Pinkwashing

What is it, and why should you care?

It's June, which means we can count on a few different things:

1. Rising temperatures
2. School's out for summer
3. And, oh yeah- the annual show of Pinkwashing and Rainbow Capitalism has begun

What is "Pinkwashing"?

Pinkwashing refers to the appropriation of the LGBTQIA+ movement to promote a corporate agenda. Simply put, brands create products or messaging to gain favor with the LGBTQIA+ community, without any true follow-through or authentic support. 

We've all seen examples of it, and some of the worst offenders are the fast fashion giants like Forever21, SheIn, and BooHoo. The reality of the Pride collections sold by companies like those is that they're manufactured in unsafe conditions by workers (mostly women of color), who generally never paid a fair living wage. 

For many brands, this amounts to nothing more than a cash grab.

With recent studies showing as much as 20% of Gen Z adults identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, pumping out these products has proven to be extremely profitable. 

So what can  you do?

1. First of all, don't give your money to fast fashion brands 
2. Support your local drag performers at Pride events (and all year round!) and tip with cash
3. Look to your own closet to see what you can upcycle that you already have
4. Seek out & support LGBTQIA+ designers, artists, makers, etc.