Grab your rainbow socks, ready your glitter and pull out that flag from your closet: it’s Pride Month!
June marks the annual celebration of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and Pride month is ostensibly about history. It’s the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising and a slew of other milestones for the LGBTQ2S+ community. But, like so many things, capitalism has gotten its grubby little hands all over our celebration. Now, in addition to the important history and representation, June also marks a month of multi-coloured bank logos, product spinoffs and so-called “rainbow capitalism.”
In reality, many of the companies changing their logos to rainbows or sharing messages of support are actually donating millions to anti-LGBTQ2S+ politicians and causes. So, in the words of one iconic queer podcast: “I don’t think so, honey.”
Like most of us, TikTokers are tired of the corporate bullshit, and are gladly using the platform to call out company nonsense—and they aren’t holding back.
A personal favourite takedown of mine are videos in which TikTokers imitate awkward brand endorsements for Pride Month that seem like they’re read off a teleprompter.
TikTok users are perfectly capturing the awkward hell-turn of a corporation pretending to support LGBTQ2S+ rights, despite not acknowledging the community any other time of the year.
And they’re being hilarious about it.
Other users are calling out the truly batshit products that marketing companies are putting out.
Except, that is, Red Lobster—we have to respect their effort.
Overall, TikTok is taking Pride Month in stride. Beyond the capitalist callouts, other TikTokers have pointed out the unofficials rules of June, including the fact that straight people have to give us queers money. I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules.
And of course, TikTok is serving as the platform for gay wedding adorableness this month, which we do love to see.
And providing valuable history lessons on things like flags!
We’re only a week into Pride Month and already the content is *chef’s kiss*, so you know we’re going to get more bangers as the month goes on.
If TikTok is any indication, the kids may just be all right after all.
Queer TikToker of the week 🌈
This week, in honour of both Pride and National Indigenous History Month, we’re highlighting Kairyn Potts (@ohkairyn), an Indigenous Two-Spirit creator who posts about queerness, indigeneity and gaming on their page.
We need that Indigenous edition of Drag Race, stat!
Why you can trust Xtra
