WHERE SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING MEETS LGBTQ+ EQUALITY

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Company: Trane
    View Company Scorecard / Contact Company
Brand: Trane
Ad Title: Transvestite Son
Business Category: Appliances
Media Outlets: Television
Country: Thailand
Region: Asia
Agency: TBWA Worldwide
Year: 2000
Target: Mainstream
Company: Trane
    View Company Scorecard / Contact Company
Brand: Trane
Ad Title: Transvestite Son
Business Category: Appliances
Media Outlets: Television
Country: Thailand
Region: Asia
Agency: TBWA Worldwide
Year: 2000
Target: Mainstream
Company: Trane
    View Company Scorecard / Contact Company
Brand: Trane
Ad Title: Transvestite Son
Business Category: Appliances
Media Outlets: Television
Country: Thailand
Region: Asia
Agency: TBWA Worldwide
Year: 2000
Target: Mainstream
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Theme(s)

Real LGBTQ+ Person

Homophobia/Transphobia

Problematic Language

Theme Breakdown

AdRespect Score: 
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The ad first shows a glamorous picture of famous transgender Thai kickboxer Nong Tum, introducing her "real life." Her father then angrily appears, shouting her name as he tears up her picture in their home. He shouts, "I never thought you'd turn out like this! Why?"

She hurtfully replies, "Dad! You don't understand me!" and runs up to her room, then begins angrily kicking and punching the training bag.

As dad buries his face in his hands, an announcer says, "Even though things change, there is one thing that has never changed...Trane air-conditioner under warranty for 7 years...there is no change."

This is a tragic story of rejection made trivial by a poor relationship between the product and ad concept. Some may argue that the commercial is good because it features Tum, but it does not improve trans representation by showing how upset her father is, then dismissing the seriousness of his upset by showing pleasure with an air conditioner/heater.

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Cate , New Zealand
Oh wow, this ad is so bad that it is almost a parody. It tries to sympathize and touch emotional chords and then says "but thank God the air conditioner works well," which is in no way connected to the rest of the ad at all. It would be funny if it wasn't real.
Juan Gilberto Aguinaldo , New York, NY
I agree, besides being insulting and revolting, the comparison between the air conditioner and the transgender son is a shallow one. Again, transgendered people are being degraded to a certain level....

Mike Gornetzki , Hicksville, NY
I have been with my Thai boyfriend for over ten years now. Seeing Trane's commercial in Thailand featuring the famous Thai transsexual kick boxer, we decided not to buy the Trane central air system for our house. This ad is not only offensive, but it is poorly scripted. I almost feel sad for the Trane corporation for having paid for such a lame commercial. Two thoughts enter my mind: Why would the Thai kick boxer participate in this ad? Is he/she out-right stupid? Does he/she need the money for drugs or gambling? Is she/he managed by the Thai Mafia and forced to participate in these repulsive ads for the quick cash? Why?

Andrea James , Los Angeles, CA
Rejection by parents probably hits a little too close to home for many people, and it seems all set up anyway, since they are appearing in the ad together. Making light of a common family response seems a bad choice here.

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