LGBTQIA+ Pride stems from the Stonewall rebellion in 1969. It was the birth of a worldwide movement to fight against criminalisation, discrimination and abuse of LGBTQIA+ people. In Sydney, the 78ers led the way for the Australian Pride movement. We’ve come a long way since, but LGBTQIA+ people still experience stigma, and mental health disorders are more prevalent than for heterosexual people. Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of this community and advocate for the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Our rainbow lead was initially a limited release for Sydney World Pride. We’re proud to say it’s now our bestselling product!
What does LGBTQIA+ stand for?
First thing’s first - LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning and asexual. If you think this acronym keeps changing, you’re not wrong. Just like you and me, it’s forever evolving.
What does Pride stand for?
Pride is a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. The first Pride march took place in New York City on 28 June 1970 – the anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion the year before. Marches spread across the globe and June is now the official Pride Month in many countries, including Australia.
The difference between Mardi Gras and Pride Month
Sydney now celebrates Mardi Gras in summer (because no one wants to wear skimpy shorts in winter) but the first march took place during Pride Month in 1978. On 24 June 1978 hundreds of people marched from Taylor Square to Hyde Park to raise awareness and fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, First Nations people and women. The march ended in violence and 53 people were arrested. Pride and Mardi Gras had similar beginnings. Born from persecution and conflict, these events have developed into global celebrations and support for LGBTQIA+ people.
What is pink washing?
Yes, pink washing is a thing. Just like green washing. It’s when businesses jump on the bandwagon to cash in on events like Mardi Gras and Pride Month. It took us months to choose the pantone colours for our dog leads, but we had one design ready from the start – Rainbow. We launched our business at Fair Day 2023 and sold 150 Rainbow leads in 8 hours! We knew Rainbow wasn’t a limited release, it was here to stay. And since then we'd added rainbow collars to the Rainbow Pride collection.
Why is Pride Month important?
Pride Month and Mardi Gras shouldn’t be one off celebrations. The message of support for LGBTQIA+ people should be heard all year round because the battle for acceptance and equality is far from over.
We’ve run several Facebook ads showcasing our rainbow lead and every time we get homophobic comments. And it’s not one of two. It’s multiple, personal remarks where the homophobes feed of each other, safe in the knowledge they’re hiding behind a keyboard. Good riddance to them I say! Now pass me the biodegradable glitter and crank up Kylie!