As the world commemorates the Stonewall Riots of June 1969 that marked the start of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, communities around the world unite in celebration of Pride Month. The yearly event honors the significant contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to society, culture, and history. It aims to promote unity, inclusivity, and awareness of issues plaguing the LGBTQ+ community. Amid shifting political landscapes and lingering prejudices, uniting during Pride Month becomes doubly vital for many individuals and groups.
Mobile game company Zynga leads the charge for Pride Month as it partners with the It Gets Better Project to launch its highly-anticipated, Play With Pride, campaign. Running from June 1 to 30, the project brings together 15 of its online gaming platforms, including FarmVille 3, Hit It Rich!, Zynga Poker, Dragon City, and Monster Legends, among others, to celebrate inclusivity and diversity. The project’s launch coincides with Zynga’s first-ever Pride Month website, which showcases employee spotlights and shared activities. The company’s employee resource group, zPride, has also pledged to contribute $50,000 to the It Gets Better Project. With the increasing aggression of conservative hate campaigns and neo-Nazi groups against companies and individuals that support LGBTQ+ rights in recent years, Zynga’s commitment to inclusivity and equality presents a message of hope and resilience for marginalized communities.
However, some companies face threats and intimidation from groups opposing LGBTQ+ rights and values. Writer Arwa Mahdawi noted that companies must have a response plan for such campaigns, citing Bud Light, North Face, and Target as previous targets of hate campaigns. Target revealed that the safety and wellbeing of their employees had been compromised, prompting them to remove some Pride Month merchandise for 2023. Mahdawi highlighted that threats to companies that support LGBTQ+ rights can present a danger to their employees.
Such concerns are not unfounded, with neo-Nazi groups using Pride events and LGBTQ+ gatherings to recruit like-minded individuals to their ranks. The Stumptown Research Collective in the US had identified groups such as White Lives Matter, active clubs, and the Evergreen Active Club in Montana and other US states that held white supremacist events in 2021. Despite their efforts, the groups have had difficulty retaining members and have been labelled not only as fight clubs but also as gangs that propagate neo-Nazi ideologies. Their social media activities and violent threats have raised alarms across the US and spurned a mobilization of counter-demonstrations to halt their message of hate.
Nonetheless, communities worldwide continue to defy hate and stand up for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. The Pride Alliance of Livingston, partnered by the Livingston Diversity Council, have organized a series of outdoor events to celebrate Pride Month. These include a Rainbow Reception, Howell Pride Parade, and a Pride Prom. Trivia Night plus a celebration of drag shows and festivals will also happen throughout the month. In Virginia, Hampton Roads will hold a Pride Night in the Virginia Zoo, which will feature scavenger hunts, animal exhibits, and yard games. Other festivities include the Portsmouth Pride Festival, the second annual Hampton Roads Unity Pageant charity night, and Clyde’s Pride Party.
As Pride Month unfolds, many communities around the world celebrate their unity and inclusivity, despite the significant challenges posed by conservative hate campaigns and neo-Nazi groups. In their own ways, individuals and entities continue to stand on the side of equality, diversity, and human rights. As we move forward from Pride Month, may the lessons and messages of inclusivity, respect, and love resonate not only within our communities but also across the planet.
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