9 Resources for LGBTQIA+ Representation in Advertising
A compilation dedicated to lifting up LGBTQIA+ voices in our industry
The influence of advertising on public perceptions is powerful. So we want to celebrate and support organizations who are harnessing that power to make our industry representative of LGBTQ+ individuals—ensuring that the messages we share are consistent with the future we want for the world. One that is free of outdated tropes and embraces opportunities to foster community.
Here are a handful resources helping the creative industry grow together as a more inclusive community.
Resources
LGBTQ Guidebook for Visual Storytelling
GLAAD x Getty Images
In a joint initiative with GLAAD, Getty images is seeking to amplify more authentic depictions of LGBTQ+ people by developing a Visual Storytelling Guide. The Guidebook is meant to add inclusivity to the visual selections of advertisers when representing the LGBTQ+ community.
The Visibility Project
GLAAD x Proctor & Gamble
Research done by Proctor & Gamble and GLAAD showed that there is a strong need among ad executives for tools and resources that help provide a pathway to LGBTQ+ inclusivity. The Visibility Project aims to remedy this need, as advertisers can join and receive research findings, opportunities to partner with SMEs to help them grow, and visibility for their brand and agency as allies.
Queer Spaces and Faces
Storyblocks
As a stock media company, Storyblocks understands the importance of visual imagery on a story’s impact. The company works to close the gap in media representation through authentic content, and “Queer Spaces and Faces” is its latest stock collection that makes it simple and accessible for advertisers to create inclusive content.
Media Reference Guide
GLAAD
Telling someone’s story is a big responsibility. It’s the job of marketers to tell stories with fairness, integrity, and respect for all. GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide, now in its tenth edition, provides tools for media professionals to tell LGBTQ+ people’s stories accurately and ensure an authentic depiction of the community.
Queer Design Club
Queer Design Club’s goal is to create community for queer creators to share their work, connect with their creative history and build relationships with each other. It includes a designer directory that gives individuals a space to highlight their work and create employment opportunities as well as a closed Slack group that offers a safe space for connections to be made and projects to be shared.
Advertising Dos & Don’ts
Commercial Closet Association
The Commercial Closet Association has released a guide of “dos and don’ts” as a tool for marketers to expand creative thinking and enhance the messaging that reaches all consumers to include language that fairly represents the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQ Marketing and Advertising: Best Practices
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Similarly, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation has released a roundup of LGBTQ+ advertising best practices for marketers looking toward a more representative future. The list includes recommendations including consistency and thorough market research as well as stereotypes to avoid.
Career Resources for LGBTQ+ Professionals in Creative, Marketing, and Technology
Onward Search
Onward Search compiled a list of organizations in the creative, marketing, and tech industries that support LGBTQ+ candidates in taking the next step in their careers. These resources offer advice, networking, and job boards with open opportunities.
Pride Month Resources
Library of Congress
Making advertising more representative begins by truly understanding individuals’ stories and the history of underrepresented groups. In honor of Pride, the Library of Congress has compiled catalog of primary and secondary resources—all aimed at highlighting and uplifting LGBTQ+ voices.
