Check In With Your Queer Creatives During Pride.

June is here, and with it, another month of dos and don’ts. From shoes to coffee cups, we know the who’s who of corporate allies and the latest rainbow washers.   

As a queer woman, I find myself in the throes of self-identity and brand favoritism. To understand my stance on these issues you need to know a little about me. My pronouns are she/her/hers; I am a pansexual woman in a straight presenting relationship. I am privileged in a way many community members aren’t, and I don’t hold this privilege lightly. At times, I find myself in spaces where I must be the voice of reason. Some may think that I’m a great ally and may not place me as a community member, but I am fighting for myself and my partner.  

Now add the enticing layer of being an advertising professional. Living your truth is important and vital to being a creative and happy person overall. Allowing that truth to help lead brands down the path of true allyship is a tall order. Showing them the way is one thing, but helping build the bridge brick by brick is another. And that is what a lot of queer creatives are doing.  

For months (hopefully) many queer creatives have been pouring ourselves into Pride campaigns and showing these brands what needs to be done to truly show support and make a difference in the community. From pushing to hire LGBTQIA+ community members in all aspects of the campaign to helping write the response comment to the hate they will most likely get from bigots online; we work night and day to create more inclusive media. We have our hand on the pulse of Pride and are there to provide much needed insight at every leg of the journey.   

Above all, we are tired. Like most people in the industry, you never get it right the first time. We are selling a product which we know could disappoint us. For many of us, our Pride campaign is now a passion project to prove that the brands we love truly love us back. We connect to this work on a deeper level. We want to be the voice of reason. Our blood, sweat and tears are going into these projects because we know our stamp of approval means more. With every pushback that goes against best practices, we step up to the plate. A death by a million paper cuts in hopes the product still feels like the idea you sold so long ago.  

And if the result is what you hope for, you can’t help but still feel a bit disappointed by the battles you lost. Because this isn’t just another banner ad, social post, or influencer collab. This is our love letter to our community.   

So, if you want to be true allies in advertising check in with those voices that gave you a leg to stand on, during pride month and beyond. They will appreciate it.   

And to all my creatives out there, if no one has said it, thank you, for the representation and thoughtful work you do and the world you help to create. I’m proud of you. Happy Pride.