Gay marketing: Cultural indicator or cheap grab?

I'm not sure this is the sort of thing that can be trivialized in such a way. I think that in order for the situation to be cheapened, the executives of the company would have to disingenuously promote homosexual rights (which I think this should be more commonly classified as a human rights thing, since the concept of homosexual rights too narrowly defines the goals that one side of the debate is working toward, but meh) while simultaneously not achieving anything for the homosexual community (or worse denigrating their efforts and being counterproductive) and profiting from their actions.

Obviously these companies believe they can benefit from their PR/ad campaigns (I'm clinging to the axiom that corporations are in it to make money and that they would not actively pursue options that they believe are bad for them), but I think as more and more of these businesses and corporations begin to show support for the homosexual community, there can only be a net gain for homosexuals.

Thus, regardless of the profit motive, I think the seriousness of something like human rights is not mitigated.

Regarding a more general look at what these companies are doing, I'll find it interesting to see how staunchly anti-homosexual consumers decide to act, and whether or not they'll not only follow through on their boycott, but have the presence of mind to stop buying all products from these companies, their parent companies, or the copmanies affiliated with them that contribute to their revenue in some way.

Despite understanding very little of your first paragraph, this is legit interesting. I didn't think about it from that perspective. 

I remember when they started featuring blacks in national ad campaigns.  I remember ground-breaking TV icons like Diahann Carroll in Julia.

Were these African-American "insertions" promoting the "black agenda?"

Well, if the agenda was equality, then yes.

So today, is "gay marketing" a cultural indicator?  Is it just another way to make money?

Yes and Yes.

Many national companies have had ads like these for years.  They just weren't seen by the general public, but ran in gay-affirming sites and magazines.

I think it's just part of the natural progression of an oppressed group gaining acceptance and equality.