Venez comme vous êtes…

Tickle me rainbow when McDonalds launched a commercial earlier this month that was void of mass commercialism and appeal to the largest possible demographic catering instead to the LGBT community and their supporters. The campaign aptly titled “Come as you are” has stirred great controversy Stateside but not in the country it continues to air in, France. The peak of the media blitz surrounding its release occurred when the ever-so-charming Bill O’Reilly cracked an off-the-cuff joke exclaiming “Do they have an Al-Qaeda ad?” It even drew the ire of the klassy-with-a-capital-K Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View because “it didn’t feature McDonalds products so what’s the point?” Seriously, did anyone question which restaurant was being featured? Really.

I’ve kept this commercial in the back of my mind for the past two weeks as it continues to provoke a new thought in my head (you know, as opposed to outside of it) every day. I’m not pronouncing it to be the greatest innovation since Channel No. 5 but I do think it has a.) exemplified that the LGBT is a viable demographic which deserves it’s own marketing mindset b.) markets, cultures all around the world are extraordinarily different c.) homophobia has become the new “uncool.” McDonalds wasn’t reinventing the wheel on this commercial, but for a corporation the size of McDonalds to put consumerism behind them and let one of their core values be placed at the forefront, its something worthy of a second thought.

Ultimately, companies should advertise to reach the largest number of customers for their products. Sexual orientation should just be another demographic in the mix, and just as with all the other groups, advertising should be done well. McDonalds was clearly making a point to highlight their core value of being an inclusive company and I laud them for taking a moment from pushing their latest cholesterol-raising, yet ever-so-delicious masterpiece to make poignant commentary that has opened the flood gates for future debate.

In the word’s of Bravo’s Andy Cohen: Mazel!

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