How To Celebrate Pride & Support The LGBTQIA+ Community
It’s June, which means one thing: it’s LGBTQIA+ Pride, a month when the world celebrates and raises awareness for the LGBTQIA+ community. The month was originally set to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
Today, it’s celebrated with pride parades, parties, concerts, as well as memorials for members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. While attending a pride parade may not be feasible this year (for obvious reasons), there are so many other ways you can celebrate. From donating to charities and shopping pride collections to taking the time to educate yourself on the struggles the LGBTQIA+ community faces, not to mention schooling yourself on the correct terms and pronouns.
Here’re 5 ways to support the LGBTQIA+ Community and celebrate pride (this month and every month), and sprinkle some love into your life…
1. Buy from LGBTQIA+ Brands & Small Businesses
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One of the easiest ways to show your support to the LGBTQIA+ community is by buying from brands owned by LGBTQIA+ business owners or from brands who contribute a portion of their company profits to the community. You’ll literally be putting your money where your mouth is.
Need some inspiration? Why not celebrate pride by slaying gender-fluid streetwear from MUXE New York. A percentage of the profit is donated to Live Out Loud – a nonprofit dedicated to empowering LGBTQIA+ youth by connecting them to out-and-proud role models, growth opportunities, and educational resources. When it comes to the beauty space, we love Empower BodyCare – an LGBQTIA+ owned CBD body care line – the CBD-Infused Soaking Salts, $12, are calling our name!
2. Educate Yourself
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When it comes to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s important to educate yourself and deepen your understanding of the community’s daily struggles and prejudices. From learning and practicing correct pronouns (check out the IG above) to understand your area’s legislation, education is key. Once you know and are aware, you’ll be better equipped to support, whether that’s by signing petitions for positive change or simply being able to empathize more authentically.
Remember, if you’re having a conversation with a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, be a good listener. In fact, if someone is discussing their sexuality or gender with you, try not to be judgmental and remain open-minded. These topics are not easy to discuss, so it’s important to be sensitive. It’s also a great idea to follow and read stories from diverse members of the community; this can help you to gain a better understanding and learn more.
3. Support Brands Who Uplift & Give Back to The LGBTQIA+ Community
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Another way you can celebrate Pride is by supporting brands that support the community and raise awareness. You can purchase Pride-themed collections from brands that donate the profits to an LGBTQIA+ charity or who have committed to a large-scale donation. Here are four brands doing just that!
OUAI: OUAI is one of our fave haircare brands, and alongside their latest drop, the St. Barts Scrub, they’re donating $20,000 to the LA LGBT Center, which helps to empower and support the LGBTQIA+ community across four categories, including health, social services, housing, and leadership and advocacy.
Beekman 1802: In honor of Pride, queer-owned brand Beekman 1802 is celebrating with a limited-edition kit: the Bloom with Pride Skincare Kit, $60, with 100% of profits going to Ali Forney Center to support homeless LGBTQIA+ youth.
Savage X Fenty: Rihanna’s lingerie line has unveiled a pride collection that offers a wide range of inclusive products, from thigh-high stockings, gender-neutral underwear to whips and robes. Savage x Fenty will also donate $250,000 from the sale of the June Pride capsule collection to the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) and GLAAD in its effort to support LGBTQIA+ organizations and their initiatives.
Bath & Body Works: Celebrate Pride month by lighting up the room with the Bath & Body Works Sun-Washed Love Always Wins Candle, $25. This year Bath & Body Works has donated one million dollars to the Human Rights Fund, which works to further LGBTQIA+ equality.
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Whenever you’re shopping Pride collections, be mindful of rainbow-washing. This term refers to large brands selling Pride-themed merchandise to motivate consumers without actually giving back to the community. While the acknowledgment and awareness raised is a win, it’s important that when you’re spending money in support of a cause, the community itself benefits.
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4. Donate To LGBTQIA+ Charities
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If you’re able to, donating whatever you can to LGBTQIA+ charities is an amazing thing to do. Here are four incredible organizations that could use your help:
The Trevor Project: Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24, LGBTQIA+ youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth. The Trevor Project helps LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults with mental health training and offers a 24-hour suicide prevention line.
National Center for Transgender Equality: The National Center for Transgender Equality focuses on supporting the trans community by keeping trans teens off the streets, out of sex work, and placing them in nurturing environments, jobs, education, and training.
The Gill Foundation: A nonprofit national organization aimed at solving systemic inequity for LGBTQIA+ people in business, education, legal systems, medicine, and government.
GLSEN: GLSEN’s 2019 National School Climate Survey found that 98.8% of LGBTQIA+ students have heard “gay” used as an insult in school, plus 95% heard other negative remarks, such as antigay slurs. GLSEN helps support LGBTQIA+ youth in the school systems so they feel safe and can learn without harassment.
5. Uplift & Support LGBTQIA+ Voices
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Another great way to support and uplift any marginalized community is by amplifying their voices. If the past year has taught us anything, it’s to never underestimate the power of social media. Whether you reshare important and educational messages or send them to your friends via direct message, you can help raise awareness and educate in less than 10 seconds.
While we’re broaching the topic, now is a great time to review your social media diet – make sure you’re reading, learning, and watching content from a diverse group of content creators. Some of our faves include Char Ellesse, Monroe Bergdorf, Omar Ahmed, and Rolly Robinson.
What are you guys doing to celebrate Pride this month and beyond? Let us know in the comments below.
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