It seems far more important than ever that we share any good news regarding businesses that continue to step up to the plate on their continuing generous support of the LGBTQA+ community. A shining example of this is IKEA, now the world’s largest furniture company, whose first advert featuring a gay couple was in 1994. Whilst most people congratulated IKEA, the retailer got a bomb threat at a store from conservatives, along with calls for a boycott, so they ‘rested’ the ad for a while.
In 2006, the company returned to its (gay) roots in the US with a new spot including another gay pair, this time with a child. Following a rainbow of families, the black and Asian male couple is joined by their Golden Retriever and daughter, snuggled in domestic bliss. More gay themed ads from Ikea appeared worldwide. A print ad in the Netherlands showed a girl and her two daddies, one kissing the other on the cheek, while a second one illustrates “coming out of the closet”. The gay dads even got their own elevator in Stoughton, Mass.
In fairness, it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, like the protests they met when they were advertising with gay men in Russia and Poland, BUT credit to the company, they have always insisted that for them, all families are equal and everyone is welcome. But it’s not just the money, or corporate support that we love, but the fact that some of the stores actually have their own Pride Stores ….. all of it self-assembly naturally. Hats off to IKEA!
Now sadly, here is the BAD NEWS. This is a tough climate for us now so many businesses have cowed to the bullying from The Orange Man in The White House and stopped their support, or cut back (or asked that it was hidden) of the LGBTQA+ community. Its very important that we know who they are. so we can make our own decisions about whether we should continue, or not, buying their products.
They include.
Anheuser-Busch The brewer behind brands such as Bud Light, Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois
Citi Bank,
Comcast
Diageo, the company behind alcohol brands such as Baileys, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, and Smirnoff among others
Garnier the hair care company
Lowe’s Home Improvement
Mastercard cut back its funding
Nissan
PepsiCo which makes Aquafina, Cap’n Crunch, Cheetos, Doritos, Frito’s, Gatorade, Lay’s, Life, cereal, Lipton, Mountain Dew, Tostitos, and Quaker Oats
PricewaterhouseCoopers. the consulting company
Skyy Vodka
Target
Walmart
