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Banned United Church of Christ TV ad named Outstanding Commercial of 2004

Banned United Church of Christ TV ad named Outstanding Commercial of 2004
NEW YORK CITY - A United Church of Christ television commercial by Gotham Inc., banned by the big three television networks, was named Outstanding 2004 Commercial for its positive portrayal of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people at the first-ever Commercial Closet Images in Advertising Awards Monday night. The nonprofit Commercial Closet Association works to improve public opinion of the LGBT community through more informed LGBT portrayals in the powerful medium of advertising. The organization offers advertising sensitivity workshops and its web site, CommercialCloset.org, houses the worlds largest archive of LGBT-themed ads, with over 2,500 global examples, including ratings and analysis, Best Practices, and other resources. Honored for its bold embrace of diversity, the United Church of Christ commercial stirred controversy with its portrayal of a male couple prevented from entering a church by two bouncers. The commercial concludes with a diverse group of church members that includes a female couple. Hosted by Merrill Lynch at its headquarters in the World Financial Center, the Images in Advertising Awards featured a special appearance by comedian Kate Clinton and was co-hosted by Queer Eye for the Straight Guy stars Thom Filicia and Kyan Douglas. Filicia and Douglas themselves are recent examples of how corporations including Pier 1 and LOreal, whom they have been affiliated with in commercials, are increasingly embracing openly Gay celebrities as product endorsers. Other awards presented at the event included: Outstanding Achievement by Advertising Industry Professional: Kenneth Cole was saluted for consistently creating attention-grabbing advertising that takes high-profile stands on political and social issues, including a 2004 campaign that promoted equal marriage rights. Outstanding Gay Market Creative Ad: Wyndham Hotels and its ad agency Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners were recognized for a series of ads that portrayed Gay couples in a positive light and challenged clichés and stereotypes. Outstanding Mainstream Print Ad/Outdoor: PinkTV, Frances 24-hour Gay channel, was honored for featuring a 1984 photograph of former French President Francois Mitterrand and ex-German leader Helmut Kohl with the headline, A relationship is about more than just sex. The ad attracted significant media attention last fall for the channels launch. The Clean-Up-Your-Act Notice: General Motors Corp.s Chevrolet Colorado and Campbell-Ewald Advertising earned this dubious distinction for a television commercial in which several men in a pickup truck become noticeably uncomfortable when one male passenger loudly sings the Shania Twain hit Man, I Feel Like a Woman. The winners of the first-ever Commercial Closet Images in Advertising Awards have played a powerful role in shaping public opinion of the LGBT community, said Michael Wilke, founder and executive director of Commercial Closet Association. Were thrilled to salute the people and companies who are setting the standard for the advertising industry. Winners of the Images in Advertising Awards were selected by Commercial Closets executive and advisory boards, which include leading advertising and creative industry professionals. The first round of nominees was selected by Wilke. Founded by Wilke in 2001, Commercial Closet has become a sought-after authority on Gay images in advertising. Along with appearances on CNN, CNBC, and Fox, Wilke lectures around the world with a highly acclaimed presentation on the history of GLBT portrayals in mainstream ads. Commercial Closet Association


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