Corporate Pinkwashing: Supporting LGBTQIA Beyond Optics and Lip Service
DCAP MEDIA LLC is a Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference 2021 sponsor. The virtual Conference Schedule is now on the transPHL.org website. In a Pride Month full of corporations and brands pretending to care about LGBTQIA lives with a lot of pinkwashing and empty virtue signaling, DCAP MEDIA founder Daniela Capistrano (she/they) shares why it’s important to them to live their values.
I am small business owner with a family to provide for, but I am still a monthly sustaining donor with House of Tulip and LGBT Community Center of New Orleans, and do my best to support other LGBTQIA led orgs and initiatives throughout the year. I am also an active member of the Gulf South Chamber of Commerce. Here are four ways for corporations — and small business owners like myself — to tangibly support LGBTQIA lives during Pride Month — and every month.
Educate Yourself.
Can you easily name five trans-led organizations? Can you name five Black trans leaders/activists? If the answer is “no” to both of these questions, read this roundup of Black trans-led organizations by activist Raquel Willis. You can be a better ally and effective sponsor/patron if you understand who is active in the trans rights & LGBTQIA rights ecosystem in your city, state, nationwide, and around the world.
Listen & Learn On Social.
A manageable way to educate yourself over time on the issues that affect LGBTQIA people is to follow LGBTQIA activists and Influencers online. Since trans people are disproportionately affected by systems of oppression — in particular Black trans people — a way to give yourself an edge on parsing all this valuable information is to follow @translashmedia on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. TransLash releases a weekly TalkBack video that rounds up the top LGBTQIA stories of the week, and spotlights trans and LGBTQIA artists, activists, business owners and more. Subscribe to the TransLash Media limited series podcast, ‘The Anti-Trans Hate Machine’ (dropping 6/24) to learn all about the players behind the scenes who are pushing 100+ anti-trans bills nationwide. Subscribe to the TransLash weekly newsletter for trans-affirming and LGBTQIA-affirming news and resources sent straight to your inbox.
ICYMI: Read and enjoy TransLash Zine: Pride Month Edition, to get to know trans artists and activists nationwide.
Fall down the rabbit hole of Trans Reddit, where you can educate yourself on a wide range of subjects.
Follow Raquel Willis, Geo Soctomah Neptune, Chase Strangio, Angelica Ross, Imara Jones, Chris Mosier, and ALOK on Instagram, who share real-time updates on anti-trans bills, the fight to protect trans kids, and model examples of ways to authentically sponsor trans-led initiatives. Follow the Transgender Law Center & their trans youth initiative as well. To stay informed on the experiences and challenges within undocumented LGBTQIA communities, follow @undocuqueer.
Take these simple and easy (and free) steps, and within 30 days, your knowledge about trans and LGBTQIA issues will increase (at a minimum) by 50%. There is never any excuse to be ignorant about trans and LGBTQIA issues if you have access to the Internet.
Hire Trans & Gender Non-Conforming People.
What better way to signal that you support LGBTQIA people by hiring trans people, who experience the most workplace oppression out of any marginalized group. Contrary to many transphobic assumptions, there are qualified trans people working in every industry. If you need trans folks in tech, look to Trans Tech Social to recruit candidates. You can also post employment listings and job opportunities in various online groups as part of your outreach, such as in the Association of Transgender Professionals Facebook group. At DCAP MEDIA, more than 50% of our hires are LGBTQIA — and that is intentional.
Pay LGBTQIA People Fairly For Their Labor.
An unfortunate phenomenon leading up to Pride Month is businesses of all sizes reactively reaching out to LGBTQIA activists/artists/influencers to offer them opportunities for exposure under the guise of solidarity. If you want an LGBTQIA person to promote your brand during Pride Month, at minimum, don’t dehumanize & insult them by assuming they want to flash your gear or services for “exposure.” Pay them — and pay them fairly. Not sure how much to pay them? Then pay an LGBTQIA person who has experience with branded content during Pride Month to consult you on establishing a rate sheet and sponsor packages. You can write this service off as a business expense. A current example is that ALOK is doing several campaigns this Pride Month 2021; reach out at contact@alokvmenon.com and inquire about consulting services so you can determine what you can afford to do during Pride Month and beyond.
DISCLOSURE: TransLash Media and TransLash Media founder Imara Jones are DCAP MEDIA clients. DCAP MEDIA founder Daniela Capistrano is non-binary, queer, and Latinx.
Are you interested in creating an LGBTQIA-affirming campaign or media initiative that authentically connects your brand to LGBTQIA audiences? Looking for a guest speaker to educate your company/group on LGBTQIA issues and partnership opportunities? Contact us today to book your complimentary consultation.
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