A Pride protest near NYC’s Stonewall Inn (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images)
So many rainbow logos… This Pride Month, a lot of companies are showing support through cheeky ad campaigns, social posts, and logos (think: Uber’s rainbow cars in its app). On Wednesday, President Biden signed an executive order geared toward protecting the record-breaking 7% of American adults — and 21% of Gen Z adults — who identify as LGBTQ+. But the community’s weathering a harsh climate:
Pride for sale... Corporate Pride participation has surged as companies seek to promote inclusive images. But many of the companies sponsoring parade floats also fund lawmakers who support anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Powerhouses like Amazon, AT&T, and Comcast have collectively donated ~$3M to anti-LGBTQ+ causes in recent years. Meanwhile, companies that’ve spoken out against anti-LGBTQ+ bills have done so inconsistently:
Rainbow capitalism is a tough sell… and logos aren’t enough. An overwhelming 93% of Americans believe LGBTQ+ people should have equal work opportunities, but nearly half of LGBTQ+ workers have experienced unfair treatment at work — including being fired, not hired, or harassed because of their identity. Now a growing number of workers and consumers expect employers to prevent anti-LGBTQ legislation and provide an equitable workplace.