If you missed Pink Robin’s launch party and fundraiser in Beacon, New York on June 8th, here’s a recap!
We raised funds for Defense of Democracy, a national organization that educates the public about the value of inclusivity and the importance of emotional and physical safety for all individuals within the American public-school and library systems.
Defense of Democracy supports educators who present historically and scientifically accurate information, and encourage initiatives that enhance Americans’ shared experiences regardless of race, color, national origin, language, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identity, religion, or ability.
Click here to learn more, get involved or donate to the cause.
We danced all day and into the night to tunes spun by DJ Dolce, an LGBTQ+-inclusive DJ who got kids and adults on our feet, spinning our bodies and singing along to our favorite songs.
We raffled off prizes that were generously donated from some of Beacon’s best small businesses:
We drank beer made onsite at Industrial Arts Brewing Company. The incredible team at the brewery let us take over their space for the day. Together with our families and friends we enjoyed discounts on their beverages, and we even raffled off some of their delicious beer and Pride merch!
We posed together in the rainbow photo booth with silly props and colorful balloons.
We sold Pink Robin tees + sunnnies for $20 as part of our launch special and Pride celebration. Feeling sad you missed out? Click here to snag your own Pink Robin merch!
We crafted …. Okay, mostly our kids crafted. They designed their own Pride flags, made masks, played games and danced!
The power of community is transformative for LGBTQ+ people, and our family-friendly fundraiser + Pride party was a perfect example of what happens when we come together for a good cause, to celebrate our hard work, our families, and each other. We are grateful for those who could attend and spend the day with us, and we are appreciative for the support of those who couldn’t be there in person.
Hey there. Laura Leigh here. I’m a wife, writer, mama, small business owner, podcast host, and the Head of Content here at Pink Robin.
I love supporting the queer community and bringing shared experiences to life.
If you have a story to tell, I’m here for it.
lauraleigh@pinkrobinshop.com
I remember when my wife and I first became moms, I knew that our ability to “pass” was behind us. I was never going to pretend that my wife and family were something other than exactly who they were. It was freeing to know that I had to live my queer life out loud, that I would forever be myself in every space, all the time.
In a 2023 CNN article Daniel Korschun, associate professor of marketing at Drexel University explained that when it comes to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, executives “are becoming much more skittish about taking these stands and making strong statements.
According to a 2022 Pew Research Poll, roughly eight-in-ten U.S. adults say there is at least some discrimination against transgender people in our society. Because trans rights have become such a contentious issue across the country, companies that used to view supporting pride as “low stakes” have become less likely to support the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. “The pendulum is swinging a bit back … toward a more conservative approach, where they’ll be less vocal,” says Korschun. According to a recent NBC News article, Target stores will only sell pride merchandise in select locations this year. The retailer will not have Pride collections in about half of their locations. Additionally, they will only sell pride merchandise for adults.
An argument that Target has made in the past and is now using again is that this decision protects their LGBTQ+ employees, but let’s be clear: Conditional allyship is not support. Pulling queer merchandise from their shelves and essentially pretending that we don’t exist–and ignoring those of us who have children that want to celebrate pride with us–is detrimental to our community. Erasure threatens our safety. This weekend my mom told me that she’s done with Target. Like her, I can’t say I feel good about spending my money in a place that doesn’t value my family. As of today, the ACLU is currently tracking 515 anti-LGBTQ bills in the U.S. We exist, and abandoning us only endangers us.
One Response
Many thanks to our friends at Pink Robin who held such a meaninful and fun event. Defense of Democracy relies on community support from organizations like Pink Robin and we are so grateful that they chose to beneift us during their launch party.
In solidarity,
Karen Svoboda, Executive Director of Defense of Democracy