How are LGBTQ families represented in advertising?

It is often said that ’life imitates art and art imitates life.’ If that were true, 5.6% of all advertisements in the US alone would feature an LGBTQ+ character, and not just during the month of June. Today, Lego can release a rainbow lego set predicated on the idea that “Everyone is Awesome.” Global brands like Coca-cola, Verizon, and Gillette have little to no hesitation overtly advertising to and on behalf of their LGBTQ+ audiences. In fact, it is more of a risk not to feature inclusive advertisements considering the $3.7 trillion purchasing power of the LGBTQ+ community and their higher than average brand loyalty. According to our Global Workplace LGBTQ+ Attitudes Survey, eighty-one percent of LGBTQ-identifying individuals and allies are more likely to purchase a good or product from a company that supports LGBTQ+ equality. Undeniably, there is immense symbolic power in having experiences and representation of marginalised identities highlighted on posters and screens. Nevertheless, this significance is short-lived if it is not accompanied by companies’ genuine commitment to introduce affirmative policies for queer people and fight for equality. There need to be appropriate measures to ensure that queer identities are not harassed or discriminated against in the workplace, there is a proper representation of queer community members in decision making positions and improve the pay, contracts, and rights of the most precarious and exploited workers, many of whom, as LGBTQ+ rights statistics suggest, are queer, trans and/or people of colour.