‘I don’t see myself reflected, so I don’t engage’: Survey uncovers advertising’s LGBTQIA+ pitfalls

In a new survey, independent full-service agency, Young Folks, in collaboration with LGBTQIA+ grassroots company, Queer Town, has revealed that there is a severe disconnect between how marketing portrays LGBTQIA+ people and the general public’s expectations.

The survey’s results, garnered from more than 300 Australians, spotlight the ineffectiveness of inauthentic representation.

81% of survey respondents feel that advertising does not showcase real LGBTQIA+ experiences, while 75% say that the amount of current representation is not enough. Respondents justified their answers with several issues, such as subpar diversity, an overdependence on cliches, and a lack of LGBTQIA+ talent and voices working on advertising campaigns.