Every year when the calendar metaphorically flips from May 31 to June 1, we get that extra pep in our step. Summer is just around the corner, pride flags are flying, iced coffee is flowing – and this year, Kylie Minogue is back and has already blessed us with the song of the summer. We would very much like to focus heavily on celebrating, but things just feel a bit too complicated this year – particularly when it comes to the hot topics of Pride Month, LGBTQ issues and corporate support of the LGBTQ community. And let’s be clear, we don’t like complicated – and things now feel decidedly complicated.
Every other day, we are seeing news reports about companies getting some serious flack for different gestures or statements they have made to demonstrate their support for LGBTQ issues and people. And the flack is often being taken quite seriously, with some companies modifying aspects of their important support in response. And, of course, then those companies are called out by others as fair-weather friends. Honestly, it’s a mess, and it’s giving us thoughts and feelings ranging from sadness to anger to frustration.
Usually, we try to provide solutions in this blog – how to interpret the latest in a series of over-the-top Federal Trade Commission policy statements or how to make a substantiated Made in the USA claim. But here – we just don’t have a solution, just lots of feelings that issues that should be nonissues are back in the forefront as issues. And it pains us to know that recent high-profile marketing issues may cause other companies to think twice about future marketing campaigns that reflect all the letters of the LGBTQ community.
But let’s end on a more positive note. We were so delighted to read a recent story about Indiana high school students whose LGBTQ play was canceled by school officials because of concerns for the students’ safety. So what did these amazing kids do? They raised $84,000 and put the play on anyway. Perhaps the future is a bit brighter and far more colorful than we sometimes think it is on dark days.
And with that – happy Pride, y’all.
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