Ever since major companies discovered Queer people have money, a plethora of Pride merchandise has been released every June. Some items are stylish and cool, but most are a cheap way of making extra cash for the company. In all fairness, major companies have increased their donations and Queer artist partnerships this year, but tacky merch still exists.
In response to articles relating to Pride merch people should buy, SGN has decided to provide a list of items you should not buy this month. Keep in mind this list was created by a 22-year-old Lesbian, so the opinions in this article may differ from yours and that's totally fine.
Anyways, behold four things not to buy this Pride month.
Any item from the Coca-Cola Pride line
When people outside of the United States think of this country in a nonpolitical context, the first things they usually think of are Coca-Cola and McDonald's. The iconic red Coca-Cola logo has slithered its way into every facet of American life, including Pride month.
The obvious money grab by the soda giant includes a variety of rainbow-colored products with words like "Love" and "Together is Beautiful" written on them. The design makes it seem like Coca-Cola thinks Queer people are bottles of soda, which in a way will make sense if the company sees people as only consumers of its product. The merchandise also gives the impression that the wearer likes soda, not necessarily Queer people. None of the proceeds go to Queer charities, nor is there any claim that Queer artists created the designs.
At least McDonald's decided to focus on a possible Queer icon, Grimace, this Pride month. Daddy Grimace is way more intriguing than anything made by Coca-Cola this year.
If you want to wear soda-themed merch for Pride month, check out the earrings created by Queer artist Nicole Brennan. Their website includes items that parody major brands. For instance, a pair of earrings features the word "Spite" written in the Sprite font. Shop Nicole Brennan's jewelry at https://www.nicolebrennandraws.com
Any item on Amazon from a seller you can't find information about
Everybody who has shopped on Amazon has seen this seller. It usually has a run-on sentence as a shop name and uses way too many tags.
Here's what the tags say on a shirt by LGBT Love Equality Queer Same Love Shirts & Gifts on Amazon, "Awesome Shirt for for Drag Queens or homosexual and trans Rally and Demonstration. Show awareness of same love and support for the glam lgbt rainbow community and dont assume any gender. Perfect for coming out bisexual pansexual and intersex men and women. This Tee a great giftidea for men, women and kids, fathers, mothers, brother, sisters, aunties and uncles who love to support the gay and trans same love community and other sexual orientation. Perfect for Marriage wedding Birthday and Xmas.LGBTQIA. (sic)"
If it's hard to read the description and you can't find any information about the seller, don't buy the product. There's no way of seeing where your money will go after purchasing the item.
Most Pride merchandise on Amazon's website is from these types of sellers, but there is a way to support Queer-owned businesses or artists through the site. If you search for the item, you want to click on the brand listed above the name of the product and look at the other items they sell. Does the vendor have a link to its website or a description of what the brand stands for? When you look up the brand, can you find any information about who runs it and where it's based? Small businesses using Amazon as a storefront and distributor like to make their brands known to the consumer, so this information should not be hard to find.
If that's too much work for you, check out Pride Basics. It is a 100% Queer-owned business that specializes in affordable Pride merchandise.
Any item that Queerbaits characters from TV shows and movies
Why do television and movie studios think it's okay to put two random characters on a shirt and imply they're in a Queer relationship? SpongeBob and Patrick are not in a romantic relationship, nor are Tweety and Sylvester. On another note, claiming Tweety and Sylvester "Fight together with Pride" makes it look like the show creators support domestic violence.
Queer characters do appear on television and in films. If you're going to wear Pride merch based on your favorite show or movie, make sure they're on it.
Pretty much any Pride merch from sports teams
Every Seattle sports team has a Pride line. The thing is, the lines for the Mariners, Seahawks, and Kraken look pretty much identical to each other. All three teams have a shirt that says Seattle in rainbow colors followed by the team's logo. The Seattle Sounders don't use the same designs as the other local teams; Sounders Pride merch is identical to that of every other MLS team.
If these Pride lines had distinct differences, corporate-generated sports merch would be forgivable, but it feels like no effort was put into the designs. On top of that, there's no indication that Queer artists produced or influenced the art or that the proceeds benefit Queer charities..
However, one Seattle sports team's Pride collection is original and gives back to the community. All proceeds from sales of the OL Reign's "Protect Trans Kids" shirt go to the Lavender Rights Project.
Well, there you have it: four things a 22-year-old thinks you shouldn't buy. Hope you all enjoy the remainder of Pride month in your new merchandise.