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As an NGLCC-certified LGBTQIA+ owned agency, Pride has always been important to us. |
In a sea of corporate rainbow washing, queer baiting, parades, and parties – it’s easy to forget that Pride is really about activism, visibility, and equality. And now more than ever, it’s an important time for brands to think about how they can show up to meaningfully support the diverse interests of LGBTQIA+ communities, not only in June – but 365 days a year. |
There’s still so much work to be done – from trans rights, to access to health care for gender dysphoria, and more – in the United States and around the world. And for brands, it seems that these days every step forward is a step backward – just look at Target. While minefields abound, we encourage brands to stay vigilant. |
It should come as no surprise that this issue is dedicated to all things Pride – and there’s so much happening this month. We’ve rounded up the best in Pride celebrations and how brands are participating around the world. |
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Bruce, Brian, Ed + The BMF Team |
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The POV |
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 | Pulse Check: Global Pride RoundupWe’ve assembled the best Pride events and LGBTQIA+ owned businesses to support around the world this Pride month and beyond. Check out our roundup. ➔ |
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The New + The NoteworthyEverything Worth Doing/Seeing/Getting/Booking |
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 | Susanne Bartsch presents Pride Ball, on June 15th at the Hard Rock Hotel in New York City. Join the Pride celebration with New York City’s patron saint of transformation and inclusion, Susanne Bartsch. The event begins at 10pm at The Venue and is open to the public. Check out the Hard Rock Hotel here. ➔ | Photo via Hard Rock Hotel |
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 | The King of Queer New York, Ty Sunderland, has answered our prayers with a fully packed month of Pride parties. The pop diva boat parties series is back for music, dancing and drag. Grab your tickets for Gayflower: Teenage Dream Boat on June 17th here. Join Ty for a 12 hour dance party on Pride Sunday, June 25th, for an indoor and outdoor extravaganza at Love Prism Disco, tickets here. Want to experience NYC’s biggest pride event? It’s happening at The Brooklyn Mirage and Avant Gardner on June 24th. Three music stages will come to life with a lineup of top talent, cutting-edge art and immersive experiences. You won’t want to miss this, book tickets here. Score the hottest tickets during Pride month and attend the official release party for Kim Petras’s debut album: Feed The Beast. Get your tickets here. | |
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 | The 7th annual CommUNITY Rainbow Run and Family Festival held in Orlando, Florida celebrates inclusion while honoring those whose lives were taken in the Pulse nightclub tragedy. Presented by Orlando Health and Hard Rock International, the run will be held on Saturday, June 3rd and can also be done virtually from anywhere in the world. Register here. ➔ | |
|  | Jean Paul Gaultier merges fashion and beauty with the drop of the limited edition Pride fragrance bottles. Since the brand's inception in 1976, the designer has been known for bold statements about radical acceptance. The chrome plated body of the bottle is inspired by the House’s iconic archives. The activist rallying cry on the bottle, “Get Used To It!”, is a reminder of the designer's commitment to the fundamental values of the LGBTQIA+ community. The brand’s limited edition fragrance is up for grabs here. ➔ | Photo via Jean Paul Gualtier |
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 | The Trevor Project is partnering with Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants to host a fabulous drag brunch for a good cause. BRUNCHOUT with Trevor will feature performances from national and local drag queens, a full bar, and brunch bites along with a silent auction. All of the funds will be donated to The Trevor Project. Experience the brunches in Nashville, Atlanta, and Palm Springs. Read more here. ➔ | |
|  | Miami has a new LGBTQIA-friendly festival, the Erotika II Pride Festival at MAD Arts opens tonight! The two-day festival features non-mainstream erotic art and thought-provoking performances by leading feminist and LGBTQIA+ artists. The festival is a re-presentation of desire and a rejection of the male gaze. For those who are 21+, purchase festival tickets here. ➔ | |
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 | Pride is a critical celebration across Disney and the collection is part of their commitment to celebrating the community year-round. Disney Parks want their guests and cast members to see themselves reflected in Disney stories, experiences, and products. The collection was created by members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community. Learn more about the LGBTQIA+ organizations that Disney supports here and shop the collection here. ➔ | |
|  | Apple has announced a new Apple Watch band and face for Pride Month 2023. The Pride Edition Sport Band features vibrant colors symbolizing the beauty and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, and a custom laser-etched message. The new bands are available to purchase online and in-store. You can check it out here. ➔ | |
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 | The first ever Gay Games in Asia will take place in Hong Kong and as a Platinum sponsor, Marriott Bonvoy will invite visitors to celebrate the historical event with “Feel Your Pride and Share Your Love” experiences. These unique hotel stay packages are curated experiences that will take you on a journey through Hong Kong and allow you to explore its rich cultural heritage. Book your package here. ➔ | Photo via Gay Games Hong Kong |
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 | From street fairs to dance parties, there is no doubt that New York City is an exciting place to experience Pride. Celebrate at Queerpalooza, at a Yankees game, or see headliner Christina Aguilera perform at Pride Island. Whatever floats your boat, you’ll find it happening here. ➔ | |
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The FrequencyWhat We’re Listening To Now. |
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 | Get ready to celebrate PRIDE month in style because one of our favorite queens and BMF Music PR client Yvie Oddly (winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 11 and finalist on All Stars Season 7) is releasing a new EP entitled YO on June 9th. It’s tailor-made for the oddballs, the outcasts, and the queerdos of the world who are looking for something unique and refreshing. Fans will also be able to catch Yvie live as she embarks on the RuPaul Drag Race Werq World Tour as well as her own Strange Love Tour. Strange Love features Yvie in her debut one-woman show chock full of outrageous comedy, insane musical numbers, and gratuitous nipple play. A show not to be missed! ➔ | |
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 | VINCINT is a legend in the making and we’re obsessed with VINCINT’s new song, Take Me Home, that’ll be released on June 9th. It’s getting us excited for summer and is sure to be the song of Pride season. We can't wait to be hearing it at all the parties happening this month. Pre-save it here. ➔ | |
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The DestinationNow Departing... |
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 | If you're looking to escape the city there is nowhere like Fire Island. From the sweeping modernist architecture of Fire Island Pines to the all-inclusivity of Cherry Grove – it’s a queer paradise. Check out our recently refreshed travel guide here. ➔ | |
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The SublimeCreators, Innovators, And Cool $#!+ You Should Know About. |
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 | Rihanna’s inclusive lingerie brand is celebrating Pride with brand new collections. Savage X Fenty is known to celebrate the LGBTGIA+ community by including queer and trans celebrities, influencers and drag queens as models online and on the runway. The new collection features a spectrum of colors and sizes that can be “mixed and matched to rep your personal rainbow.” Savage X Fenty will be partnering with the Clara Lionel Foundation to financially support organizations making a difference in queer communities. See the new collection here, and throw it back to the BMF-produced SXF S3 stunt in NYC. ➔ | |
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| In Strange Way of Life, Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke are playing gay cowboys in the wild west. The film is about two old friends and lovers reuniting after decades apart. Written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar, with costumes by Anthony Vaccarello of Saint Laurent, the gay western stands next to Almodovar’s powerful films, “Volver” and “Talk to Her”. Watch the trailer here. ➔ | |
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Kim Petras has unveiled the album artwork and tracklist for her upcoming album, Feed The Beast. The album consists of collaborations with Sam Smith and Nicki Minaj with “Unholy” and “Alone”. Kim Petras is also reportedly teaming up with alt-pop singer BANKS for an upcoming song called “BAIT”. “Feed The Beast” will be coming out this June 23rd, Read more about it here. ➔ | |
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| Throughout 2023, BMF client Visa will be hosting three startup competitions with the intention of uplifting and supporting underrepresented communities across the country. The competitions are reserved for candidates that are founded/led by members of Black, Women, and LGBTQ+ communities. The finals for each competition will be livestreamed worldwide on TechCrunch. Learn more about it here. ➔ | |
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At age 27, Christian Cowan is new to the fashion scene but has already racked up an impressive celebrity clientele. Born in Cambridge, UK, Cowan now lives and works in New York City and dresses celebrities such as Lil Nas X, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus and Heidi Klum. In 2018, Cardi B wore a full Cowan look on her Invasion of Privacy album cover which helped launch his career and notoriety. Browse the up-and-coming designer’s collection here. ➔ | Photo via Atlantic Records |
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| Queer icon and ally Tina Turner passed away on May 24th at age 83. She spoke out regularly and made her support of the LGBTQ community known when many other celebrities wouldn't. In 1982, she led the opening ceremony of the first ever Gay Games with a performance when many other artists declined. In 2000, she was one of the first to publicly support same sex marriage 15 years before it was recognized in the US. Her stage performances influenced many drag artists including the queen of drag, RuPaul. Read more about her career here. ➔ | Photo via Denize Alain/Sygma/Getty Images |
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Designer and master of modern visual communication, Simon Porte Jacquemus, has set up a picture perfect pop-up in the Instagram haven that is Lake Como. Influenced by the Mediterranean lifestyle and European summers, Jacquemus is finally bringing the brand to the source of his inspirations. The pop-up will celebrate the brand's Été capsule collection which is completely dedicated to the summer season and will run until October 16th. Explore the world of Jacquemus here. ➔ | |
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 | The Ultimatum is the newest and first queer dating show on Netflix. The series follows five long-term couples that are up against a crossroads in their relationship - one partner is ready to settle down and the other one isn’t. To test the relationship, the couples are to temporarily break up with their partner and pair up with one of the other contestants in a “trial marriage”. Watch the show here. ➔ | |
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The Week in ReviewICYMI... |
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TravelThe Nation’s Largest LGBTQ Advocacy Group Joins Others In Warning People About Visiting Florida ➔ Panelists Discuss The Trends And Pitfalls Of LGBTQ Travel ➔ 20 Safest Countries For LGBTQ Travelers, Ranked In A New Report ➔ 23 Fantastic LGBTQ Destinations for 2023 ➔
Fashion & BeautyPride Month 2023 Collections From Brands That Give Back To Support LGBTQIA+ Initiatives ➔ The Best Pride Merch To Help You And Your Besties Celebrate In Style ➔ Pride Style Through The Years: Festive Fashion, Beauty And More ➔ Express Your Pride With These 30 Nail Designs While Celebrating Your Community ➔
Entertainment36 LGBTQIA+ Movies And Shows To Stream Now To Celebrate Pride ➔ 50 Best Pride Songs And LGBTQ+ Anthems To Blast During Pride Month ➔ The 16 Best Shows To Watch During Pride Month ➔ Mariah Carey And Megan Thee Stallion Headlining LA Pride In The Park 2023 ➔
TechnologyHow Will AI Impact The LGBTQ+ Community? We Asked An Expert ➔ The Instagram Page ‘RuPublicans’ Uses AI To Turn Anti-LGBTQ+ Republicans Into Drag Queens ➔ The Need For Technological Kinship For The LGBTQ Community ➔ There's Now A Pride Flag On The (Simulated) Moon ➔
MediaWhat Days Are Gay Days At Disney World? Everything To Know About The Red Shirt Tradition ➔ 116 Best Pride Captions For The Month Of June And All Year Long ➔ Out Magazine, The Advocate Sold To New Owners In Pride Media Acquisition ➔ Burger King Pride Campaign Faces Backlash On Social Media ➔
Events21 Top Pride Parades And Celebrations In The U.S. For 2023 ➔ PRIDE 365: Southern California LGBTQIA+ Events ➔ Everything You Need To Know About The LA Pride Parade (And WeHo Pride) ➔ NYC Pride 2023 Guide To The Best Events, Parades, Theme And Dates ➔
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