Under state law in 29 out of 50 US states, it's legal to discriminate against LGBTQ+ Americans. That means doctors can refuse treatment, landlords can deny housing and businesses can refuse service simply because of who you love or who you are. The Equality Act would change that for good, providing blanket protections for every LGBTQ+ individual in every state.
The Reality Flag
A symbol exposing the missing freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans
Client
- Human Rights Campaign
Office
- United States
We are incredibly grateful for WPP’s support, creativity and boldness in envisioning, developing and launching this campaign. The Reality Flag and the stories it tells reflects the lived experience of so many LGBTQ+ people across the country, and will have a real impact in our fight to deliver equal rights for our community.
Joni Madison
Interim President, Human Rights Campaign
The problem is most Americans don’t know these outdated laws still exist. In fact, 60% of Americans incorrectly assume LGBTQ+ individuals have the same protections as any other American. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group in the country, needed to grab Americans’ attention and urge them to tell their senators to pass The Equality Act.
The American flag, with its red and white stripes and 50 stars representing 50 states, is the ultimate symbol of freedom in the United States of America. But 29 states aren't living up to their promise of freedom for every American, so 29 stars had to come off the flag.
The Human Rights Campaign created “The Reality Flag," an American flag with 29 stars stripped away to represent the 29 states that still deny LGBTQ+ Americans their basic freedoms.
The HRC used "The Reality Flag" to launch a national 360-degree campaign across TV, radio, OOH, social and outreach to influencers. Every piece of Reality Flag communication drove to "The Reality Flag" website, where Americans could put immediate pressure on their senators to pass the Equality Act.
- 96% of US senators contacted by thousands
- 480M+ earned media impressions
- Coverage from media outlets including The Washington Post, Fast Company, USA Today, The Hill, Oprah, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Metro Weekly, Xtra and Queerty
- 3,200% increase in website traffic
- 11.6 million social media accounts reached
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Awards
2023 CLIO Awards
Billboard - Public Service: Out of Home
Bronze
2023 CLIO Health Awards
Direct - Health Awareness & Advocacy: Out of Home
Gold
2023 CLIO Health Awards
Direct - Health Awareness & Advocacy: Use of Product
Silver
2023 Mosaic Awards
Campaign - Allyship to Advocacy
Winner
2022 Association of National Advertisers Multicultural Excellence Awards.
LGBTQ+
Winner
Press
The Human Rights Campaign and VMLY&R’s award-winning ‘Reality Flag’ uncovered
The Drum
VMLY&R and Human Rights Remove Stars from the US FlagLatinSpots
HRC Launches Nationwide ‘Reality Flag’ Campaign to Expose Basic Freedoms Missing for LGBTQ+ People, Galvanize Public in Support of Equality ActHuman Rights Campaign
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