The Commercial Closet Association's Images in Advertising Awards were given out last night, seeking to highlight advertising campaigns that best exemplify inclusion of gay people in advertising. The big winner for TV spots was IKEA's "Living Room" ad, which depicts a tapestry of families that ends with a gay, interracial couple and their daughter. The commercial asks, "Why shouldn't sofas come in flavors, just like families?" The two men are shown being affectionate with each other and doesn't have a whiff of sensationalism about it. Loving, gay couples are presented in the same manner as the ad's other families, making them equals.

"We Fell in Love" by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, another furniture provider, was declared Outstanding Print Ad. The ad features a male couple cozily sitting on a couch with text describing their common love of design.

Subaru was honored for three print ads targeted towards LGBT media. In "Being Ready for Any Occasion" we see a closet full of suits with a single evening gown, an ad noted as targeting the transgender community.

Time won two awards for a "Know Why" ad that showed a family with lesbian parents -- Outstanding B2B/Trade Ad and Outstanding Lesbian Portrait. The text of the ad says, "Are gay families different? (Other than making the statement "Go ask your mother" twice as complicated.)"

This was the third annual Images in Advertising Award ceremony, past winners include the Diet Pepsi "Guy Watcher" ad, which featured Carson Kressley and the United Church of Christ's "Night Club" ad.

Unfortunately, just as we're seeing fewer LGBT characters on television, there seems to be fewer examples of gay visibility in advertising of late. This year's nominees include the fewest number of praiseworthy ads in the Outstanding Commercial Category. The Association also declined to name an Ad Agency of the Year or a Turnaround Mainstream Advertiser due to lack of worthy candidates, which is pretty sad.

We're working on a blog interview with the head of the CCA, Mike Wilke, to get his further thoughts on the state of gay advertising. Stay tuned!