This is especially unsavory after a year that hit the community especially hard, financially-speaking.Īccording to Girls5Eva and Black Monday actor Andrew Rannells, he hasn’t done a Pride collaboration in the past, but the catalyst this year was finding the right brand with the right social agenda. Still, some LGBTQ leaders have accused brands of pushing “pinkwashed” products-essentially using Pride as a marketing tool and profiting off the community without giving anything back.
But how relevant is Pride merch in a year that found us all struggling to celebrate?īrands working with the LGBTQ community isn’t new: H&M has been a longtime collaborator with LGBTQ actors and activists, and their “ Beyond the rainbow” initiative will donate funds to the UN Free & Equal campaign, a global fight for equality led by United Nations Human Rights. Within the past few years, several brands have launched “Pride-themed” collaborations and merchandise. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.Ĭovid-19 may have cancelled parades and parties in 2020, but Pride Month, as a summer-long celebration of diversity, acceptance and love, will continue on this year-though not without controversy.
