Thinking about Pride
Honor Code Creatives on #Pride month and its meaning
Honor Code Creatives on #Pride month and its meaning
As the first week of Pride month comes to a close, we asked some of our creatives to share what Pride means to them.
Sasha, copywriter/content creator:
“Pride month means being your whole self wherever and whenever you want.”
Rachel, founder/CD:
“The rights of LGBTQIA+ community are just something that matters to me on a gut level, and I think I started to feel that even more so when I became a mother. Every person is someone’s beloved child, and the idea of wrongful treatment based on who you are or who you love feels especially close to home when you simply think of it in this way. I started taking my son to the Pride parade when he was around 3, and I remember explaining it as a celebration of the right to be who you are and love who you love.
As far as we have to go (so very far), I do find any genuine, thoughtful effort by a brand meaningful, in the sense that I remember too well a time when brand leaders would be scared to alienate somone by supporting Pride overtly. Talk about not being willing to #standforsomething. But like anything else, the message is best when it’s authentic to the brand, its voice, what it knows.
I am still learning so much, and one of the things deeply on my mind right now is inclusive speech, how to talk and write in ways that acknowledge the full spectrum of gender and sexual identity.”
Tam, copywriter:
“Pride Month is a reminder that love is love. And we need love here something fierce. For me, that means being an ally: choosing to see through LGBTQ folks’ eyes and stand and speak with them. Love is love.”
Diana, art director/designer/founder @sayitwithmenow:
“For allies, I think Pride Month is an important reminder to show our support through tangible actions that help make the world a safer place for every LGBTQIA+ person — all year long. Rainbows are freaking awesome — but legal protections and inclusive spaces are even better!
What I want to see this Pride Month, under every generic Pride-related post from a big brand, is people commenting and asking if they have gender-neutral bathrooms in their offices/stores. Let’s seize the extra attention and ensure companies are putting their money (and their practices) where their mouths are.”
Jess, art director/designer/UX design specialist:
“Me [to my 4-year-old]: Theo, do you know what a rainbow flag stands for?”
“Theo: The patriarchy is bad.”
[Ed. note: You’re welcome.]
“Pride month means to me celebrating how far we’ve come as a society in excepting and celebrating people’s difference, while acknowledging how far we still need to go.”