Microsoft Outlook features a same-sex wedding as part of its new advertising campaign.
The new clip shows two women tying the knot before one updates her surname within the Outlook program.
The commercial follows in the footsteps of Kindle Paperwhite, which has produced a similarly marriage equality-themed ad. Earlier this year, Crate & Barrel similarly depicted two men at a romantic dinner as part of a new "January Inspiration" catalog.
Bob Witeck, who consults for Fortune 100 companies on LGBT marketing and communications strategies, told the Associated Press that President Barack Obama's controversial embrace of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights has changed the playing field for corporate advertising in recent months.
"Things have changed significantly in terms of risk and reward," Witeck is quoted by the AP as saying. "Businesses don't view this as a risk model any longer."
H/T Joe. My. God.
Also on HuffPost:
Birdo From 'Super Mario Bros. 2'
The original manual for "Super Mario Bros. 2" asserts that Birdo is a boy who believes that he is a girl, and would rather be referred to as "Birdetta".
Although the name change never took effect and later franchise installments dropped mention of Birdo's gender, it was widely discussed by gaming magazines. One writer called the pink reptile '<a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/6808/" target="_hplink">infamously gender-confused</a>' while another speculated Birdo was <a href="http://www.transsexual.org/birdo.html" target="_hplink">post-op transsexual</a>. If that's the case, kudos to you, Birdo, for queering the Nintendo universe and staying true to yourself.
Liara From 'Mass Effect'
In BioWare's sci-fi series, "Mass Effect," whether the player chooses to play as a male or female character, there is an option for a subplot romance and sexual encounter with the alien Liara. Liara takes pansexuality to the extreme -- she is a member of an all-female race that is able to reproduce with any sex of any species.
Tony From 'Earthbound'
There was no mention of Tony's sexuality in the 1994 Super Nintendo classic "Earthbound," but there are several hints at a crush on bookish best friend and roommate Jeff Andonuts, like Tony waking up and saying, "Ah, Jeff, I just dreamt you and I were taking a walk."
After defeating Giygas, a gift box in Saturn Valley contains a letter that Tony wrote to Jeff, saying "I can't wait to see your cheerful face. I bet your glasses are dirty... If you come back, I'll clean them for you! Like I said, I'm waiting for you...Don't show this letter to anyone!"
Years after the game's release, director Shigesato Itoi <a href="http://earthboundcentral.com/2008/06/yes-tony-is-gay-and-mr-saturn-is-innocent/" target="_hplink">confirmed Tony is gay</a>. For more on Tony's sexuality, check out <a href="http://gay-nerds.com/site/videogames/unrequited-love-earthbounds-gay-tony/" target="_hplink">this post</a> on <a href="http://gay-nerds.com/site/" target="_hplink">gay-nerds.com</a>.
(edit: Video changed because the previous one was pretty offensive. Original video was a last minute addition to replace a screen shot. An error made in haste. Apologies. Thanks for pointing that out, user AscensionSoon.)
Jimmy Hopkins From 'Bully'
As tough guy Jimmy Hopkins, the protagonist of "Bully," players can make out with either boys or girls to gain health. Although the game ends with Jimmy making out with female love interest Zoe, one of the female characters in the game alludes to Jimmy's curiosity, saying, "I'm like Helen of Troy, but you seem more interested in boys named Troy."
Kanji Tatsumi From 'Persona 4'
In the 2008 role-playing game "Persona 4," street punk Kanji Tatsumi must confront his closeted homosexuality... literally.
In the battle against Shadow Kanji, shown in the clip, Kanji fights the woman-hating, narcissistic menace that lives within him. As the embodiment of all the negative stereotypes of gay people which Kanji had internalized, and the deep-seated anxieties surrounding masculinity, the defeat of Shadow Kanji is indicative of Kanji accepting his sexuality as an essential, yet not essentializing, part of himself.
For a fantastic analysis of sexuality and homophobia in "Persona 4," check out <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22015" target="_hplink">this Gamasutra article</a>.
Gay Tony From 'Grand Theft Auto IV'
Gay Tony is the pill-popping, cocaine-snorting gay club owner in "Grand Theft Auto IV" who is friends with main character Niko Belic. The powerful and destructive socialite was given an expanded role in the follow-up titled "Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony."
Vamp From 'Metal Gear Solid'
Vamp, who was introduced in "Metal Gear Solid 2" as a blood-feeding antagonist with superhuman strength and affinity for knives, didn't get his name for his vampiric qualities. Rather, "Vamp" is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpx5TW1A68I" target="_hplink">apparently slang</a> for men who suck the necks of men and refers to his bisexuality.
Sims From 'The Sims'
How about this for a progressive view of sexuality: In Maxis's groundbreaking life-simulator series "The Sims," no Sim is straight by default, as s/he can have a crush on, fall in love with, engage in romantic interactions and "WooHoo" with a Sim of either gender.
Arcade Gannon From 'Fallout: New Vegas'
In the 2009 sci-fi game "Fallout: New Vegas," Arcade Gannon is a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse in 2281 and researches the potential medicinal uses of natural compounds.
As you can see in the clip, he is highly intelligent, personable, and quick-witted. Whereas many LGBT characters are defined only by their queerness, Gannon is a complex character who happens to be gay.
Juhani From 'Star Wars: Knight Of The Old Republic'
When Juhani appeared as a playable character in the 2003 sci-fi game "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic," she became the first openly gay character in the Star Wars universe. Although some versions of the game contain a glitch that allows a romantic subplot with a male player, and there are hacks to unlock this in games that don't, Juhani is, under normal circumstances, strictly a lady's lady.
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