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The third annual Commercial Closet Association 'Images In Advertising' awards recognizing excellence in GLBT advertising have been announced.
The Commercial Closet awards, announced this week at the Time Warner Center in New York, are the acknowledged standard of recognition of excellence for advertising targeting GLBT markets using targeted gay advertising approaches, as well as the reflections of GLBT people presented in general market ads.
This year's winner in the "Outstanding Interactive" category is leading global GLBT marketing and advertising agency specialists, Out Now Consulting.
The winning gay online advertising was created by the agency for its client Lufthansa German Airlines, and targeted gay and lesbian consumers in the Netherlands market. Out Now's 'Lufthansa OutShots' campaign utilized a combination of advertising, PR and database marketing to more effectively position the Lufthansa brand in the GLBT market.
On receiving the award the Founder and CEO of the leading global LGBT agency Out Now, Ian Johnson, said the agency was delighted for its lesbian and gay advertising work to be acknowledged in this way.
"We are currently celebrating our fifteenth year of using detailed gay market research to create more effective gay advertising that works," said Johnson. "The advertising Out Now creates helps people better understand that gay and lesbian people are equal to all others in our society."
"Our advertising puts lesbian and gay people into the advertising picture just where they belong by using realistic life portrayals that are based on respect and equality," according to Johnson. "That is the most important aspect to what we do. To receive an award for doing it is both a great honor and a joy."
"Lufthansa has been a strong supporter of the GLBT market for some years so it is especially fitting that one of Out Now's campaigns for this client was the winner," said Johnson.
The winning interactive campaign was developed by longtime Out Now designer Ben Zane with online programming delivered by the leading Dutch digital engineers: Arlanet.
"We applaud all of this year’s nominees and winners," said Michael Wilke, Executive Director of Commercial Closet Association. "The winning commercials depicted GLBT relationships as endearing and playful. Inclusiveness in media is a key to fostering a more accepting society for the GLBT community."
About Out Now
Out Now Consulting is a market leader in GLBT marketing research and strategy. Established in 1992, the firm is a global gay market agency relied upon by a wide range of clients. Out Now undertakes research for gay media and mainstream companies around the world. Services include LGBT market research, training, gay advertising, public relations and strategy development. Clients include Barclays Bank, IBM, Toyota, German National Tourist Office, Qantas Airways, Visit Britain, Lufthansa, South African Tourism and Citibank.
About Commercial Closet Association
Commercial Closet Association (CommercialCloset.org) was founded by veteran advertising industry journalist Michael Wilke in 2001 and has become a sought-after authority on GLBT images in advertising. The nonprofit organization educates and influences the advertising industry to understand, respect and include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) references in advertising to achieve a more accepting society and successful business results. The organization provides advertising training, produces a syndicated column on trends in GLBT advertising, hosts the annual Images In Advertising Awards, and maintains a powerful ad library of over 3,500 GLBT ads spanning 33 countries and 85 years with ratings.
For further information please contact:
Mike Wilke, Executive Director
Commercial Closet Association
P: +1-212-995 0147
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info[.]outnowconsulting.com 
