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Hello all! This week I wanted to discuss Pride Month and how corporations try to profit off of us. At the end of this post, I’m going to include a list of some of my favorite LGBTQIA+ owned businesses that deserve your support. I hope your Pride Month is going well!
As we are all aware, mega corporations love exploiting us LGBTQIA+ members by changing their logos and making products with rainbow flags on them. While seeing the support is great and having corporations recognizing that we are here, it is important to recognize why they do this. They know that “staying woke” and appealing to us will put some extra money in their pockets, while simultaneously funding anti-LGBTQIA+ operations. These companies are aware of the quick buck they can make by putting out these products conveniently for us to grab, but the money goes right back to them and their greedy pockets who will send that funding and turn it against us. Why do people still continue to support these campaigns? Convenience. Marketing tactics. Affordability. Many other reasons that don’t justify supporting their cause at the end of the day.
Sure, it is convenient to grab a couple rainbow souvenirs at Walmart, or get a rainbow logo-adorned article of clothing from your fav sports apparel store. The impact that is being made from these types of purchases can create some long term effects that will negatively impact our community. For one, LGBTQIA+ businesses may not receive enough profit and may have to close their shops. That’s a loss of queer voices and representation from an already cishetallo world. And second, the corporations will continue to exploit us year after year, and get more bold and overpowered each year if we continue to support them. Moral of the story is, stop giving mega corporations money for Pride merchandise when you could be buying them from LGBTQIA+ shops.
The marketing tactics used by these companies does make buying their products appealing. But, that’s why it’s important to be aware that they are, in fact, using tactics to profit off of us. With media takeover from these huge corporations, the voices of LGBTQIA+ owned businesses are shoved down and hidden, especially through social media. Simply because these corporations can pay to have their advertisement prioritized. These ads are so generic it can be painful to watch. Most of the time it’s overly flamboyant white gay men wearing rainbow clothes, and then one random white lesbian. They’re so copy-paste that you can barely tell they’re different store ads. If you’re going to try and advertise through ads, at least be diverse and inclusive. And when I say diverse, I’m not talking about putting one token person of color in the ad. Have actual, significant diversity. Aside from the ads, they also say they are giving “portions of the funds” to LGBTQIA+ projects or support groups when it turns out to be false information or put disclaimers in small print. In reality, none of these funds or less than 50% of the profits will go back to those organizations.
With the way society and capitalism is in the US, affordability is a huge factor for people when it comes to buying things, especially material things. However, there are still people who spend their money on name-brand things that will give the illusion of status, such as things from some of these major corporations. And although places like Walmart collaborate with small LGBTQIA+ businesses, the profits made don’t 100% go to them. The best way to support LGBTQIA+ businesses is to buy from them directly. Keeping affordability in mind, the reason that small businesses have to charge “so much” is because they need to profit from the cost to make their product. Many small businesses hand-make their products, or their products take them countless hours to make. It’s only natural that they are compensated for their time. And also, since it is Pride Month, LGBTQIA+ shops deserve to be supported and funded so they can continue to grow and be successful. Pride Month is often the most profitable time for queer shops, whereas these corporations make profit all year round no matter the occasion. You have the choice to not pay for what you can’t afford, but if you can afford it you may as well support the small queer businesses.
Speaking of LGBTQIA+ businesses, you might be wondering where to find some or what the websites are. I’m going to list some of my favorites down below! The majority of these will include Aspec merch, just as a heads up.
Tinyflowerclub- Shop run by a Trans Enby Aroace artist!
Shopjzd- Latina and Queer owned shop!
Pride Palace- Number one shop for Pride Flags!
Proud Zebra- Queer owned shop in Canada!
Pin Prick- Queer owned shop in London!
Pin-Ace Pins- Shop run by a Gay Intersex shop owner!
Sounds Fake But Ok- Shop for the Podcast by an Aroace and Biro Demisexual duo!
AbbylichtArt- Tehe, self insert, sorry about that. Shop owner is Demiro Ace and makes graphics for the Blog!
Kando Castle- Latina and Queer owned shop! (They're currently on vacation until July 3, but be sure to check them out when they get back!)
NeoNostalgiaShopCA- Queer owned shop in Canada!
Here’s a thread from Twitter that also has links to LGBTQIA+ small business owners!
If you are able, and are looking for Pride merch this year, please consider purchasing from these amazing shops!
If you have any thoughts to add, agree or disagree, or have any questions to ask, please reach out to me through social media or email.
Thank you for reading and stay true to yourself!