The nominees for the PinkNews Ad Campaign of the Year award

PinkNews logo on a pink background surrounded by illustrated line drawings of a rainbow, pride flag, unicorn and more.

The PinkNews Awards takes place on 18 October 2017 at a central London location.

The event recognises the important contributions by politicians, community groups, campaigners, businesses and broadcasters towards improving LGBT+ life at home and abroad.

The Ad Campaign of the Year category recognises campaigns which either celebrate the LGBT community or seamlessly integrates LGBT people into its messaging.

The shortlist is available to view below, along with a form to rank your favourites.

Coca-Cola – Pool Boy

Earlier this year Coca-Cola unveiled an ad featuring an epic gay twist.

It sees a teenager daughter lusting after a pool boy, and then getting into a friendly sibling competition with her brother for his attentions.

Check it out here:

Heineken – Worlds Apart

Heineken’s Worlds Apart ad brings together pairs of people on the opposite sides of important issues: climate change, feminism – and transgender rights.

It includes a moving exchange between a guy who says he is anti-trans rights at the beginning and a trans woman.

Watch it below:

Lush Cosmetics Valentines campaign

Lush North America unveiled a campaign featuring a same-sex couple sharing a romantic moment in a bath together.

Check out an image of the campaign below:

The nominees for the PinkNews Ad Campaign of the Year award

India – Vicks #TouchOfCare

This extremely moving advert from Vicks India includes a powerful transgender twist.

Check it out here:

Sainsbury’s – Valentine’s Day cards and Greatest Gift ads

The supermarket giant this year unveiled a collection of LGBT-themed Valentine’s Day cards, and featured same-sex couples in its Christmas ad campaign ‘The Greatest Gift’.

Skittles – ‘giving back the rainbow’

For the second year in a row, Skittles dumped its normal rainbow colours to ‘give back the rainbow’ to Pride.

The packets were stripped of their colours and the sweets contained within also went colourless.

Check out a picture of the Skittles without the rainbow below:

white skittles

Kodak – ‘Understanding’

Kodak has released a short film about the power of love and acceptance – filmed on 35mm, the powerful video tells an emotional story.

Check it out below:


ANZ – #HoldTight

This campaign from ANZ, encourages same-sex couples to keep holding hands in the face of adversity.

The company, which is supporting this year’s Auckland Pride, say: “even in 2017, the simple act of holding hands is still difficult for some people – let’s change that and #HoldTight.”

Watch it below:

Use the link below to vote for your favourites in all categories.

Click here for the form to vote for your favourites for the PinkNews Awards 2017

Click here for the full shortlist of nominees in all categories.

The PinkNews Awards is generously supported by Lloyds Banking Group

Lloyds Banking Group logo