GLAAD RESPONDS TO THE NORTH FACE’S DECISION TO CONTINUE PRIDE CAMPAIGN AFTER FACING CALLS FROM EXTREMISTS TO BOYCOTT

Today, GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, is responding to The North Face’s decision to continue their Pride campaign after facing calls for a boycott from a handful of extremists.

Statement from GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis:
“Including LGBTQ people and holding true to your corporate values is good for business. The North Face is following hundreds of other businesses that include and stand with LGBTQ people and our allies. At a time when over 20% of Gen Z is LGBTQ and a supermajority of Americans support LGBTQ people, The North Face’s decision should be a signal to other companies that including LGBTQ people and allies is better for business than siding with a small number of violent extremists who want to keep LGBTQ consumers and employees invisible.”

Facts about LGBTQ inclusion in ads/marketing and about anti-LGBTQ violence today:

• More than 160 LGBTQ community events have been targeted with violence and threats in the past year. Everything from firebombing a donut shop to armed militias showing up at public libraries of all places.
• Gallup found over 20% of Gen Z are LGBT, that number has grown each year.
• For four consecutive waves, fielded annually, GLAAD has found that non-LGBTQ people’s level of comfort seeing LGBTQ people in ads has remained stable at 75% (3 out of 4 non-LGBTQ people). You can see the original question in the link below and here 
• A report released in December 2022 by GLAAD and the Edelman Trust Institute found: If a brand publicly supports and demonstrates a commitment to expanding and protecting LGBTQ rights, Americans are 2x more likely to buy or use the brand and ages 18-34 are 5.5x more likely to want to work at a company if it publicly supports and demonstrates a commitment to expanding and protecting LGBTQ rights. Additional findings here.
• GLAAD’s 2022 Accelerating Acceptance poll measuring attitudes, progress, and challenges in pursuit of full acceptance for the LGBTQ community found:
  • More than half (54%) of transgender and nonbinary people feel unsafe walking in their own neighborhoods, compared to 36% of all LGBTQ adults, as well as less safe in various environments, from work, to social media, or in a typical store. 
• A 2020 GLAAD and P&G poll of U.S. consumers found: 
  • 75% of respondents were comfortable seeing LGBTQ people in ads. 
  • Respondents also looked favorably upon companies that included LGBTQ people in their advertisements. 
  • 85% of respondents believe it reflects the company’s commitment to offering products to all types of customers.
  • 82% of respondents believe that it reflects the company’s value for all kinds of diversity.
  • 80% of respondents believe that it reflects that the company is making a statement about the importance of recognizing LGBTQ people.
  • More info from the poll here.