Coca Cola to Sponsor NYC Pride

In a surprising move, Coca Cola announced today that it will be the presenting sponsor of NYC gay pride this year. Surprisingly good, that is, that the top global brand in the world is openly making such a major commitment to the LGBT community. With support for gay rights highest amount younger age groups and with kids coming out younger and younger, it seems like a good business decision too. 

Here's what they said via press release: “At Coca-Cola, one of our seven core values is diversity, and we define that in a simple way - we are as inclusive as our brands,” said Hallie Lorber, Director of Field Marketing, Northeast region. “Through our partnership with NYC Pride, we hope to promote diversity by recognizing the valued members of the Coca-Cola family who help build our business every day, as well as people in the LGBT community for whom our brands inspire moments of optimism, happiness and refreshment.” 

Tel Aviv: The Next Big Gay Tourism Spot

That's right, Tel Aviv is emerging as an iconic international gay vacation destination. Did you know that Tel Aviv hosts the largest pride parade in Asia? Or that it was named by Out Magazine as the gay capital of the middle east? Or that the city devotes more than a third of its marketing budget to attracting LGBT tourists with campaigns like this one? Or that gays serve openly in Israel's military? I didn't. Here's an interesting article to learn more. 

Beyond Better: A Manifesto for Queer Youth

Here's an outstanding video that was made by the students of Margaret Himley's Queer Writing class at Syracuse University last year. The course is part of Syracuse's LGBT Studies minor (which I proudly hold), the first of its kind in the United States.

Wishing Everyone a Happy Pride

Ad Spotlight: Rokk Vodka

I've never heard of Rokk, but I like their LGBT pride campaign, which highlights the fact that they've been a big sponsor of GLAAD:

Hotels to Avoid for San Francisco Pride

Sleep With The Right People (SWTRP), a collaboration between the organization UNITE HERE and the LGBT community, has launched a list of hotels to avoid if you're going to San Francisco this year for pride. They are: 

• Hyatt Regency Hotel – Embarcadero
• Grand Hyatt Hotel – Union Square
• Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel
• Le Meridien Hotel
• Hotel Frank

Click here for more information. Or, to see a list of hotels to avoid across the whole country, click here. 

Old Navy Launches Pride-Themed T-Shirts

Yesterday, Old Navy released a line of Pride-themed T-shirts. 10% of the proceeds will go to the "It Gets Better" project. A spokeswoman for the store released a statement saying, "our customers and employees are of many different ethnicities, faiths and lifestyles, and we support them all.” 

LOGO's Guide to Pride

LOGO has just released an online guide to this year's upcoming Pride celebrations around the world. Click here to take a look. And well you're at it, check out my recent article on marketing for Pride here.