The Ad Council's latest Love Has No Labels
initiative bridges the gap between understanding and empathy for
the barriers millions of LGBTQ+ people continue to face every
day
NEW
YORK, Aug. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today,
the Ad Council launched the latest effort in its Emmy-Award-winning
Love Has No Labels campaign to raise awareness of the
ongoing discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ people and to remind
audiences how they can help create a more accepting and inclusive
society.
WATCH THE NEW LOVE HAS NO LABELS "AMERICAN
DREAMS" VIDEO
Since the initial launch of the campaign nearly a decade ago,
hatred and division still plague our country, with rising
discrimination targeting LGBTQ+ people and increasing their
risks of experiencing housing and broader discrimination, as well
as threats of violence. But as disparities persist, many people
across the country are unaware of the present-day threats and the
realities of LGBTQ+ people. The new effort — "American
Dreams", developed pro bono by R/GA, a global digital design
and advertising agency, directed by Luke
Gilford, and produced by Golden LA — was created with this
in mind, emphasizing the shared humanity, dreams and hopes of
people across all walks of life, juxtaposed against the reality for
LGBTQ+ people.
"No one should face discrimination because of who they are,"
said Ad Council President and CEO Lisa
Sherman. "There is more that unites us than divides us, and
this new campaign was designed to empower individuals across the
country to see the inequities impacting so many and take actions
that help ensure that LGBTQ+ people also have the opportunity
to pursue their dreams."
Today, 28 U.S. states lack laws that protect LGBTQ+ people
from being denied housing, public accommodations and other services
based solely on their gender identity and sexual orientation. This
means that in more than half of U.S. states, LGBTQ+ people could be
denied housing just because of who they are. Concerningly, 50% of
LGBTQ+ Americans have also been harassed, fired or denied a
promotion at work because of who they are.
The new "American Dreams" effort highlights the barriers that
exist in achieving equality and protection against discrimination
for all. It then directs audiences to the LoveHasNoLabels.com
website. On the site, people are encouraged to learn about the
legal protections that do (or do not exist) in their state, read
stories from LGBTQ+ people about their experiences with
discrimination and access resources to help foster more accepting
communities.
"The Ad Council's Love Has No Labels 'American
Dreams' campaign is more than just a message — it's a call to
action," said Robin Forbes, global
chief executive officer at R/GA. "It's an urgent reminder that we
must all take steps to ensure LGBTQ+ individuals are treated with
the respect and equality they deserve. Campaigns like this are a
critical tool in the toolkit we can use to highlight our shared
humanity and emphasize that discrimination has no place in our
society. R/GA is proud to partner with The Ad Council to tackle
these issues head-on, reinforcing that we're all human before
anything else."
The campaign's latest initiative was funded by California's BRIDGE Project Fund to
support Love Has No Labels' ongoing mission of spreading
messages that change hearts and minds, and inspire the public to
take meaningful actions that create a more inclusive society.
Love Has No Labels partnered with a range of issue
experts and nonprofit organization partners to develop this work,
including GLAAD, The Human Rights Campaign, the Movement
Advancement Project and The Trevor Project. The campaign's advisory
committee – comprised of leaders from Deutsch LA, Equality
California, Evans Hotels, iHeartMedia, J&Z Strategies, National
Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, TransFamily Support
Services/TransYouth Liberation and The Williams Institute – helped
advise on the development of the latest initiative.
The campaign will appear nationwide in advertising inventory
donated by the media industry, including iHeartMedia which
also produced audio assets for the campaign. In addition to
widespread reach through the PSAs, "American Dreams" will meet
audiences where they are through custom content with celebrities
and other trusted messengers, media partnerships and more to extend
this critical message.
Since the campaign's launch in March
2015, its PSAs have exceeded 430 million online views
and LoveHasNoLabels.com has had more than 34 million
unique visitors. According to a survey commissioned by the Ad
Council and conducted by Ipsos, Public Affairs, those who are aware
of "Love Has No Labels" public service announcements (PSAs) are
significantly more likely to have taken action to prevent
discrimination or prejudice (88% ad aware vs 62% non-ad aware).
Visit LoveHasNoLabels.com and join the campaign's social
communities on Instagram, Facebook and X to learn more and stay
tuned for campaign updates, including influencer partnerships,
additional stories of LGBTQ+ experiences and more.
The Ad Council
The Ad Council convenes creative
storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening
hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change around the most
pressing issues in America. Since the non-profit's founding, the
organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and
tech have been behind some of the country's most iconic social
impact campaigns – Smokey Bear, A
Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste, Love Has No Labels, Tear
the Paper Ceiling and many more. With a current focus on mental
health, gun safety, the overdose crisis, skill-based hiring and
other critical issues, the Ad Council's national campaigns
encompass advertising and media content, ground game and community
efforts, trusted messenger and influencer engagement, and employer
programs, among other innovative strategies to move the needle on
the most important issues of the day.
To learn more or get involved, visit AdCouncil.org, join
the Ad Council's communities on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and
X, and view campaign creative on YouTube.
R/GA
R/GA is a global creative innovation company, part of The
Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), with people across the
Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.
We harness design and technology to create more valuable
experiences for people and brands. Our core services include Brand
Design, Product & Experience Design, CRM & Relationship
Design, and Campaign & Content Design. We also have specialized
capabilities around Health, Ventures, AI, Commerce and more. For
more information, please visit rga.com.
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SOURCE The Ad Council
