What Pride Month Products Really Help LGBTQ Causes?
This June, President Trump marks the start of Pride Month by trying to make a profit by selling a new line of LGBT Trump T-shirts on his website, which retail for $ 24 each .
Recently, politicians and retailers raised a rainbow flag in solidarity with the LGBT community by sticking slogans like “Love First” on branded merchandise – California Senator and Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris sells her own line of pride merchandise (and her campaign will continue). all that money too).
Meanwhile, retailers such as Starbucks are celebrating Pride with a signature rainbow glass in their stores, which may or may not go to any cause in support of LGBTQ people. If you’ve ever wondered which stores you should be supporting this upcoming Pride month, this is a smart question.
Unless you usually buy a Pride T-shirt from J. Crew, which donates a percentage to the Human Rights Campaign, then yes, it’s better to buy than not to buy at all. But if you want to support the cause by buying a branded product, your money may go farther away from some retailers than others (or if you donate directly to them).
Here’s a roundup of retailers who donate their earnings to worthy organizations, and those you should avoid if you want to channel a portion of your purchase into a worthy cause.
Converse
Product: Converse offers a line of Pride branded high and low top shoes, as well as T-shirts, a hat and a fanny pack. (However, some of the items are already sold out.)
Money: According to its website, the contributions made to projects It Gets Better Project and OUT Metrowest (Boston organization for LGBT youth), but the web site does not mention where it comes from these contributions. Is it from buying an item? Does Converse make a separate donation? Who knows.
to express
Products: Express has partnered with GLAAD to create its Pride product collection, which includes T-shirts, hoodies, bodysuits, boxers and tops.
Money: “For every Love Unites you buy by July 15th, Express will donate 25% of GLAAD’s net income ($ 100,000 minimum donation) to accelerate acceptance into the LGBTQ + community, ” says Express’s website ; the net profit likely means they will make the donation after accounting for any related expenses.
H&M
Product: On May 30, H&M will launch a line of products under the Pride brand, which will include T-shirts and crop tops.
Money: According to the press release , 10% of every sale (presumably every item, not the total purchase) will be donated to the United Nations Freedom and Equality Campaign dedicated to equality and fair treatment for the LGBTQ community.
J. Crew
Item: J. Crew offers a line of Love First T-shirts and socks (some of the socks are sold out according to their website ).
Money: J. Crew will donate 50% of the purchase price of any Love First T-shirt or pair of socks to a human rights campaign that fights for LGBTQ equality. (The purchase price is better than the bottom line; this means that J. Crew is responsible for most of the transaction costs.)
Starbucks
Item: Starbucks recently launched the Pride-branded Love glass.
Money: “Starbucks continues to protect the LGBT community and strives to create a culture of belonging, inclusion and diversity,” Starbucks said in a statement. “In addition to the health benefits for LGBT partners, the company also supports partners who are transgender or considering transition, and has even expanded health coverage to include gender reassignment surgery.”
However, you won’t find much information about toggle switch earnings either on the Internet or on the company’s website, so it’s safe to assume that any money stays with Starbucks.
Target
Product: Target retails a line of Pride-branded clothing that includes T-shirts, tank tops, swimwear, accessories and jumpsuits. The retailer has also partnered with other brands to sell related Pride merchandise, including branded razors, shampoo, and mouthwash (yes).
Money: Target has already donated $ 100,000 to GLSEN , an organization that seeks to end bullying and discrimination in schools based on gender identity and sexual orientation, according to the store’s website.
As for its Pride merchandise, all proceeds from Harry’s razors will go to the Trevor Project , which provides resources for crisis intervention and suicide for LGBT youth, however Target does not mention partnerships with any organizations along the rest of its Pride line.