Archive for January, 2010

Life @ 30

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305-happy_birthday_balloon This weekend, I am doing something I thought would never happen.

I am turning 30.

Before you start to shower me with "You don't look a day over 29!" or "It's not as bad as turning 40!", it's ok.  I am starting to embrace it. Why? A couple of reasons:

  1. I always welcome days that are all about me, and gifts that correspond with those days.
  2. It means a whole new decade.

I was thinking about what it means for me to be turning 30.. and turning 30 as a gay man. Instead of using this space as a therapy session to help me release the white-knuckle grip I have on 29, I thought I would look at this from a different, more professional perspective. How should companies market to me, a gay man turning 30? What's the best way to engage with me?

Some suggestions, all you chief marketing officers who read this blog:

  1. Recognize that my "nightlife" does not involve club hopping or LGBT happy hours. I prefer to spend my nights with my family, or with my partner. This means reaching me at home. Advertise on the channels I watch. Send LGBT-sensitive materials to my house.
  2. I love to travel. I'm at the age (and with no children) where I can plan a great vacation somewhere. Tell me you understand my needs as a frequent LGBT traveler. Understand the hot-spots we frequent, give us discounts, or create a LGBT professional network where we can earn points by flying with your airline. More importantly, show us you support our community by sponsoring our events and causes.
  3. Speaking of travel, if you are a hotel, try to expand your definition of "family friendly" by incorporating same-sex families and children. We like a good beach/water-slide as much as the next person.
  4. I also love the stage. Meaning, I like to go see plays and musicals every once in awhile (i.e. all the time). The non-profit/arts community is really struggling in this economy. I could really get on board with a company who took the time to lend financial support to struggling theater districts around the country.
  5. TV and movies are a personal obsession (shock!). Get behind programs/networks/movies who incorporate LGBT characters. Applaud groundbreaking shows that dare to open our closet.
  6. My job is important to me, which means that I am always looking for professional development opportunities. Show me leaders in your company who are role models for the LGBT community. Share your best practices on how you engage with us.
  7. Shopping can be therapy. If you are a retailer, create some opportunities to market LGBT specific products. And if you happen to be a luggage manufacturer/designer–listen up. I want a fabulous set of luggage. I don't want the traditional black/grey/brown suitcase. I want color. I want patterns. I want fabulousness.  And, if you are an electronics retailer, lord knows I spend a lot of money with you. Turn around and spend some money on our community.
  8. Don't call it "chick fiction" or "chick flick." If I am told one more time that the Meryl Streep movie I am going to see, or the "Shopaholic" book I am about to read, is for "chicks," I will scream. Granted, I will still read/see both, but I will shout the whole time. Recognize that a good movie, or a good book, is simply that– good. Don't tell me what sex will enjoy it most.
  9. Holidays are especially a favorite time for me– so make it even better by giving me card/flower/imagery options that recognize that I'm not a father of two bringing flowers home to the wife for the holiday.
  10. Take the time to get to know me as a unique consumer. I promise you, it will be worth your investment.

So happy birthday to me. I'm taking the weekend to celebrate, with those I love the most. And, I am making my mom bake 30 cupcakes. It's only fair, since turning 30 is actually her fault. 

How old are you turning this year? What do you wish companies knew about you?

Until next week (when I am 30).

| January 29th, 2010 No Comments »
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Get Your Facts…Gay?

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Info Today I attended a communications luncheon with a panel predicting the trends and issues ahead for communicators in 2010. Obviously, much of the conversation focused on the economy, the continuing explosion of digital media and its catalyst agent of change on traditional media, corporations and government who are trying to deliver their message amidst a growing sea of information.

During the panel discussion, one of the panelists with ChicagoNow noted media's changing role of providing credibility to content and brands' needs to be factual and transparent. Trust is paramount for success in our information-overload culture, and everyone is searching for those sources. To that point of searching, a fellow panelist also commented on YouTube's status as the second largest search engine on the planet. 

The power of credibility, truth and video is no more evident than in Rob Tisinai's quick videos which tackle some of the biggest inaccuracies about gays in simple, direct truth-telling.

Here Rob's newest video examines the largely believed falsehood that gays are the primary perpetrators of child molestation. I encourage to watch this and his many other videos for simple truths on www.wakingupnow.com to combat many inaccuracies spoken about the LGBT community. 

As the panelists discussed today, more than anything people are looking for sources they can trust. We try to be that here on the Out Front Blog for LGBT communication issues. Being out front is only as effective as our message — and Rob offers some a great example of keeping things factual, simple and impactful.

Let's make 2010 and our conversations just that — factual, simple and impactful.

| January 29th, 2010 No Comments »
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CBS Fouls Before the Big Game?

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Footbal Contrary to what those who know me personally may think, I do like college football — especially my USF Bulls and the Gators from childhood. I don't however though like that every year the biggest sports day of the year falls on or near my birthday. Talk about a dichotomy! I'm always aware of the Super Bowl and it's coverage, as I successfully try to plan my annual celebration of drinks, shopping and showtunes around the hyper-masculine festivities of food, football and friends.

Needless to say, the past few days I've been closely following the story of CBS's decision to largely approve conservative advocacy group Focus on the Family's (with its typically audience polarizing leader Dr. James Dobson) ad for the Super Bowl with UF star quarterback Tim Tebow. CBS came under fire from LGBT organizations and women's advocacy groups because many believe the ad will advocate pro-life beliefs, as Tebow's mother ignored doctors' recommendations to abort her pregnancy despite having contracted a serious infection.

While a definite proponent of the first amendment (we couldn't have the Out Front Blog without it), a marketplace of multiple and at times conflicting opinions, and the UF Gators, this issue gets stickier because in 2004 CBS denied the United Church of Christ's advertisement on tolerance, which included visual nods to gay couples, interracial couples and other marginalized communities.

Until today, CBS had been quiet on the issueand one LGBT blog noted Tebow's comments on always standing up for what he believes in. Today though CBS told the Los Angeles Times that it had eased the restrictions on advocacy ads, allowing those that are "responsibly produced." The network also noted that they would allow other advocacy groups to purchase the few remaining $2.5 million and $2.8 million ad spots if interested.

Only February 7 will tell whether Focus on the Family's ad with Tebow is responsible — both in it's production and message. We definitely will cover the ads, and who got things right and wrong from an LGBT communications perspective here on the blog. However, the stories and actions thus far raise some critical communication questions:

  1. Is the United Church of Christ ad (seen here) from six years ago produced responsibly? I think so, as it's addressing tolerance — and not just for a particular marginalized group. So why then was this ad denied then and Focus on the Family's yet-to-be-seen ad accepted today?
  2. Was the ease in CBS's restrictions communicated broadly to all organizations in advance of this year's game? If not, why so and how did Focus on the Family hear about the news?
  3. What message is Focus on the Family sending to its employees who were laid off this past year due to financial issues when it purchases a Super Bowl ad with a top sports athlete spokesperson? The organization has stated the ad is made possible from significant donations separate from its operating fund.
  4. Finally, is the Super Bowl a place for advocacy or politically-charged advertisements? I really like CBS Sports Columnist Gregg Doyel's column last week on the topic.

I guess if we're moving to this new era of Super Bowl ads, I hope LGBT advocacy organizations consider, and if appropriate, purchase an ad to get our messages out in front of a large audience. What are your thoughts? Do you agree with Doyel? Do you not care and just want to see the game? Let us know in the comments below.

| January 27th, 2010 No Comments »
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Sorry, Sir, Your Blood’s Too…Gay

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Erin - BloodJanuary is National Blood Donor Month, honoring the nearly four million U.S. citizens that donate blood each year and serving as a reminder that every day approximately 39,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency rooms.  I’m definitely patting myself on the back right now, as I’ve donated blood virtually every year for the past 10 years. In addition to weight (I've never had an issue meeting that prerequisite) and age requirements, a potential donor cannot be a man who has engaged in gay sex. A quarter of a century ago, the U.S. FDA instituted what has affectionately been termed the “gay blood ban,” prohibiting any man who has had sex with another man since 1977 from giving blood. 

Back in the 1980s, in response to the overwhelming AIDs crisis, banning gay men from donating blood was thought of as a way to keep the nation’s blood supply as “clean” as possible. This was based on the idea that men who have had sex with other men are at higher risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis, posing health risks to potential blood recipients. Interestingly enough, I could have an intimate evening with say, Neil Patrick Harris, and give blood 12 months later, but under the rules, NPH can’t donate if he’s engaged in gay sex…ever. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a serious, monogamous relationship, have been celibate since 1978 or have an incredibly rare blood type, like AB negative – if you’re a gay man, the FDA still says no.

I can try to understand the fear and the subsequent rationale between excluding high-risk groups from donating blood, especially considering how much less was known about HIV/AIDs back in the early 1980s. The fact remains that this ban, thanks to more information about HIV/AIDs and extensive blood testing post-donation, is not only antiquated but completely unnecessary. It furthers the idea that HIV/AIDs is a gay-only disease, fostering discrimination based on sexual orientation rather than scientific fact.  The American Red Cross, America’s Blood Centers and the AABB have all recommended to the FDA that the blood ban on gay donors be ended, changing the deferral time to match those of heterosexual donors, yet the ban remains in effect.

Thanks to modern science, education and awareness campaigns, we all know how HIV is transmitted. More importantly, donated blood undergoes an extensive screening process during the time it’s donated and when it actually gets used, including testing for the HIV virus. Yes, HIV/AIDs occurrences among gay and bisexual men are still incredibly high, yet if you look at the age/race demographics,black and Hispanic communities have been particularly affected by HIV/AIDs in the U.S.  In 2007, 50 percent of all new HIV diagnoses were in black people…could you imagine the social uproar should the FDA decide that that the black community posed too great a risk for blood donation? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

| January 26th, 2010 No Comments »
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Around the “GLOBE” with Alaska Air

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Alaska air Over the weekend, I was checking out The Advocate's website for the latest LGBT news and info. On the top of the site, there was a banner ad for Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air "Gay Travel Event Calendar." Ever the curious frequent flyer, I clicked through to the site to check out more.

It's actually pretty cool. It's a site that lists LGBT events around the world in the cities that Alaska Air serves. And I'm talking events like Gay Days at Disney World, Dinah Shore Week (who knew?!?), and the GLAAD Media Awards. Even better, some of the events had a discount code to book travel. It got me thinking…is this just smart business and smart marketing, or does Alaska Airlines have a real commitment to our LGBT community?

So, I did some more digging. Turns out, Alaska Airlines is making a real effort. They have the "GLOBE team," an employee resource group made up of employees focused on reaching out to the LGBT communities across their route network. They are reaching out by collaborating and supporting LGBT causes and organizations, including Out & Equal and the AIDS walk. Additionally, the airline is making sure that its LGBT employees are feeling included and appreciated, including equal benefits to partners. In fact, for the second year in a row, Alaska Airlines was among 300 U.S. businesses to receive a perfect 100% score by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in the 2010 Corporate Equality Index for its treatment of LGBT employees, customers and investors. And importantly, the effort is sponsored by the airline's chief financial officer and executive vice president Glenn Johnson, which means that the Alaska's c-suite understands the value of our community, both internally and externally.

I've not had the opportunity to fly Alaska Air, but I'm now going to try and make it happen. Rule 101 of LGBT marketing is to include us– include us in your outreach, include us in your corporate social responsibility initiatives, and include us as your employees. If you do this, we'll be loyal to your brand. Alaska gets this, and during a time when the economy is challenging the entire travel industry, I encourage Alaska to keep it up. It will pay dividends in terms of ROI and customer base expansion.

Thank you Alaska Air. To borrow from one of your competitors, the LGBT community "loves to fly, and it shows…"

What airlines do you admire for their LGBT commitments?

| January 25th, 2010 1 Comment »
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