Here’s two Pride products actually donating all the profits to LGBT charities
Pride in London’s iconic annual parade will take place this Saturday. (NIKLAS HALLE’N/AFP/Getty Images)
It’s Pride season and, with many companies jumping on the bandwagon, selling everything from H&M’s rainbow socks to Starbucks’ glitter Frappuccinos, here’s two products actually donating all proceeds to LGBT+ charities.
To celebrate Pride, a multitude of brands have released special rainbow-themed goods.
However, some members of the LGBT+ community have been critical of such products, slamming the companies behind them for “commercialising” Pride in a bid to increase sales.
Primark, for example, is only donating 20 percent of the profits from its Pride range to Stonewall, in a controversial partnership that has been heavily criticised by Pride organisers in the UK and Europe.
H&M, meanwhile, is only giving 10 percent of proceeds from its rainbow-inspired range to United Nations Human Rights Office Free & Equal campaign.
Still, there is hope, with some companies stepping up to the mark, and donating 100 percent of the proceeds from their Pride-theme products to LGBT+ charities.
London-based creative company Joint has launched ‘Ball for All’ an initiative to help highlight the status of LGBT+ footballers.
There is still no openly gay or bisexual player in the UK’s Premier League, with sexuality remaining a taboo subject in the top levels of men’s football.
Sexuality is, however, more freely discussed in women’s football, where there are number of prominent lesbian players in the top leagues, including England’s Lianne Sanderson.
Joint is selling Pride-themed footballs for £20, donating all profits to LGBT+ charities, including football charity Come Out 2 Play.
Joint’s ‘Ball for All’ initiative. (Joint)
Damon Collins and Richard Exon, founders of Joint, said: “Our team wanted to do something to show our love of football in a meaningful and memorable way, and our support for the LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+ footballers in particular.”
San Francisco-founded clothing company Teespring is another business donating all the proceeds from its Pride range – called ‘Sexuali-Tees’ – to an LGBT+ charity.
Teespring’s Sexuali-Tees range includes LGBT+ inspired t-shirts, vests, tote bags, and mugs.
Teespring’s ‘Sexuali-Tees’ range. (Teespring)
It’s donating 100 percent of the profits from the range to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, which provides legal aid to low-income or people of colour, who are transgender, intersex, or non-binary.
Tens of thousands are expected to attend Pride in London’s iconic parade this weekend.
Pride in London runs throughout June and into the beginning of July – with events, including a film festival, being held across the capital – culminating in the iconic parade this weekend.
Transport for London (TfL) has painted underground roundels and benches with the Pride-colours – using the trans flag for the first time – in the lead up to the event.
