Philip Morris Cos., Couple
This has been the only overtly gay ad from manufacturer Philip Morris since it debuted Parliament as the first tobacco brand to advertise in American gay media in spring 1994.
Following three years of gay vague Parliament efforts, this ad ran just once in OUT magazine and never appeared again after an Advertising Age report about it. The vague ads -- always with a second man (once with a second woman) -- are a modification of the mainstream campaign with just a man and woman.
Philip Morris also began marketing Benson & Hedges to gays in fall 1994 and then in 1996 competitors R.J. Reynolds and Brown & Williamson added their Carlton, Lucky Strike, Moonlight Tobacco Co. and Red Kamel brands to the market, as Phillip Morris also delivered Merit. Since then, Camel Lights, Kool and Salem have followed for a niche market that smokes at a higher rate than the general population.
Despite a now crowded tobacco category in the gay market, only Parliament has committed to creating gay-specific ad creative, even if it is gay vague at best.
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