Gayatri N’s Post

So when I was doing my weekly food shop, I saw the supermarkets Pride Month marketing that states that they help LGBTQ+ charities and organisations all year around. And yes, it's nice and all that. But I couldn't help but ask - how? How do you help? 🤷♀️ Do you advocate? Do you donate? Do you volunteer, educate, support LGBTQ+ identifying employees, raise awareness, tackle diversity issues? Or do you simply put a banner up saying you do with a big rainbow flag on? 👀 And then I thought - as someone who identifies within the LGBTQ+ community 🏳️🌈 💅 ✨ , how would I like to see the obligatory Pride Month marketing from businesses that aren't just simply rainbow washing. 🌈 Imagine if a business didn't pay big 💸 on printed and digital marketing, the labour time for designers to rainbow wash logos and socials, and any other advertising. Imagine instead, they just put out some pretty basic social posts or even a poster printed out on some 💩 office printer that clearly said: 'The money, time and effort we could have spent on marketing we have instead put into this throughout the year: 👇 🏳️🌈 Educational material distributed and shared. 🏳️🌈  Normalising LGBTQ+ topics and discussions. 🏳️🌈 Supporting LGBTQ+ employees and create a positive internal culture. 🏳️🌈 Directly impacting and supporting LGBTQ+ causes. 🏳️🌈 Share and demonstrate your LGBTQ+ inclusive acts. 🏳️🌈 Actual advocacy and action.' For me personally, that would be way more impressive. What do you think? Your audience matters - and they value authenticity. So please - don't just 🌈 your logo for a month. Do better. #rainbowashing #pridemonth #pride #lgbtq

June is 🌈 Pride Month 🌈 which means a plethora of rainbow-themed packaging designs online and in stores. But while some people view this as a sign of growing support of the LGBTQ+ community, others fear companies are exploiting a social movement for profit. Can packaging be a force for good? Packaging Europe recently investigated the issue in their article 'Packaging in Pride Month: allyship versus ‘rainbow-washing’. Rainbow-washing occurs when brands use Pride to market themselves as socially progressive without taking meaningful action to support the LGBTQ+ community. On the surface, incorporating Pride imagery into packaging may seem harmless. However, critics argue that perceived insincerity can damage a company's reputation more than silence, as contradictions between branding and actions are easier to spot in the digital age. To prove their authenticity, companies need to go beyond aesthetics and actively support equality legislation, LGBTQ+ employees and non-profit organisations. Packaging can be a useful tool in educating consumers and raising funds, but it should not be used to facilitate a token gesture or one-off PR stunt. Successful examples of consumer brands showing LGBTQ+ allyship include Unilever's personal care brands, which have partnered with The Brighton Rainbow Fund and made Pride-themed packaging available year-round. #PrideMonth #Pride #Packaging #Packagingdesign #Rainbowwashing

Integrating social responsibility into your brand identity is not just trendy. It's essential. Brands that support LGBTQ+ rights are winning hearts and minds. Here’s how they’re doing it: 1) Partnering with LGBTQ+ Charities • Brands collaborate with organizations that fight for LGBTQ+ rights. These partnerships show genuine commitment and create real change. • Donations and sponsorships help fund vital programs. This support goes beyond lip service, making a tangible impact. 2) Advocacy Efforts • Public statements and campaigns in support of LGBTQ+ issues. Brands use their platforms to amplify important messages. • Participation in Pride events and LGBTQ+ initiatives. Visible support strengthens community ties and showcases solidarity. 3) Inclusive Policies • Implementing non-discrimination policies within the company. This ensures a safe and welcoming environment for all employees. • Providing benefits that support LGBTQ+ employees. Inclusive healthcare and family leave policies show true allyship. 4) Representation in Marketing • Featuring LGBTQ+ individuals in advertising. Authentic representation resonates with diverse audiences. • Creating content that speaks to LGBTQ+ experiences. This approach builds a deeper connection with the community. 5) Education and Training • Offering diversity and inclusion training for employees. This fosters understanding and respect within the workplace. • Promoting LGBTQ+ history and awareness. Educational initiatives highlight the importance of equality. Make 2024 the year your brand stands up for LGBTQ+ rights!

Pride-related marketing is usually a crock of crap 🏳️🌈 Every year, more and more businesses will switch out their profile pictures for rainbow logos. They’ll put out rainbow merchandise or drag a poor LGBTQ+ employee out in front of a camera to talk about their diversity and inclusion efforts. And more often than not, it reads as authentically as a politician’s apology 😖 It begs the question, is there such a thing as ethical marketing as it relates to Pride? Can businesses profit from their LGBTQ+ marketing without it being an ethical issue? Well, I’d say there are some important considerations to make before taking a tumble and a stumble down rainbow road: 🏳️🌈 Do proceeds of your LGBTQ+ product or service go to reputable charities or initiatives? (1p per sweatshirt made in a sweatshop in a country against LGBTQ+ rights and by underpaid and overworked people doesn’t count.) 🏳️🌈 Will you stand your ground when the social media hate inevitably floods in, making sure hate comments are reported? (Not like Innocent who removed posts relating to gender diversity after backlash last year.) 🏳️🌈 Will you put values over perceived profit when the political climate means businesses promoting social issues get picked apart online? 🏳️🌈 Are you putting the voices of LGBTQ+ people first for allyship, rather than using your platform for a pat on the back? 🏳️🌈 Do you advocate for the community as part of your diversity and inclusion policies and initiatives all year round, and listen to your LGBTQ+ employees? Pride is one month, but the community doesn’t get to drop out every other month of the year the way businesses do. And I’ll always put my money towards the businesses that genuinely make an effort year round and make an effort for Pride. Not those who post one RuPaul quote and change their logo back from the rainbow one come July 🥹 Pride is about awareness, but advocacy is a lifelong commitment. #ButItAintNoLie #BabyImBiBiBi #GetYourPrideMarketingNSync

Fabulous Friday, Not Just Good Friday! Introducing Our Pride 2024 Offering to Businesses Worldwide 🌈 As business owners, we often look for ways to stand out, resonate with our customers, and, importantly, align our offerings with our values. Today, I’m thrilled to share something that ticks all those boxes and more - the launch of our Pride 2024 collection, both for wholesale and retail. It’s hard to believe it’s been six years since Rainbow & Co started its journey. What began as a project to address a gap in the market has blossomed into a global business, shipping products to every corner of the world. As the heart and soul behind Rainbow & Co, I, Adam, have had the privilege of navigating the ever-changing tides of business and social advocacy. For Pride 2024, we’ve taken things to the next level. Every piece in this collection has been designed in-house, a labour of love and creativity from conception to the final product. But we didn’t stop there. We also brought the final manufacturing process in-house, ensuring that every item not only meets our high standards of quality and ethics but also resonates with the authenticity and passion that Rainbow & Co is known for. This decision to design and manufacture in-house isn’t just about quality control; it’s about pouring our heart and soul into what we do. It’s about creating a product that truly represents the vibrant and diverse LGBTQ+ community we celebrate and support. As business owners, aligning with causes and communities can transform our brands and create deeper connections with our customers. Our Pride 24 collection is more than just merchandise; it’s a statement. It’s an opportunity for businesses, big and small, to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community, not just in Pride month but all year round, and seek to make the world more inclusive. We are immensely proud to launch this range, marking our 6th year of trading. The Pride 24 collection is our first limited collection, and we’d love to hear your thoughts. Adam 🌈 For those interested in bringing the Pride 24 collection into your spaces, reach out, and we’ll get back to you quickly. #Pride24 #RainbowAndCo #BusinessForGood #LGBTQSupport #InclusiveBusiness

🌈 Beyond the Rainbow: Seeking Substance Over Symbols 🌈 As Pride month unfolds, we witness a surge of rainbow logos and themed merchandise. While visibility is crucial, it's essential to ask: Are these colorful displays backed by real support and inclusion? "Rainbow washing" risks reducing a powerful movement for equality to mere marketing. True ally-ship involves more than just seasonal changes in branding. It means advocating for policies that protect LGBTQI+ rights, fostering an inclusive workplace culture year-round, and supporting LGBTQI+ initiatives and charities not just in June, but consistently. As consumers and professionals, let's demand more than just surface-level support: 1. Transparency: Are companies open about their contributions and policies regarding LGBTQI+ rights? 2. Consistency: Do these companies show continuous support, or is their commitment limited to Pride month? 3. Impact: What tangible actions are companies taking to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQI+ individuals? Let’s celebrate Pride by supporting those who support true change, every day of the year. #PrideMonth #LGBTQRights #CorporateResponsibility #AuthenticAllyship

Source: Reviewed, part of the USA TODAY Network From the article: "There are tons of queer-owned companies, both online and probably even in your own neighborhood. You can find local businesses that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community through the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (#NGLCC) or by visiting Everywhere is Queer, a world-wide queer-owned business map and online community hub. If you’re a fan of online shopping and supporting LGBTQ+ #entrepreneurs across the country, here are 25 queer-owned businesses you can support today and all year round!" #Pride #Queer #LGBTQ #Business #Businesses #Companies Tagging: National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)

In recent years, we've witnessed a troubling trend of inauthentic engagement from brands during Pride, with misguided product executions like LGBT Sandwiches and Tops/Bottoms burgers being some memorable, and slightly humorous examples. These attempts at allyship often miss the mark, reducing meaningful support to mere marketing gimmicks. This year, however, a new challenge has emerged: a noticeable decline in brands participating in Pride celebrations. Fear of backlash—from both the LGBTQ+ community, wary of inauthenticity, and critics who label allyship as “woke”—seems to be driving this retreat. I've always believed that true allyship should be an all-the-time commitment, extending beyond mere marketing campaigns to genuine support and advocacy. Brands that have previously championed Pride but are now "going back into the closet" risk losing their status as allies, in my opinion. As the political landscape shifts across many Western societies (e.g. here in the UK but also in America and France), it will be fascinating to observe how brands navigate their roles in Pride and LGBTQ+ conversations in the coming years. The need for authentic, unwavering support is more critical than ever. #pride #allyship #brandstrategy #brand https://lnkd.in/eKG3iKFQ

Exploring fashion and finding a personal style is one of the important ways LGBTQ+ people own and express their individual queerness! ✨󰝲 That’s why we at Envision:You are partnering with 🍓 Strawberry Mountain! ⛰️ Strawberry Mountain is a buy-sell-trade secondhand shop in Denver. Their mission is to sustainably slow down fashion by keeping clothes out of landfills and in people’s closets. 💫 One way they achieve this is through their affordable pricing! The secondhand shop in the Art District of Santa Fe also encourages LGBTQ+ shoppers to be completely themselves in the safety of their store 🤗 They’re directly supporting Envision:You, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit by donating a portion of their proceeds to us and other LGBTQ+ organizations in Denver! Therefore, by shopping at Strawberry Mountain, you’re also helping us!! 🥰 Please visit Strawberry Mountain at 825 Santa Fe Dr, Denver, CO 80204 🍓🌈 #queer #thrift #colorado #lgbtqia #communityprograms #transgender #nonbinarytrans #queercommunity #queerconnections #shopping #fun #socialevents #LGBTQ #LGBTQCommunity #QueerAdvocacy #Trans #Wellness #MentalHealth #Nonprofit #EnvisionYou #safespace #mentalhealthmatters #queerally #denver #lgbtqresources #smallbusiness #shopsmall #shopsmalldenver [Image description: [On a colorful background with hues of purple, pink and yellow, is a text that reads, “Shop at Strawberry Mountain.” Right under that is a framed image of Strawberry Mountain employees in the top right corner. Diagonally down to the left, is a framed image of Envision:You employees. Under the image text reads, “& support Envision:You.” This graphic also features the Strawberry Mountain and Envision:You logos]. End description].

Let’s talk about something that’s been painting the town pink—pinkwashing. No, it’s not about putting pink paint on your walls for aesthetics (though that’s not a bad idea!). Pinkwashing is when companies slap a rainbow or a pink ribbon on their products during Pride Month or Breast Cancer Awareness Month to show their "support." If you are on Instagram, you'll see all those companies coming up with all those fancy logos with the LGBTQ+ flag. On the surface, we can all say “woohoo” and celebrate the fact that they are being supportive, but no, not really. You see, these companies are just hopping on the bandwagon to boost their sales. You know, it’s like giving your dog a bath. You can celebrate the fact that he is all clean and shiny, but he’s going to go roll in the dirt again as soon as he sees it. (But dogs are lovelies, so we can excuse them.) I mean, you could say, “Come on, you are being so harsh for no reason.” But really, what we mean is that genuine support shouldn’t come with a price tag! Imagine if all the funds spent on marketing went directly to the cause. We’d be swimming in research breakthroughs and inclusive policies. Instead, we get rainbow-coloured widgets and pink-tinted gadgets. What good is that going to do? I mean, superficially sure; on a deeper level, not really. The next question is surely, “Ok, but what can we do?” Well, the solution is very simple: if you want to support queer individuals and queer-friendly products, why not support queer-led small businesses? Why not help that one friend out who is trying to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights? There are so many ways to go about it other than paying money to MNCs for their half-hearted support meant for just profit. Find companies that walk the talk, not just talk the walk. Slapping a rainbow on it doesn't make it inclusive, just like slapping a sticker on your car doesn’t make it faster. So next time, be sure to support all those small queer businesses if you really want to celebrate pride! (if you really want to spend some money to show your support, that is.) Support comes in many ways other than money too :)