Why is it still so shocking to see gay people in mainstream ads? At a time when every other demographic is practically shoehorned into marketing for the sake of diversity, gays and lesbians are still all but invisible in the TV advertising landscape. But while you might not have seen many yourself, gay-themed TV ads are definitely out there. To close out Gay Pride Month, we tracked down 50 of them from around the world and organized them into seven categories that seem to keep popping up ("Lesbians Are Hot," "Don't Tell Mom," etc.). Check out the collection after the jump.

Probably the most common way homosexuality is used in TV advertising is as a dramatic twist (or sometimes a punch line). Here are 10 ads that put subtly different spins on the surprise ending.

Miller Genuine Draft Click to view YEAR: 2001 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: JWT If you'll buy people drinks without even knowing what they look like, you're obviously not the narrow-minded type to begin with. Solo Click to view YEAR: 1995 COUNTRY: Norway AGENCY: JBR A classic "Oops, gay!" approach, this time used to sell Norwegian orange juice, though the product gets a bit lost in the mix. Silverjet Click to view YEAR: 2007 COUNTRY: U.K. AGENCY: M&C Saatchi Since an airplane is the only place where you really find co-ed bathrooms these days, I have to assume women are constantly having sex in the stalls everywhere else. Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp. Click to view YEAR: 2004 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Unknown Philly tourism brings history and homosexuality together, without even turning it into a joke. Nice example of how destination marketers have been on the leading edge of gay-friendly advertising. Volkswagen Click to view YEAR: 2004 COUNTRY: Germany AGENCY: DDB Volkswagen finally breaks the stereotype that only straight people are lame enough to drive minivans. MTV Click to view YEAR: 2001 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Public Interest Productions/Radical Media One of the few ads that show gay people being active in a subculture, especially one as adrenaline-fueled as skating. Sony Click to view YEAR: 1999 COUNTRY: Australia AGENCY: Generator What, you can't carpool with a 1970s pro wrestler without being considered gay? Kronenbourg 1664 Click to view YEAR: 1998 COUNTRY: France AGENCY: Unknown If Mentos ads had lesbians and beer, they'd look like this. Dolce & Gabbana Click to view YEAR: 2006 COUNTRY: U.K./Italy AGENCY: Unknown One of several gay-inclusive international ads for Dolce & Gabbana. Johnnie Walker Click to view YEAR: 1997 COUNTRY: Australia AGENCY: Leo Burnett Johnnie Walker's Australian campaign in support of "revolutions" was ahead of its time, and probably a bit optimistic. As recently as 2010, Australia's Senate rejected a Marriage Equality Bill.

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Not every gay and lesbian ad features someone flaunting their sexuality. Keeping it mum around Mum (or Dad, or a co-worker, or a spouse) is another common theme.

McDonald's Click to view YEAR: 2010 COUNTRY: France AGENCY: BETC Euro RSCG Subtle and surprising, this McDonald's ad sparked lots of buzz around the globe by bringing gay-friendly messaging to one of the biggest brands on Earth. Absolut Cut Click to view YEAR: 2006 COUNTRY: Australia AGENCY: TBWA Subtitled subtext is a pretty tired ad cliché, but it's a nice way to show how much goes unsaid when parents and children decide to ignore the obvious. Hyundai Click to view YEAR: 2006 COUNTRY: Sweden AGENCY: Leo Burnett This couple actually has more in common than they think. Toyota Click to view YEAR: 2006 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Saatchi & Saatchi Hard to blame the dad here. Other than guys, who comes to pick up a date, screeches to a halt and refuses to get out of the car? Vodafone Click to view YEAR: 2005 COUNTRY: U.K. AGENCY: JWT A twist on the theme, this one has some fun with the idea of coming out of the closet but stops short of a typical punch line.

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Gay and lesbian ads come in many forms, but bisexuals only seem to be shown one way: as opportunistic sex fiends.

Ikea Click to view YEAR: 2010 COUNTRY: Austria AGENCY: Unknown A fun ad with a cool twist, this Austrian spot for Ikea is one of many that seem distrustful of bisexuals. Eclipse Click to view YEAR: 2007 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: BBDO Admittedly, not much happens here, but it was still enough to upset the American Decency Association, which vowed to boycott the brand over its "strong allusion to lesbianism." Yes Satellite TV Click to view YEAR: 2003 COUNTRY: Israel AGENCY: McCann Erickson Another "Can't trust a bi" ad, but Juliet seems to roll with it. Durex Click to view YEAR: 2009 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Fitzgerald+CO Now this, this is just hilarious. Amstel Click to view YEAR: 2002 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: DMB&B This spot has sparked quite a bit debate on GLAAD's Commercial Closet forum. Several bisexuals found it positive and respectful, while others dismissed it as a male fantasy celebrating promiscuity.

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Not all gay-themed ads are actually about gay people. Spots featuring straight folks in gay situations often end with what GLAAD calls a "homo-queasy" punch line. Others are surprisingly clever.

Marmite Click to view YEAR: 2003 COUNTRY: U.K. AGENCY: DDB Many gays were offended by this British spot's apparent revulsion toward man-on-man makeout sessions. I was more offended by the fact that "making out during mouth-to-mouth" is just about the most tired cliché in advertising. Heinz Click to view YEAR: 2008 COUNTRY: U.K. AGENCY: BBDO "British viewers didn't quite understand the metaphor that Heinz and AMV BBDO were going for with this spot, which was pulled after more than 200 complaints. Budweiser Click to view YEAR: Unknown COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Unknown Hard not to like this one, even if the writing is a bit clunky. For a brand like Budweiser, this is about as forward-thinking as you can hope for. DHL Click to view YEAR: 2007 COUNTRY: South Korea AGENCY: Unknown Delivery service DHL will send along anything for you. Anything. Virgin Atlantic Click to view YEAR: 2004 COUNTRY: South Africa AGENCY: BBDO One of my favorite gay-themed ads of all time, even if it does have a bit of a "homo-queasy" punch line.

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Ah yes, we finally arrive at the sexy lesbians, a timeless ad tactic of marketers who want to seem inclusive while usually just pandering to male fantasies. But you're not reading this anyway, are you? You're already looking at the lesbians. Why do I bother?

Castro Dresses Click to view YEAR: 2006 COUNTRY: Israel AGENCY: Reuveni-Pridan This Israeli spot for fashion retailer Castro was apparently so good, it inspired the knockoff below. Renault Click to view YEAR: 2010 COUNTRY: Italy AGENCY: Publicis And this would be the aforementioned knockoff. Levi's Click to view YEAR: 2008 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: BBH Levi's has gotten high marks in recent years for its inclusive advertising. But while this spot is a bit less sensationalist than the others, it still seems quite a bit more sexualized than the brand's male-focused ads. Jim Beam Click to view YEAR: 2010 COUNTRY: Australia AGENCY: The Works Sydney Part of a well-shot but unapologetically misogynistic Australian campaign for Jim Beam. Tinkoff Brewing Click to view YEAR: 2005 COUNTRY: Russia AGENCY: Unknown In Russia, nothing sells beer quite like Pavarotti and lesbians. Miller Lite Click to view YEAR: 2003 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Ogilvy & Mather The best-known lesbian commercial ever made. A poolside argument escalates into an epic wrestling match. In the cable version, the brunette took it a step further, saying to the blonde: "Let's make out." Blue Light Click to view YEAR: Unknown COUNTRY: Unknown AGENCY: Unknown I assume there's an extended version where the three guys share some ChapStick. Clothestime Click to view YEAR: 1996 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Mendelsohn Zien Before their bread and butter was burger porn for Carl's Jr., Mendelsohn Zien was already trying to bring some erotica to advertising. Impulse Body Spray Click to view YEAR: 2002 COUNTRY: U.K. AGENCY: BBH What, doesn't this happen to you every day or so? Mac's Convenience Stores Click to view YEAR: 2007 COUNTRY: Canada AGENCY: Bos One of several short Web videos created as viral marketing for the new "WTF" orange drink being sold by Mac's Convenience Stores in Canada. Never has an ad so perfectly matched the product name.

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We could dedicate an entire list to gay-rights activism in advertising, but we'd rather focus on the mainstream work. Still, here are a few of our favorites.

MakeHomosexualsMarry.org Click to view YEAR: 2010 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Saatchi & Saatchi In this Web video supporting the overturn of California's Prop 8, Justin Long and Mike White showcase the pet peeves that gays share with straights: passive-aggressive jabs, late-night pornography, penis surfboards … you know, the usual. PFLAG Click to view YEAR: 2003 COUNTRY: Canada AGENCY: ZiG This series of Canadian PFLAG ads has the same message as the Justin Long clip above, but this spot comes off so dark, it's practically doing a disservice. Bjorn Borg Click to view YEAR: 2008 COUNTRY: Sweden AGENCY: Farfar When fashion house Bjorn Borg decided to launch a fully inclusive dating section of its site in 2008, the Swedish brand decided to go a few steps beyond just supporting gay marriage. EuroPride 2009 Click to view YEAR: 2009 COUNTRY: Switzerland AGENCY: TBWA There's a little gay in all of us. And he's quite the showman. Israeli Gay Youth Organization Click to view YEAR: 2006 COUNTRY: Israel AGENCY: Unknown You know you've made a good gay-rights ad when you don't even have to show—or say—that the characters are gay.

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Finally, we get to the holy grail of advertising for those who've sought gay equality: inclusive, respectful (and usually quite boring) ads that treat gay people like anyone else. I suppose it shouldn't be surprising that these are often the most controversial.

Chemistry.com Click to view YEAR: 2008 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Hanft, Raboy and Partners Probably better known for its "Nope, still gay" ad that aired nationally during Heroes, Chemistry.com also made a less flippant pitch for gay singles with this 2008 spot. Levi's Click to view YEAR: 2007 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: BBH Levi's and BBH broke down walls figuratively and literally with this spot, which featured alternate endings with male and female love interests. Orbitz Click to view YEAR: 2005 COUNTRY: USA AGENCY: Y&R Orbitz had a flurry of game-show-themed spots in the mid-1990s that featured gays and lesbians, though none was more gay than this over-the-top gem. Travelocity Click to view YEAR: 2003 COUNTRY: U.K. AGENCY: St. Luke's Does this ad perpetuate stereotypes or just have some edgy fun with them? You could argue either way, but the sheer fact it was made at all says a lot about our comfort level with discussing gay sexuality. Muddy York Click to view YEAR: 2011 COUNTRY: Canada AGENCY: Henderson Bas Kohn/The Corner Store A recruitment mockumentary from Toronto's gay rugby team, the Muddy York Rugby Football Club. A guy comes out of the closet and realizes he loves men … and rugby. FTD Click to view YEAR: 2006 COUNTRY: Germany AGENCY: Heymann Schnell Werbeagentur AG Honestly, it would be stranger if the guy got flowers from a woman. Still, a nice bit of inclusiveness from Germany. Dolce & Gabbana Click to view YEAR: 2006 COUNTRY: U.K./Italy AGENCY: Unknown Dolce & Gabbana notoriously oversexualizes everything they do, so this ad seems downright understated by comparison. Pepsi Max Click to view YEAR: 2009 COUNTRY: U.K. AGENCY: Unknown While it's yet another "Surprise, he's gay!" twist, you still have to respect the fact that a megabrand like Pepsi would make such a gay-friendly spot. Bianco Footwear Click to view YEAR: 2008 COUNTRY: Denmark AGENCY: &Co. Not all inclusive ads have to treat gays like straights. Bianco Footwear made an entire campaign about homosexuality being a great way to double your shoe collection. (Check out the lesbian version here.) Guinness Click to view YEAR: 1995 COUNTRY: U.K. AGENCY: Ogilvy & Mather Sorry to end this list on a bit of a downer, but it's probably worth the reality check. When Guinness created this beautifully crafted spot in 1995, massive negative backlash kept the spot from ever airing. So, how far do you feel we've come since then? Will major brands soon feel free to include gays in their advertising without fear of boycotts and table-pounding pundits? For now, gay-friendly advertising is still for the bold—or at least, those bold enough to know a $743 billion market when they see it.

Note: This project would have been impossible (or at least a lot more difficult) without the Commercial Closet archive hosted by GLAAD. For hundreds more spots and print ads, searchable by brand or agency, check out their site.