Gay Marketing Goes Mainstream

Major retailers are incorporating gays into their advertising to such an extent that even the conservative old Wall Street Journal has taken note.  I'm not talking about a specialty ad in The Advocate or Out, but rather gay images in advertising directed to mainstream audiences.  From JC Penney with its gay dads and lesbian moms, to The Gap's "Be One" campaign, to Target's same-sex greeting cards, and Kraft's rainbow Oreo, advertising and marketing is going pink in a big way.  The WSJ cites our legendary disposable income (I assume mine will be arriving any day now, along with my copy of the gay agenda), but this trend also speaks to gay acceptance in the wider society.  Clearly, The Gap wouldn't plaster two cute boys on the side of city buses in Dallas (as they recently did with the ad above) if they thought it would offend and alienate straight customers.  Neither would JC Penney feature two gay dads romping around with their adorable kids unless they felt it was good marketing.  In this day and age when practically everyone knows gay people personally and realizes that we're their friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors, featuring us prominently in advertising is just good business.  

h/t LC NY Bureau Chief Doug.