Five Companies Not to Support This Pride Month
By: Alexandra Tsuneta
Tags: Pride, Rainbow Washing, Gay, LGBTQ, Performative Activism

Five Companies Not to Support This Pride Month

Photo by Yoav Hornung on Unsplash

Many companies have been expressing their support of LGBTQIA+ communities by rainbow washing their slogans and social media presence. However, these same companies have famously donated to anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation, causes, and political candidates.

As a reminder, rainbow washing is when brands, companies, governments, and slightly homophobic performative allies slap a rainbow on something and call it activism or allyship. However, it is not activism, nor is it allyship, it is performative trash that actually harms the LGBTQIA+ community.

Let’s look at who not to support this pride month (or ever, let’s be honest).

#1: AT&T

AT&T has a great Twitter Pride banner, check it out below:

AT&T on Twitter

Wow, how cute! Do you know what is not cute, though? The fact that AT&T donated $56,295 to Mitch McConnell’s 2020 campaign — while he was actively blocking the Equality Act. Let’s all not ignore the fact that AT&T has been involved in problematic behavior forever and continues to express “solidarity” with many social justice movements, meanwhile, they continue to do the exact opposite. They spend their time and money supporting causes that go completely against their marketing campaigns.

No thanks, AT&T, I’d rather have a cell phone plan that doesn’t support stripping my rights away from me.

#2: Walmart

Walmart changed its logo for Pride month and wow, it’s adorable.

Walmart on Twitter

Do you know what’s not adorable? Walmart donated $150,000 to Mitch McConnell and other GOP Senators who are actively blocking the Equality Act from becoming law. Hey, Walmart, your performative activism is showing. Instead of pretending you care about LGBTQIA+ communities how about showing it by donating money to LGBTQIA+ communities or perhaps stop supporting GOP Senators who are actively blocking the Equality Act from becoming law.

A cute logo doesn’t mean anything when behind that logo is hate and an attempt to profit off of communities that you are actively suppressing.

#3: American Airlines

Wow, American Airlines has a wonderful Pride display! It’s so cute, check out their adorable rainbow display:

American Airlines on Twitter

Do you know what is not adorable? American Airlines continuously supports anti-LGBTQIA+ politicians and legislation, often donating massive lump sums of money to people who are actively blocking the Equality Act. You can’t hide that kind of bigotry behind a rainbow, American Airlines!

#4: Raytheon Technologies

Happy Pride from Ratheon’s cute new Twitter Logo! Interestingly, very similar to Walmart’s Twitter Logo, but that’s beside the point. How cute, another rainbow! Did all of these companies just learn how to use Canva?

Raytheon Technologies on Twitter

What’s not cute is their PAC donating $18,500 to Mitch McConnell's campaign, once again while he was actively blocking the Equality Act. One more act of Rainbow Washing in an effort to hide the fact that their company is bigoted and actively works to suppress LGBTQIA+ communities.

Lastly, but definitely not least, Chick-Fil-A, the worst of the worst.

Chick-Fil-A doesn’t rainbow wash or hide behind its bigotry. They are openly one of the most anti-LGBTQIA+ companies around, donating millions of dollars to anti-LGBTQIA causes. They also announced they would stop donating to those causes and yet, CEO Dan Cathy, is a major donor to the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which is currently involved in anti-LGBTQ causes.

Instead of supporting Chick-Fil-A, if you want your fast food chicken fix, check out Burger King’s Ch’King Sandwich, which donates every sale of the Ch’King Sandwich to the Human Rights Campaign. They also, every so subtly took a jab at Chick-Fil-A, shading their continuous bigotry on Twitter.

We love a company that walks the walk.

Burger King on Twitter

Well, folks, that’s it! There are five companies to avoid during and outside of Pride Month. Instead of supporting these terrible companies here is a list of companies that walk the walk, don’t rainbow wash, and continue to be dope examples of corporate Pride. We hope this helps!