Gay Commercial: American Civil Liberties Union

[reviews_and_ramblings]

An older man wakes in the morning, does his push-ups, brushes his teeth and gets dressed.

He puts on a military uniform and looks at the photographs of his days as a young man in football and service uniforms, sitting on his dresser.

The screen then shows a single word, "freedom," which momentarily seems to be a patriotic ad, but it is then followed by a shot of the man's bed -- with another man of his age in it. The last screen shows the remainder of the sentence, "to differ."

This commercial shows an effective, non-threatening portrait of a male couple that is not stereotyped and older, in favor of its support of gays in the military.

ACLU-WA Executive Director Kathleen Taylor explains that "the ads are aimed at people in their 20s and 30s who share the beliefs and values of the ACLU but are not members – partly because they do not know much about what we stand for. The campaign intends to show how the ACLU relates to their lives and issues they care about," she said. "The language is intentionally hipper than usual for the ACLU," she added.

Despite the national scope of the subject and the ACLU organization, this commercial aired only in Washington State.

Commercial Closet Association

Company: American Civil Liberties Union
Brand: ACLU
Ad Title: The Colonel
Business Category: Regional/Local Politics
Media Outlets: Television
Country: United States
Region: North America, US Regional
Agency: Cole & Weber
Year: 2001, 2002
Target: Mainstream

Comments

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

Great commercial. It would have been awesome if they'd kissed in the end, though.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Dont' ask too much ;-) It was nice thought having an insight in an older couple, I can build all their story in my mind, and being they together at such age, it's for sure an happily ever after! Elisa

[sydmcginley.livejournal.com]

thank you Elisa
This was lovely.
Understated and perfect for its purpose.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It is one of my fav spot, a perfect little story where I can read a lot of things not said. Elisa

[muroku.livejournal.com]

BRILIANT COMMERCIAL

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Simple but effective. Elisa

[snowmore.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful commercial! We all human. We love who we love.

Thank you for posting these gems.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It's a pleasure to find them and share with all of you. Elisa

[lilygcs.livejournal.com]

Beautiful commercial, simple and perfect, thanks for sharing :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

it was my pleasure. Elisa

[marquesate.livejournal.com]

I really liked it, for many reasons: aesthetically pleasing, elegant, understated, quiet (I don't like things that are to "hip", too loud, too fast, I like to be able to think!), intelligent, and it shows an OLDER couple (that doesn't happen often and I am so very pleased that it isn't a sexy, hot young stereotypical couple), and a very simple and effective comfort which comes through the chosen imagery. Of course, on top of taht I like it for a very very obvious reason. :-)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

I was thinking at you while I posted this one. I was betting with myself if you would left a comment. It was the first time you see it? if so I'm happy to bring it to your attention. Elisa

[mongrelheart.livejournal.com]

That was lovely. Very simple and understated and yet very effective. Thank you for posting :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

My pleasure ;-) Elisa