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Brands Who Proudly Support the LGBTQ Community
PRIDE: THEN & NOW
Many people feel LGBTQ+ Pride is a time to get drunk and party hard. One person I know actually said that Pride is just about sexual liberation, and a wise person described to me “Pride is like God or religion - it means something different to everyone” (thank you Ryan Schae for that quote). One must not judge and instead try to understand the deep-rooted hatred from where Pride was born. Once you do, you may understand that sometimes, after all that oppression, one needs to just let go, be free and celebrate.
Many heterosexual people feel that by attending Pride events, they are making a positive statement in favor of the LGBTQ+ community. However, please remember that just participating at Pride events is not enough. Year round, you must seek out stores and venues that contribute positively to the LGBTQ+ community, not just the ones who put a rainbow on something in the month of June and profit from it. This year, it seems, I have seen rainbows in tons of stores and restaurants.
Recently, I visited a Macy’s in New York and they had a section called “Stories.” In this section, which was visibly separated by the colors of the rainbow, they had displays with the theme of each individual color. As the salesperson explained, “these are the stories we create” and they change every two months. My daughter just looked at me and whispered, “and they just happen to choose the rainbow for May and June.” I explained to her that Macy’s is a huge supporter of LGBTQ causes and perhaps, the reason they were subliminally engaging the rainbow (meaning no major PRIDE displays) was because, we were visiting a very conservative part of Long Island, NY and this was perhaps their way to be pro-LGBTQ, without shouting it from the roof top. This is why the LGBTQ+ community celebrates Pride, because we still have cities - even in NY - where the LGBTQ community is still in the closet.
Profits vs Soul
The 1969 Stonewall riots were a grass-roots movement, which lit a fire under our collective asses and forced us to mobilize and become activists for equality and inclusion, for the sake of our lives. Some feel we should bring back that feel and keep Pride simple and disagree with the commercialization of Pride events. Many feel these brands are just putting money into Pride events, so they can make money of LGBTQ+ customers; in fact, that is exactly what they are doing. However, when Pride festivals are managed properly, the money collected from all those brands, floats and walking billboards, go to help local LGBTQ+ causes and charities.
Therefore, those companies are buying commercials in the form of floats or by adding their name to Pride events, and in turn GOOD for the LGBTQ+ community is being done with that money. If those companies did not fund the events, then we couldn’t take our activism to the next level. Unfortunately, money makes the world go round. The way to make sure that Pride is being managed properly, is by getting involved – and not just once a year during Pride. Take the time and volunteer year round in local LGBTQ+ organizations, participate in local events, shop from stores/restaurants/fast food places that contribute positively to LGBTQ+ causes and include members of the LGBTQ community. Be a Rainbow Role Model and wear your rainbow proud during the entire year – not just in June.
Converse celebrates the 50th anniversary of PRIDE around the world with a new collection and campaign to amplify LGBTQ+ voices and stand strong with the trans community, thus cementing its positive stance of diversity and inclusion.
Converse is committed to supporting movements for positive social change and amplifying youth voices as they spark progress to build the future they believe in.
This year, as part of their annual collection and following an initial online release, Converse introduces the first-ever sneakers inspired by the trans flag.
The collection aims to pay respect to the rebels and heroes who continue to pave the way and to celebrate who we all are as individuals.
In this spirit, Converse is also releasing a new chapter of their “All The Stories Are True” campaign that amplifies the voices of six individuals connected to the LGBTQ+ community.
• Desmond Is Amazing, drag kid and LGBTQ+ advocate
• Kristin Beck, retired United States Navy SEAL and trans activist
• Alexis Sablone, pro-skateboarder (and CONS Skateboarding teammate) and artist
• Felix, a student advocate and nature enthusiast who first connected with Converse through OUT MetroWest
• Ayishat Akanbi, UK-based fashion stylist, writer and cultural commentator
• Fran Tirado, New York-based writer and editor
In celebration of Converse’s annual PRIDE collection, contributions are supporting longstanding local and global LGBTQ+ partners. Converse is proud to share that they have donated and pledged over one million dollars since 2014 in support of local and global LGBTQ+ partners. This year, they are committing to supporting global, national and local partners It Gets Better, OUT MetroWest, Fenway Health and others with charitable contributions.
Macy’s long-standing commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion is punctuated this June by its nationwide celebration of National Pride Month. In support of its colleagues, customers and communities, Macy’s 10th annual national Pride + Joy campaign will celebrate WorldPride 2019 and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Macy’s Pride + Joy campaign features special partnerships with The Trevor Project and NYC Pride, participation in Pride parades across the country, in-store special events, and exclusive Pridethemed merchandise available at more than 150 Macy’s stores and on macys.com.
Shawn Outler Macy’s Chief Diversity Officer
This year, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, which sparked the LGBTQ Pride festivities around the world we celebrate, New York City welcomes WorldPride!
Over 4 million people are expected to descend in NYC and participate in the 50 official Pride events scheduled for the month of June.
Hilton has long been a leader in diversity and a friend of the LGBTQ community. So, it should be no surprise to anyone that Hilton is providing guests with great deals, plus creating specialty cocktails to celebrate.
PRIDE COCKTAILS
In celebration of WorldPride 2019, Hilton has curated a selection of Pride-inspired cocktails throughout Hilton hotels across New York City.
With different Pride cocktails at each location – including five rooftop bars – there has been no better time to show your pride!
GLAMOUR STATIONS ON PARADE DAY
In addition to the discounts and Pride Cocktails, you can add a bit of glitz to your WorldPride strut with Hilton’s onsite glitter glamour stations. Located in the lobby of select hotels, from 9am to 12pm on June 30, guests and locals can stop by to
have glitter makeup and applique added to their WorldPride look prior to the Parade.
STAY WITH HILTON AND RECEIVE UP TO 50% OFF SUNDAY NIGHTS
Perfect if you are booking reservations for Pride weekend or are looking for a long weekend in New York, 49 Hilton hotels are offering 50% off Sunday stays to Hilton Honors members, and up to 40% off for non-members now through December 29, 2019 when visitors book a three-night stay inclusive of Saturday. Additionally, guests will receive access to local discounts, including 30% off Roundabout Theatre tickets and 20% off admission to the “Chow Down” exhibit or general admission at the Museum of Food & Drink.
National Geographic Encounter opened in New York City’s Times Square on October 6, 2017, with Ocean Odyssey, a fun and immersive journey across the Pacific Ocean over one incredible night.
Guests can splash in the shallow waters of the beach, escape a magnificent 3-D feeding frenzy, get up close with a 50-ft Humpback whale, play with their own sea lions and more. Dive into a virtual ocean where high tech meets the deep sea. National Geographic Encounter is a new, interactive entertainment attraction in Times Square that journeys through the Pacific Ocean, where guests see, hear and feel what it’s like to be under the sea and encounter its greatest wonders.
Only in New York City can visitors escape the jaws of a 50-foot humpback whale, laugh through a kelp forest maze, play with mischievous sea lions, and encounter a luminous coral reef, sharks, dolphins, and a battle between vicious squid – all without getting wet.
However, in celebration of WorldPride NYC and in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey in Times Square is joining the collection of Pride events and activities around New York City during the month of June by offering Pride discounted ticket packages and supporting local LGBTQ+ youth.
National Geographic Encounter welcomes families and friends of the LGBTQ+ community of all ages – from the young to the young-at-heart – to dive into a virtual ocean in Times Square where high tech meets the deep sea for a family-friendly, fun and interactive journey across the Pacific Ocean.
Throughout the month of June, Encounter will offer a “Rainbow Family Fun Pack.” Guests can use the code RAINBOW to purchase a pack of four tickets for only $99 (up to a 37% savings off retail prices), or use the code PRIDE8 to receive $8 off any individual ticket.
And for every Rainbow Family Fun Pack and every four “PRIDE8” tickets purchased, Encounter will donate a free admission ticket to the Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), which will provide local LGBTQ+ youth the opportunity to visit Encounter.
