I've been writing a series of posts on LGBT+ themes in UK sitcoms over on Tumblr - read more HERE - and as an offshoot I started looking at TV advertising. This will serve as a master post for write ups on individual adverts.
☆ 1995. When news of a male/male kiss in a Guinness ad hit the tabloid press the backlash was so strong that the brand chose not to air it. Read more HERE.
☆ 1995. Levi's cast fashion designer Zaldy in drag in an ad for their 501s.
☆ 1996. Boisvert Lingerie featured a lesbian kiss in a post-watershed TV spot asking whether men deserved their product.
☆ 1996. Ford spoofed Levi's controversial 1995 ad in a spot for Ford Escort starring Lily Savage.
☆ 1996. Lynx Jealousy.
☆ 1996. Virgin Vodka aired the first male/male kiss in a UK advert on MTV.
☆ 1997. Polaroid.
☆ 1997. Robinson's Juice.
☆ 1998. IKEA's 'Stop Being So English' campaign encouraged Brits to loosen up and become more like the liberal Swedes.
☆ 1998. Impulse bodyspray's 'Chance Encounter' campaign featured the first overtly gay male couple in UK television advertising.
☆ 1998. Rubberstuffers condoms.
☆ 1999. Heineken.
☆ 2002. Archers' 'Barry's Birthday' and 'Train' adverts for Archers Aqua featured a drag queen and her male go-go dancers.
☆ 2002. BT 'Moving In Together'.
☆ 2002. Virgin Mobile's 'Careful What You Sign' campaign attracted complaints for a prison rape joke.
☆ 2002. WKD. Locker Room.
☆ 2003. Marmite attracted 71 complaints with their ad featuring a prolonged same sex kiss of life. Read more HERE.
☆ 2003. Travelocity.
☆ 2004. Alpen.
☆ 2004. Daz.
☆ 2004. Dr. Pepper's 'What's The Worst That Could Happen?' campaign featured a hapless prom date and a dad who liked wrestling...
☆ 2004. Irn Bru.
☆ 2006. Maltesers had two women rearrange their sleeping boyfriends into each other's arms to advertise the fact that the brand was 'the lighter way to enjoy chocolate'.
☆ 2007. Silverjet.
☆ 2008. An advert for Heinz Deli Mayo featured a same sex kiss - the company withdrew it after receiving over 200 complaints in six days. Read more HERE.
☆ 2012. Barclays became the first UK bank to feature a same sex couple in a TV commercial with their ad for personalised debit cards. Read more HERE.
☆ 2013. Coca Cola's 'Reasons To Believe' campaign included a gay marriage scene in the UK version.
☆ 2013. NatWest bank ran a super sweet ad featuring twin sisters - one who loved her husband Jeff, and the other who loved her girlfriend Kate. There was no fanfare surrounding it, and little mainstream media coverage. Read more HERE.
☆ 2015. Android: And Proud was an animated TV spot celebrating LGBT+ Pride and featuring a same-sex kiss.
☆ 2016. BBC One's Christmas advert included two men sharing a kiss under the mistletoe.
☆ 2016. Lloyds bank featured a same sex proposal in their 'Your Next Step' advert, launched in March. Read more HERE.
☆ 2016. Match.com's 'Love Your Imperfections' campaign has racked up over 1200 complaints since 2016 for its inclusion of an amorous lesbian couple.
☆ 2016. Moneysupermarket.com's Dave and Colin #epicdanceoff ad received complaints for depicting a possible homosexual couple.
☆ 2016. Sainsbury's Christmas campaign, 'The Greatest Gift', featured a same-sex couple and their child.
☆ 2016. Thomas Cook launched a 'bold and contemporary' ad in time for Christmas featuring a same sex kiss and a family with two dads. Read more HERE.
☆ 2016. YOPA online estate agents ran a series of three lighthearted adverts starring The Village People.
☆ 2017. Heineken included two same-sex couples in their 'cocktail' ad for non-alcoholic drinks.
☆ 2017. Kellogg's #MyPerfectBowl campaign included a gay couple talking about how they like to eat their cornflakes.
☆ 2017. McCain's 'We Are Family' campaign featured a gay couple and their baby son who quickly became the object of online abuse.
☆ 2017. O2's 'Oops' campaign featured a brief kiss between two young men - and generated 125 complaints to the ASA in the process. Read more HERE.
☆ 2017. Sainsbury's #everybitofchristmas campaign featured a gay couple and their daughter.
☆ 2017. Tesco's 'Turkey, Every Which Way' campaign courted controversy - but not for its inclusion of a gay couple and their baby.
☆ 2018. McCain's 'Here's To Love' spot featured a same sex couple.
☆ 2018. HSBC UK's 'Connected Money' ad talks about the banks of mum and dad, dad and dad, and mum and mum...
