Sadly, there’s not a single brand here I buy.  I might boycott a brand that I deemed to be anti-gay, but I don’t like being pandered to even in advertising.

LOL wow, I just loved those ads! I think this is a smart way to get our attention (mine at least), and it would definitely make me try some products by their company if I haven’t already (and maybe even recommend them to a friend saying something like “you know what? they’re not just good, they’re GAY friendly too, let’s support them!”). I’ve been taking many friends to Starbucks lately…

I think it’s great, a lot of the brands are already brands I support and I think it’s great to see them supporting us. Contrary to the marketer above me, I don’t expect these brands to give back to the LGBT community or any other foolishness like that, just as I don’t expect them to go pouring their money into the straight community. These companies are here to make money, and by targeting us- they’re taking steps in the right direction. We should be celebrating the fact that ads like these aren’t being boycotted or destroyed. One small step for gays!

Jester you said it best. People seem to think that in order to be “gay friendly” or “gay supportive” etc you need to be giving something back to the G&L Community. As long as tyhey aren’t doing the opposite and supporting anti-gay orgaizations, I will spend my money where the best value is.

If you don’t support brands that acknowledge the existence of gay people…
you deserve to go back to the days where we were completely invisible.
These companies are taking the risk of alienating more customers than they attract
with these ads…while helping promote acceptance. Why bother if gay people don’t
respond?

There will come a day, when every intelligent brand will come running to us – unfortunately it is still reality that men earn more than women, thus a household of two women is most likely to be one with more disposable income. . . Until that day, I am proud to support brands that support us, in some of the above comments, people have commented on the idea of being ‘gay supportive’ The way I see it, a company that raises visibility and increases the idea of homonormativity in a heteronorative world – that IS gay supportive. As a student, I can certainly not afford to be buying Ray Bans, Diesel nor American Apparel (which is so expensive in the UK!) But as soon as Ben and Jerry’s same sex branded ice-cream came out, it went into my freezer.

At the moment, this IS gay support, and a gay man; Imma support them back! 

When everyone catches on and the gender of the two people selling a product becomes moot, that will be a different story. . .

I’m more likely to buy in, but that may be because I live in Utah… and so those type of ads are pretty courageous since the company will be shunned for all eternity if you support the sinners.  So yeah, I would show my support if they show me theirs.

If you want my money, talk to me.  To talk to me, use my language.  Some hot chick in a bikini ain’t gonna do it.  Unless it’s a drag queen.  I love seeing my community reflected in sales ads.  It’s a certain level of respect that is given.

The ads are funny, no doubt.  But i wont necessarily  by what they are promoting. For instance, beer. I don’t like beer, i don’t like the taste and i don’t recommend it to my friends. I know many gay guys who don’t drink beer for that same reason. I’m not saying that no gay guys drink beer but we are a bunch who prefers pink cocktails and other tasty drinks (alcoholic or not).
And some other ads just try to attract the LGBT community as a customer base but the product being promoted doesn’t always interest the LGBT. They are just pathetic attempts by the manufacturers to try and sell more. For instance, Virgin mobile. What is so different about Virgin Mobile that would push me, a gay guy, to buy a phone from them when there are a bunch of other mobile companies that have often better phones and better service?? The prices? The phones? or the hot guys on the ad? Some ads are just plain irrelevant and unnecessary.
On the other hand, some ads make statements that i can relate too. Like the “don’t hide” ad or other ads that inspire the straight society to be open the LGBT community and be less ignorant.

I don’t know, these ads actually seem kind of “safe” for me. With support for gay marriage on the rise, and going over fifty per cent, they’ve simply chosen the best time to put out these ads. Late enough so as not to be offensive to too much of their customer base, and early enough so that people will remember them as “those gay supporting companies” before it becomes common practice.

Also, marketing using images of gay men is both targeting gay men as well as women.  If they were images of lesbians, it runs the risk of offending anti-gay groups AND feminist groups (including their male supporters), because if the women were to appeal to both gay women and straight male groups the females in the ads would have to conform to male beauty standards. Thus, these companies are able to portray their ability to be accepting without misogyny.

Absolutely safe.

The only ad that I think may break this mold is the J-Crew ad. It’s stripped down and is attempting to show us something behind the designer. It says something about the people pictured and could easily come from a feature about them, rather than be a strict advertisement. It’s also the only ad to feature a man of color.

I think it is the politically correct thing to do, but I am not swayed by advertising one way or the other

depends on the ad.  the j crew one is pandering.  its just them saying “look, we have a gay designer” as if that was somehow unusual.  the vodka ad is literally just them putting a rainbow on it.  but really good gay ads, like the angel hook up one at the bottom, are good.  its not just a little gay, but full on sexy gay, and really shows support

I don’t care to give my support to any business that states in its advertisements that the only gay men worth advertising to are “BMI-perfect” twenty-somethings.  Why would I buy their junk if it’s obviously not manufactured for normal gay men?

As a former Gap Inc. employee, I know that they walk the walk and talk the talk when it comes to GLBT issues and employees were able to add life partners to their insurance plans, etc.  I also believe in the product. 

I like the Ray Ban ad, but find the American Apparel ad, Avis and Virgin Mobile highly insulting.  It is my own belief that the general public is contantly thinking that homosexual people are highly well, sexual.  I don’t need nor want the public thinking me as a top or bottom…or “hooking up” it’s none of their business or anyone elses for that matter unless I am going to engage in a sexual activity with you.  I simply want to be someone that loves another man and given the same rights afforded a heterosexual couple.

My opposition to the Avis ad is simply the reference to what I believe to be one of the most vapid shows every produced and aired, the A-list.  Again, just my belief, but that show sets us back and reflects poorly of how I want to be preceived as a gay man.

I would but not because of an advert. It might make me investigate behind the scenes a little more as to what they put their money into, their ethics in relation to employees who are glbt, and in what ways they give back to those who give to them. A spunky advert doesn’t hurt though….

The Avis ad was from 2005-2006, well before that terrible, terrible show.