Let me start off by saying that this post wouldn’t be a reality, without this post.

It inspired me to go out and find the item it speaks to.

Compared to some people, who might live in larger metropolitan centres, or at the very least, have easier access to them, I’m in the middle of no where. I live in what is essentially a suburb of a small city, which really, by definition, makes it a small town. AND it’s in the Bible Belt. So, my exposure to such items is because of wonderful people like the article’s author. I’ve realized that I’ve become somewhat of a stalker of this gentleman’s, reading each and every post he writes, and commenting on quite a few of those posts. Somehow, I’ve been blessed to form a relationship of sorts with him, and it’s so refreshing and humbling to have him respect my work, I’m assuming at least as half as much as I respect his. So, enough of the Kumbya moment….

The title says it all. Real Progress. In what you might ask, if you haven’t read the reference post I linked above.

Advertising. Gay Rights. Social Growth. Modern Mentality.

Whoa. That’s a lot. But it’s all true.

The Vancouver Sun recently ran an ad from TD Canada Trust. Yesterday in fact, January 11, 2011. It takes 3/4  of a page. And it’s not buried in the back. It’s on Page 8.

I was beyond impressed with the content of this ad, which is below:

Now, what do you see? In the front of the image, a couple. Not just any couple, a same sex couple. It’s not blatantly offensive, it’s simply just regular people, going on about their day. They’re dressed well, and maintain themselves. TD Canada Trust could have thrown them to the middle of the picture, instead of the heterosexual couple, or further back like the woman walking away, or the man in the far back, but no, they’re forefront and happily living their life.

Below the main picture is the text and the typical chair with whoever the picture is of sitting in it. Classic TD Canada Trust advertising. BUT, who’s in it? The male couple! Looking very very much in love and comfortable with each other. Which is a huge thing, again, about the advertising done by this bank.

TD Canada Trust is historically a Gay Friendly company, they donate to LGBTQ causes and organizations all the time. And this ad was in Vancouver. I would love to see it elsewhere, where perhaps the LGBTQ Community isn’t so visible. WHY? Many reasons, which belong in another post really, but the main one being, this is not a gratuitous sexy picture, or exploitive of a stereotype on a massive level. When you see that this older more mature couple is used in the advertising, which can be, again, another post, it causes you to think of our elder LGBTQ people are often forgotten about. Once the shiny is gone, they’re often left behind.

Even the headline: ‘Today: Market Growth GICs Someday: Personal Growth’ is something that makes you think. Perhaps some of the people seeing this ad will be provoked to move into a newer level of personal growth, as this promotes the ‘normalcy’ of this couple. Which is AMAZING.

I encourage you to take a look at the post I linked to, as Rick has many valid and interesting points about this ad. Please, while you’re there, poke around the rest of the blog. A definite MUST read!