Dear, Corporate America: We need more than a rainbow tee

Pride is upon us and with it comes “Corporate Pride.” I can’t walk down Walnut St. or Chestnut St. here in Philadelphia without seeing rainbow window displays or pride collections from the most popular clothing stores. And the gesture these brands are making is important because there continue to be organizations that donate to anti-LGBTQ groups or outright discriminate against LGBTQ folks. However, these pride-related campaigns still fall a little short. After all, the goals for these organizations is to turn a profit. And Pride is a great opportunity for organizations to capitalize on.

Now, I can’t deny that there have been some rather clever Pride campaigns. I’ll give credit where credit is due. However, I want to see LGBTQ in the mainstream more often than just one month of the year.

First, put your money where your mouth is, corporate America. Words and full-on campaigns of acceptance and support from brands only go so far. In addition to all of those efforts, corporate America needs to donate to LGBTQ causes and organizations, and pro-LGBTQ political candidates and campaigns. Some types of organizations that can use additional resources are ones that assist LGBTQ homeless youth, LGBTQ resource centers and trans rights organizations. There are LGTBQ organizations to donate to besides the Human Rights Campaign.

Second, take a stand — all year long. Get this, Corporate America: LGBTQ people exist year round. And anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, law or incidents continue to occur 12 months a year. So show your allyship in tactical or even on your social channels when, say, an anti-trans bathroom bill passes in a state legislature — especially if your organization operates a store in that state. Demonstrate that you will not tolerate that. Allyship is a constant process of building a relationship that is trustful and consistent.

Third, representative still matters. Show LGBTQ people in your ads — and don’t fall into the homonormative trap. Honestly, an ad campaign featuring an LGBTQ couple or person is much more endearing than a pride tee. The ad literally conveys to LGBTQ audiences that they belong here, and that you acknowledge and value them as a customer. And when so many LGBTQ people feel like their identities have been isolated and erased, featuring them in the mainstream is so empowering.

At the end of the day, don’t capitalize off us and our struggle if you aren’t going to legitimately support us. Because in 2019, I have enough pride novelties. What I don’t have enough of is equity.