Provocative New PFLAG Campaign from Draftfcb Toronto Helps LGBT Community Connect and Share their Experiences

Today, Draftfcb Toronto launched a national campaign that uses inspirational testimonials from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally (LGBTA) community in support of the not-for-profit organization PFLAG Canada. The campaign, which utilizes QR codes and mobile video, features 14 inspiring personal stories from the LGBTA community, including Rex Harrington, former principal dancer with the National Ballet and recent guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and Terry Edward Briceland, sewing specialist for HGTV’s Divine Design. 

The fully integrated campaign will run on television, print, out-of-home and online, featuring real people sharing their personal journeys of coming out conveys the importance of supportive personal connections. Every creative execution features one of the 14 individuals, and a QR code that leads to their video, which gives users access to the complete series of videos on stories.pflagcanada.ca. The intent is for the campaign to grow, for users to upload their own stories and connect to the videos created by their friends and family.

Some of the stories include:
12-year-old Bryce, who is being raised by four gay parents: three mothers and one father. Her story is connected to her father’s video, Terry Edward Briceland.
Jazz, a young gay woman who credits her sister for helping save her from a suicide attempt. Her video is connected to her partner’s, Nicole.
Mike, who has become an advocate for the gay black community. His video is connected to his husband Doug’s story.
Jennifer, the mother of a trans-identified son Mason
Darlene, who came out as a lesbian after 17 years of being married to a man

The campaign was created by the Draftfcb Toronto creative team of Elma Karabegovic and Lauren Miller and was originally recognized at the 2011 National Advertising Awards, winning Miller and Karabegovic a trip to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Draftfcb and PFLAG Canada partnered with Radical Media, Radke Films and a number of media partners to realize the campaign, attracting over $400,000 in donated media across a wide range of channels. Brett Froomer from Radical Media/Radke Films directed the online videos, TV commercials, and also shot the photographs for online, print and out-of-home media. Editor was Izzy Ehrlich with Rooster Post, with music created by Vapor in Toronto.

Campaign Credits:
Draftfcb
Chief Creative Director: Robin Heisey
Associate Creative Director: Lauren Miller
Art Director: Elma Karabegovic
Business Director: Stephanie Myers
Account Director: Cynthia Roach
VP, Integrated Production: Judy Hamilton
Producer: Anna Neilson

PFLAG
Marketing Board Director: Mark Childs
Executive Director: Cherie McLeod

Radical Media/Radke Films
Director: Brett Froomer
Executive Producer: Scott Mackenze
Line Producer: Gillian Marr

Rooster Post
Editor: Izzy Erlich

Vapor Music
Composer: Gerry Mosby
Engineer: Julian Rudd
Producer: Gavin Nevsky

About Draftfcb Canada
With its foundation based upon the equal principles of creativity and accountability, Draftfcb is an integrated marketing communications agency with offices in Toronto and Montreal, the Canadian arm of a network that spans 96 countries and employs more than 9,200 people. It is the first global, fully integrated marketing communications agency to operate against a single P&L. and is driven by The 6.5 Seconds That MatterSM, an operating system that recognizes the brief period of time marketers have to engage and establish relevance with consumers. The agency is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG), and its leadership team includes Paul Mead, President; John Boniface, Chief Operating Officer; Robin Heisey, Chief Creative Officer; Anne Fortin, VP Managing Director, Montreal; and Dave Adams, Chief Financial Officer. For more information, visit www.draftfcb.ca.

For media queries, please contact Robin Heisey, Chief Creative Officer at (416) 505-1014 or robin.heisey@draftfcb.com.

About PFLAG Canada
PFLAG Canada is a national charitable organization that provides support, information and resources to anyone with questions or concerns about sexual orientation or gender identity issues. The organization oversees a network of highly effective volunteers that provide local support in nearly 80 communities nationwide. People who are struggling with sexual and gender identity issues often have difficulty asking for help. PFLAG Canada is there when it seems no-one else is. The organization has recently committed to expanding its toll-free support services to 24/7 support network hours a day, 7 days a week. Inspire Change. www.pflagcanada.ca

For more information please contact:
Mark Childs, Marketing Board Director, 416.550.1095
Cherie MacLeod, Executive Director execdirector@pflagcanada.ca 506.869.8191
Jayme Harper, President president@pflagcanada.ca 905.231.0954