PFLAG Launches "Someone You Love is Gay" Campaign

For the first time in its history, the Columbia-Howard County chapter of PFLAG—Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays—launched a multimedia ad campaign to increase awareness about the organization’s support services to the community. The two-pronged approach features ads on the back panels of Howard County transit buses as well as a 30-second commercial to run on the Bravo cable network carried by Comcast in Howard County.

The bus ad features the message, “Someone You Love is Gay” and the chapter’s website address. The ad will run for several months on five large green transit buses throughout the county.

Using the same theme, “Someone You Love is Gay,” the commercial is airing on Bravo throughout September. The ad explains the likelihood that a family member, a co-worker, a friend or a neighbor is gay, and that PFLAG is available for support. It also includes testimonials from parents of a gay child, a gay couple and a member of the chapter’s Rainbow Youth Alliance. [See the ad below.]

“Our chapter has existed for 16 years in this county and there are still so many people who do not know what PFLAG is or how we contribute to the community,” noted Colette Roberts, the chapter’s co-founder and chairperson.

“Through this ad campaign we want to ensure that anyone who is a parent or family member of a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered (GLBT) child understands that PFLAG, with its Parents’ Forum, is a place where support is offered by other parents. Our Rainbow Youth Alliance provides a safe space for GLBT youth and their allies to meet and discuss issues that are important to them under adult supervision. We also want to emphasize that all members of the GLBT community are welcome to enjoy our monthly programs and to meet new friends,” Roberts said.

The bus ad was designed and produced by members of the chapter, and the chapter acknowledges the cooperation provided by staff from the Corridor Transportation Corporation. The commercial was also developed and produced in-house. Bumper stickers and tee-shirts with the same theme are in production.