GLAAD ANNOUNCES PRIDE 2024: ‘PROTECT OUR PRIDE’ WITH LGBTQ COMMUNITY RESEARCH HUB, GLAAD POP-UP SHOP, EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS AND LAUNCH OF NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS

New York, NY – Monday, June 3, 2024 – GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced Pride 2024: Protect Our Pride, with resources, programs, initiatives designated to enhance dialogue around Pride Month, and centering on lived experiences of LGBTQ people and the ongoing fight for the freedom to live and love without discrimination or prejudice, in a time when the LGBTQ community is under unprecedented attack. GLAAD has also launched a community resource hub, a limited-edition Protect Our Pride popup shop and a digital tool kit at GLAAD.org/PRIDE.

Despite more than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced across the country this past legislative session, threats of violence against LGBTQ people, a global terror alert, and demonizing rhetoric online running rampant and unchecked, the tide is shifting: So far, more than 200 of these bills have been defeated, while two dozen were signed into law. Federal courts in at least seven states have ruled against bans on healthcare for transgender people or blocked them from being enacted as of early 2024, including rulings by three Trump-nominated justices.

Current Gallup polling also indicates record-high support for the freedom to marry (71%), and nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people (84%). More than 7% of U.S. adults are out as LGBTQ, including 20% of Gen Z, the most out generation in history. A projected 14% of voters will be out as LGBTQ by 2030.

Quote from GLAAD President & CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis:
“America is at a critical juncture when it comes to LGBTQ safety and support. At GLAAD, we know that fair and accurate representation in media and journalism have a powerful and measurable effect on the lives of LGBTQ people. While support for LGBTQ equality has reached an all-time high, allyship must now turn into action. This June, media, content creators, and corporate leaders must lead and respond to hate with undeterred support for the LGBTQ community, including LGBTQ employees, shareholders and consumers and protect all that the LGBTQ movement has accomplished.”

GLAAD also announced the launch, continuation and expansion of several programs, campaigns and initiatives to Protect Our Pride:

GLAAD AS A PARTNER IN CORPORATE ALLYSHIP

GLAAD has announced the early release of key data ahead of its upcoming GLAAD 2024 Advertising Visibility Index and GLAAD 2024 State of LGBTQ Inclusivity Efforts in the Advertising Industry. Both reports will show that advertising industry leaders and consumers alike understand the value of partnering with LGBTQ nonprofits for guidance. 2023 saw two high-profile cases of brands succumbing to out-of-touch but loud anti-LGBTQ extremists targeting companies for their LGBTQ-inclusive marketing.

This year, however, a majority of corporate executives and Fortune 500 leaders reported to Gravity Research that they are not planning changes to their Pride strategy for 2024.

Previously released GLAAD research found that inclusion, when done effectively and with unwavering support for the communities they represent, is good for the bottom line. GLAAD research continues to show that a majority of consumers supported LGBTQ brand engagement during Pride Month, but especially beyond June.

GLAAD’s Advertising Program works with brand and ad agency leaders to intentionally bring LGBTQ inclusivity and visibility into external campaigns and product development, backed up by internal policies that support LGBTQ employees, vendors, and stakeholders. Along with briefings, workshops, and consultancy with corporate partners, the program also measures the quality and quantity of LGBTQ inclusion in advertising.

Brands interested in partnering with GLAAD to improve their quality of LGBTQ support and representation should contact the GLAAD Partnerships team directly: partnerships@glaad.org.

ORIGINAL STORYTELLING & LGBTQ VISIBILITY

Dímelo: GLAAD has announced season two of Dímelo, which has begun production and is slated for a fall premiere during Latine Heritage Month. The GLAAD digital original series hosted by comedian, writer and GLAAD Media Institute consultant Gabe González, is a non-traditional interview show offering unfiltered opinions about how LGBTQ Latine identity is (mis)understood in media, while learning about lived experiences of series guests, who are Latine comedic performers from within the LGBTQ community. Strategic partnership and sponsor opportunities available now at partnerships@glaad.org.

Here We Are: GLAAD has announced the launch of a powerful transgender-focused storytelling campaign airing nationally through June via paid ad buys and donated ad space from major networks including Comcast NBCUniversal, with focus on states where anti-LGBTQ bills heavily target transgender people and healthcare. The campaign comprises six video vignettes produced by GLAAD and GROUND Media, featuring transgender people alongside their loving and supportive family members. The urgency for public service storytelling campaigns like “Here We Are” is supported by GLAAD research that shows supermajorities of Americans said they don’t personally know a transgender person.

Protect This Kid: GLAAD’s previously announced initiative rallying LGBTQ notables and activists to share their stories, will expand into Protect Our Pride by activating LGBTQ people to share photos of themselves as kids using #ProtectThisKid and share their story of growing up LGBTQ to show possibility models for LGBTQ youth. LGBTQ creatives across entertainment and sports including: Margaret Cho, Beanie Feldstein, Sherry Cola, author and former NFL player Ryan “R.K.” Russell, Yvie Oddly, athlete Chris Mosier, producer Daniella Carter, and filmmaker River Gallo. Both the campaign film and featurettes were directed by MG Evangelista and created in partnership with GLAAD and Ogilvy, and amplified nationally on OUTFRONT billboards nationwide.

Trans Visibility Roundtable by InStyle: InStyle, the award-winning media brand at the intersection of style and culture, is collaborating with GLAAD to debut a roundtable discussion on trans representation in fashion, media, and culture. This special-edition roundtable will feature Tracey Norman, Juliana Huxtable, and will be moderated by Raquel Willis as the group discusses how transgender people have shaped the fashion industry, along with how representation has evolved over the years. The full roundtable will debut in InStyle’s 30th anniversary digital issue, available on InStyle.com and on social @instylemagazine on June 12.

PUBLIC AWARENESS, LGBTQ SAFETY, EDUCATION & ADVOCACY

Summer of Giving: GLAAD has announced a national blood drive in partnership with America’s Blood Centers, educates the public on updated FDA guidelines and the expansion of donor eligibility for LGBTQ people, especially for gay and bisexual men who have historically faced discrimination donor eligibility. Summer of Giving runs from Tuesday, May 28, 2024, through National Blood Donation Day on Wednesday, September 4, 2024

In collaboration with The American Red Cross, GLAAD has also announced a partnership for upcoming national campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and expand reach, capacity, and culturally sensitive programming to diverse communities across the U.S., via the American Red Cross’ network and vast resources. This includes the launch of programs at local levels across the country and GLAAD will assist the American Red Cross in the communication and implementation of its programs, while ensuring communication around LGBTQ donors remains fair and accurate.

Combined, America’s Blood Centers and the American Red Cross provide 100% of America’s blood supply. Together with GLAAD, both organizations will develop updated educational materials for blood centers and prospective LGBTQ blood donors, organize blood drives aimed at LGBTQ inclusion and enhance community outreach to educate the public on new blood donor guidelines pertaining to LGBTQ people, while continuing to advocate for further updated research and guidelines from the FDA, including but not limited to deferral guidance surrounding PrEP.

Social Media Safety and Rapid Response: GLAAD has announced the expansion of resources for ongoing researching and analyzing of anti-LGBTQ hate online, specifically across social media platforms which continue to fail year-over-year in LGBTQ safety. Together with GLAAD’s News & Rapid Response efforts, these resources will increase the detection and tracking of physical threats, hate incidents and trends related to the LGBTQ community and sharing of those reports for public distribution through GLAAD research.

Learn more about GLAAD’s rapid response work and GLAAD’s Social Media Safety Program which includes GLAAD’s LGBTQ Digital Safety Guide, GLAAD’s Guide to Anti-LGBTQ Online Hate and Disinformation, and GLAAD’s 2024 Social Media Safety Index & Platform Scorecard at GLAAD.org/SMSI.

The GLAAD Media Institute (GMI), GLAAD’s training, research and consulting division works year-round to convene and coach community advocates, including local leaders and thousands of writers, creators and journalists across all levels of production and media. The GMI is also home to GLAAD’s core work in creative pipeline efforts for Hollywood and entertainment research & analysis, producing a number of innovative reports, studies and reporter guides throughout the year.

GMI programs activated in June include:

• GLAAD’s Communities of Color Department: A leading force driving equitable and accurate representation of Black LGBTQ people, people living with HIV (PLWH), and queer Communities of Color in the realm of entertainment and media.
• The GLAAD List: A curated list of the most promising unmade LGBTQ-inclusive film scripts in partnership with The Black List. Writers and creators are invited to submit their work now through July 1, 2024.
• Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative (EMEI): A three-year-long experience will support a different group of Black LGBTQ creatives across various disciplines, with the first year cohort made up of short form filmmakers, second year focused on music artists, songwriters, and producers, and Youth Creators rounding out the program as the third year cohort. The program is currently in its second year.

HELPFUL REPORTER & CREATOR GUIDES DURING PRIDE MONTH

GLAAD’s 2024 Pride Month Fact Sheet, updated for the 2024 Pride Season, provides fast facts on research and data about the LGBTQ community, non-LGBT Americans’ perceptions, consumer sentiment, and more.

GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide, now in its 11th edition, offers education and guidance on telling LGBTQ people’s stories in ways that bring out the best in journalism.

Guía GLAAD, offers education and guidance on telling LGBTQ people’s stories in ways that bring out the best in journalism in Spanish-language media.

GLAAD’s Transgender Representation in Media Team provides an array of resources and guidance to media professionals and creators seeking to tell stories of transgender people fairly and accurately.

GLAAD’s Checklist for Media Reporting on Transgender People and Issues is a fact sheet and reporter guide to covering transgender people, topics and legislation.

GLAAD’s Book Ban Guide for Community Response and Action is a comprehensive resource and toolkit for communities to defeat book ban attempts, and send a powerful signal of welcome and acceptance.

The GLAAD Accountability Project monitors and documents individual public figures and groups using their platforms to spread misinformation and false rhetoric against LGBTQ people, youth, and allies.

GLAAD’s 2024 Voter Poll indicates anti-trans campaigning is failing and includes the findings of a survey gauging motivation and top issues ahead of the 2024 general election in November.

Learn more about GLAAD’s work around community-convening and what’s at stake for LGBTQ people in this election cycle at GLAAD.org/VOTE.

PARTNERSHIPS & BRAND ENGAGEMENT

GLAAD has announced corporate and brand partners for Pride 2024, working together to enhance accurate, fair, effective, and impactful LGBTQ visibility and representation in brand campaigns. GLAAD helps marketers, advertisers, creatives and agencies champion authentic LGBTQ inclusion 365 days a year with a 360 perspective, powered by the GLAAD Media Institute.

BoxLunch is partnering with GLAAD in celebration of Pride Month, with an in-store and online donation campaign. From now until June 30, all roundup donations at BoxLunch will benefit GLAAD’s mission. See the BoxLunch Pride collection HERE.

Delta Air Lines, in partnership with GLAAD’s Visibility Project, will spotlight a Pride Month collection of Inflight Entertainment titles with LGBTQ stories and characters. GLAAD Media Award winners and nominees are featured among diverse content in the 2024 curation as voted on by Delta’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group, EQUAL. Passengers can see the collection throughout June on Delta flights.

Google TV, in partnership with GLAAD, will highlight films and shows that showcase the LGBTQ community with a curated collection created in collaboration with the GLAAD Media Institute. Content will focus on amplifying the evolution of LGBTQ history, visibility and representation on-screen. Google TV will also feature live pride parade coverage and more through their free ad supported channels.

iHeartMedia and P&G will once again join forces during Pride Month for the return of Can’t Cancel Pride, recognizing the impact both music and LGBTQ organizations have on the queer community. The fifth annual special event will feature performances by Elton John Impact Award Recipient and host Billy Porter, Allison Russell, Ben Platt, David Archuleta, Meghan Trainor, Melissa Etheridge, Orville Peck, RAYE, Victoria Monét and more filmed at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles and remote locations across the country. The one-hour benefit special, produced by iHeartMedia and P&G, will stream on iHeartRadio’s YouTube and Facebook pages, Hulu, Revry, and The Advocate Channel on June 12 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

OUTFRONT Media is partnering with GLAAD in celebrating Pride 2024 by featuring your friends, family or yourself on a fabulous billboard! With a donation of at least $25 to GLAAD, your photo, name, and message will be featured on OUTFRONT digital billboards across the country throughout June. Small business owners can highlight their business for a $250 donation. 100% of donations fund GLAAD’s work to accelerate acceptance of LGBTQ people through visibility in media. Create your digital billboard HERE.

Sally Hansen will partner with GLAAD to celebrate pride in an even bigger way with Sally Hansen’s Limited Edition Insta-Dri & Salon Effects Perfect Manicure x Pride collection. The celebratory collection features 11 brand new Insta-Dri X Pride Collection shades and 3 Salon Effects Perfect Manicure designs modeled after the Trans, Bi, and Progress Pride flag will celebrate every shade of love.

SKITTLES® will donate $1 per every Pride pack sold (up to $100,000) to GLAAD in support of its ongoing efforts to work through media to increase visibility for the LGBTQ+ community. As a show of ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community beyond June, SKITTLES is sponsoring five local LGBTQ+ communities across the United States to help shine a light on their organizations, members and how being a part of the community has helped them “See The Rainbow.” Learn more at SKITTLES.com/pride.

Additional brands partnering with GLAAD for Pride 2024 include:

Brands interested in partnering with GLAAD to improve their quality of LGBTQ support and representation should contact the GLAAD Partnerships team directly: partnerships@glaad.org