments from its 26 million FB followers shows the deep division over the issue and the entrenched homophobia still alive (and unwell) — and also raises the question about whether brands should take a political stance and show their support for the LGBT community. (We say yes; your thoughts?)Continue reading...

ROKK Vodka, the freeze-filtered Swedish brand, proved its inclusive marketing by sponsoring the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in March in New York.

With a tagline of "Filtering out inequality," ROKK rolled out a blue carpet for paparazzi portion of the event, and encouraged presenters and winners to incorporate "ROKK Vodka" into their speeches that evening in return for a charitable contribution from the brand — raising $10,000 in New York alone.Continue reading...