June 1 marked the start of Pride Month, a time for our community to be visible and vocal. This year more than ever, we should remember and honor the critical leadership and contributions of LGBTQ people of color. Many LGBTQ people of color spearheaded the Stonewall Riots in 1969 and that none of the progress made for the acceptance and equality of LGBTQ people would be possible if not for the action and courage of those protestors. This Pride Month, GLAAD will center and lift up the voices of Black LGBTQ people as we continue to demand justice.

It is all of our responsibility to speak out publicly against racism, systemic injustice, and police brutality, and to elevate voices and amplify stories of people of color, especially within the LGBTQ community. It’s not Pride if it’s not intersectional. Black Lives Matter. Read the full statement here.

News and Rapid Response

GLAAD joins LGBTQ and civil rights groups in condemning acts of racism and white supremacy following the tragic murder of George Floyd

GLAAD joined more than 70 leading LGBTQ and civil rights organizations in releasing a letter condemning racism, racist violence and police brutality while calling for action to combat these scourges. The letter comes in response to long string of visible acts of racism, murder and police brutality, including the tragic murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, among others, as well as the racist attack against former GLAAD Board member Christian Cooper. The letter was featured across mainstream media including Good Morning America and The Advocate. It reads, in part: “Many of our organizations have made progress in adopting intersectionality as a core value and have committed to be more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. But this moment requires that we go further — that we make explicit commitments to embrace anti-racism and end white supremacy, not as necessary corollaries to our mission, but as integral to the objective of full equality for LGBTQ people.” The letter continues: “We understand what it means to rise up and push back against a culture that tells us we are less than, that our lives don't matter. Today, we join together again to say #BlackLivesMatter and commit ourselves to the action those words require.” Read the full letter here.

RESOURCES: Here are ways you can support the Black community and the fight to combat racism, discrimination, and police brutality

There are several ways LGBTQ people and LGBTQ allies can support the Black Lives Matter movement. GLAAD created a list of resources you can use to join the movement and support the Black community. The list highlights ways not just to be vocal against racism, but ways to also be actively anti-racist. From donating to organizations, to educating yourself and supporting Black-owned businesses, you can be part of the change. Click here to see the full list of resources.

Join GLAAD for an election-focused media training

More than ever, we need voters who understand the impact of elections on the LGBTQ community. That means they need to hear from you about why LGBTQ issues are such an important part of the election conversation. In June 17 media trainging from the GLAAD Media Institute, we will discuss how to tell your story, make voters understand what issues are important to you and the LGBTQ community, and explore resources to find accurate information and counter fake news about the LGBTQ community. Click here to register.

Fashion house AMI launches Pride collection with 100 percent of proceeds going to GLAAD

AMI, the French fashion house by Alexandre Mattiussi, dropped its all-gender LGBTQ Pride month capsule collection – its biggest Pride collection ever. The collection features t-shirts, hats, polos and key chains. AMI is donating 100% of global proceeds from this collection to support GLAAD’s culture-changing work. “We are proud and honored to support GLAAD, whose accomplishments are essential to make the world a better place for this community,” Alexandre Mattiussi said. Doubling down on the celebration of Pride Month, AMI is working with iconic stars and personalities to highlight all the different ways we find importance in LGBTQ Pride. Unreal’s Jeffrey Bowyer Chapman, How to Get Away With Murder’s Conrad Ricamora, YouTube and Instagram personality Benito Skinner, French Singer-Songwriter SOKO, and more have come together to share their messages of support. Head over to AMI’s Instagram to watch the video series, and shop the collection at AMIParis.com.

Research & Analysis

GLAAD and P&G release first-ever study that finds LGBTQ inclusion in film, TV and advertising leads to greater acceptance

GLAAD and Procter & Gamble (P&G), the world’s largest advertiser, released the findings from the first-ever “LGBTQ Inclusion in Advertising and Media” study, which measures how non-LGBTQ Americans respond to LGBTQ representation in television, films, and ads. Read the full study here. The findings from the “LGBTQ Inclusion in Advertising and Media” study showcase four main trends:

“The findings of this study send a strong message to brands and media outlets that including LGBTQ people in ads, films, and TV is good for business and good for the world,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, when media consumption is up and when media outlets serve as lifelines for LGBTQ people in isolation, companies should recognize that now is the right time to grow the quality and quantity of LGBTQ people in advertising. Significant work still needs to be done given the history of bias in LGBTQ representation, but leaders like P&G are raising the bar and bringing other powerful brands to the table.”

GLAAD supports third annual MOBIfest, a virtual festival focused on wellness

Though Pride celebrations around the world have been canceled or postponed, Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative (MOBI) presented MOBIfest, its annual free wellness festival for queer communities of color, virtually on June 4. As one of the only free events to focus on people’s holistic self, the lineup included the likes of trans pop artist and activist Mila Jam; POSE choreographer and Ballroom icon Twiggy Pucci Garçon; Miami sensation Saucy Santana; Chicago's rising 17-year old rapper Kidd Kenn, and NAACP Image Award-nominated artist Mykal Kilgore. Additional talent includes DJ BMAJR; drag legendary performer and queen of comedy, Harmonica Sunbeam; DJ Oscar Nuñez from Papi Juice; comedian, Paris Sashay; and dancer Shantoni Xavier. Click here to learn more about MOBI.

Skittles ‘gives the rainbow’ for Pride Month

For Pride Month, Skittles is partnering with GLAAD for its “Give the Rainbow” campaign that raises money for GLAAD’s work to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community. A limited supply of colorless bags of colorless Skittles will be available on a shelf near you at CVS and select Walmarts for Pride Month. There is only #OneRainbow that matters during Pride. For every package sold, Skittles will donate $1 to GLAAD up to $100,000. GLAAD spoke about the collection last month: “This Pride month, Skittles is removing its rainbow, but replacing it with much-needed conversations about the LGBTQ+ community and a visible stand of solidarity. The funding that GLAAD receives from the Skittles Pride Packs will support our news and campaigns program, which tells culture-changing stories of LGBTQ+ people and issues across the media year-round. This year when many LGBTQ+ people will be unable to gather at large Pride events, it’s so important that brands, notables, and other allies find authentic and creative ways to show that they stand with our community.”

Entertainment Weekly interviews GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis about the evolution of GLAAD

As part of its June Pride issue, Entertainment Weekly released a feature on the evolution of GLAAD’s work to increase LGBTQ representation in Hollywood. The article features an interview with GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, in which she discusses the areas where GLAAD has seen the most improvement in terms of LGBTQ representation, and how the rest of Hollywood is taking notice. Ellis also talks about the evolution of GLAAD’s work since its creation, as well as the process of GLAAD’s consulting work with major studios and networks in Hollywood. Ellis also reveals which storytellers, filmmakers, and TV producers she thinks are moving the needle for LGBTQ visibility in Hollywood, as well as which shows she thinks are reshaping the conversation for LGBTQ acceptance right now. Read the full feature here.

Special offer for GLAAD members and supporters!

GLAAD worked with the powerful documentary For They Know Not What They Do to ensure its transgender protagonists were involved in important personal decisions while the was being made. The film’s focus on current events shows the urgent need for accurate representation across all media, and increased understanding for LGBTQ people, which is GLAAD’s driving mission every day. The documentary, which premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, reveals the emotional journeys of four families and their LGBTQ children during the massive backlash to marriage equality and equality for transgender people. The film is director Daniel Karslake's follow-up to his groundbreaking first feature documentary For the Bible Tells Me So, about how some religious teachings can be misused to discriminate against LGBTQ people. For They Know is a moving testament to GLAAD's mission of visibility, inclusion and fighting misinformation and hate.

For They Know Not What They Do is making its worldwide debut, and GLAAD supporters get the first chance to see it AND help GLAAD! From June 5 through June 8, GLAAD members can rent For They Know Not What They Do and a portion of every ticket will go directly to GLAAD! Thank you for your ongoing support of GLAAD and films that help our work to accelerate acceptance.

Visit www.fortheyknow.org and click on the GLAAD logo to watch.

GLAAD Campus Ambassador Antonio Calbo-Jackson pens open letter regarding Black Lives Matter and Pride

GLAAD’s Youth Engagement program continues to put the spotlight on LGBTQ youth. GLAAD Campus Ambassador Antonio Calbo-Jackson took to GLAAD’s youth-focused platform, amp, to remind LGBTQ people of Stonewall and other riots as a way to show up for the Black Live Matter movement. Antonio writes: “Pride was, is, and will forever be, a protest and riot from police brutality.” Antonio also led this week’s AmpU Chat on Twitter. You can see the discussion here.

Sally Hansen teams up with GLAAD for a second year with colorful Pride collection

For the second year in a row, Sally Hansen has partnered with GLAAD for a one-of-a-kind Pride nail polish kit. This year’s collection expanded to include all of the colors of the inclusive Pride Flag for the XTREME WEAR Pride Collection and each polish is capped with the inclusive pride flag. You can find the collection at Retailers including Ulta Beauty, Walgreens, Amazon, CVS and Target will carry the collection in-store or online.