So Is Mine

Several years ago my friend Sabine told me a wonderfully funny story: A young man with whom she worked entered an elevator to find a lovely young woman standing in it. He smiled. She smiled. He turned and said, "By the way, those are great shoes!" Just as the doors were opening, she smirked and said, "Thanks, but I already have a boyfriend." To which he promptly replied, "Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart, so do I."

Well in a switch up, art is imitating life.  Last night we were watching American Idol - don't be hatin' on me, people - when an ad for Kindle aired. In it a man is struggling to read his e-reading device on the beach under the glare of the sun.

 Next to him is a swimsuit-clad woman easily reading her Kindle.  After discussing the benefits of the Kindle, the man buys one for himself and suggests they celebrate.

The woman informs him that her husband is bringing her a drink right now, and the man answers, "So is mine."

Now the ad lacked the sass and punch of Sabine's friend's encounter, but it's still ground-breaking. Yes, there's been print advertising geared toward the LGBT community for years. But to my knowledge, this is the first television ad for a general product that recognized our evolved society.

And the man used the word "husband." That's powerful.

Yes, it aired on American Idol. I realize that the show is a far "safer" bet against controversy than had it aired on Monday Night Football. But you have to start somewhere. And I'd also argue that Idol's demographic is very important - besides middle aged gay men like Kelly and me, it's viewed by younger people: preteens, teens, and the college set.

Their attitudes toward LGBT people are very different from their grandparents'- and seeing a Kindle ad with a twist isn't shocking to them. In fact, they saw just two people with spouses. And that's how change happens.

To view the ad click here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=wY1UIES9wx8