With 2019 marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots plus WorldPride in New York, it was hard not to spot a brand with a temporary rainbow logo, limited-edition product, or a billboard touting a campaign in support of the L.G.B.T.Q. community. The month of June always presents a prime moment for brands to celebrate Pride with events and activations as extensions of campaigns.
The idea of corporate Pride celebrations felt like Pride commercialization to some critics—some L.G.B.T.Q. employees at Google asked San Francisco Pride organizers to exclude the company from its parade—and the alternative Queer Liberation March protested corporate Pride the morning of the N.Y.C. Pride March. There's also concern that brands need to be transparent about how they actually support the L.G.B.T.Q. community with profits from Pride-theme merchandise.
Still, many brands in June celebrated with out-of-the-box activations that touted new initiatives and supported L.G.B.T.Q. rights organizations. Others showcased thoughtful twists to the typical rainbow design. Here’s a look at some Pride event highlights in New York, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Toronto from brands including Kimpton, American Express, Lululemon, AT&T, and Smirnoff.