CELEBRATE PRIDE WITH US & GIVE TO A GREAT CAUSE
Nico, David, Evelyne, Keesean, Ambria, Michael, Rose, Aileen
At What Goes Around Comes Around we believe that everybody deserves respect. So we are launching our Give Back & Love Forward campaign to support the Ali Forney Center, the largest agency dedicated to helping homeless LGBTQ youth in the country. The nonprofit’s mission is to “protect LGBTQ youth from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.” Currently, the Ali Forney Center assists nearly 1,400 youths per year through a 24-hour drop-in center which provides over 70,000 meals annually, medical and mental health services, and a housing program.As one of the largest population of LGBT people, New York City has also announced it also has goals to open a shelter for young New Yorkers as part of the NYC Unity Project. To close out Pride month, we have curated a lively edit of our favorite things. We’re proud to donate a portion of the proceeds from online purchases now through June 30th to the center. To celebrate, we asked LGBT and ally team members to share their thoughts on PRIDE.
Keesean & Rose
What does PRIDE mean to you?
PRIDE to me means living my life openly and honestly every day, even in the face of adversity. PRIDE to me means challenging people's standards of what love, beauty, gender, sexuality, and diversity are.
Chaplin, Miami
It means celebrating diversity and honoring those striving for equal rights in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Rose, New York City
Pride means love!
Nico, New York City
To me, PRIDE means the freedom to be proud of our sexuality, race, gender, religion and personal beliefs. We are all EQUAL and should be accepted as we are – NO EXCEPTIONS.
Evelyn, Jersey City
Pride to me is a full comprehension of who I am as an individual. I wake up in the morning and love who I am and what I stand for. This is the only way I think you can truly accept yourself and, in turn, accept others.
Ambria, New York City
PRIDE means feeling free to be who you are.
Aileen, New York City
Why is it important to celebrate PRIDE?
To honor those that challenged and will continue to challenge standards that defy LGBTQIA+ equality and to celebrate our community as well as a the hardships we personally overcame.
Nico, New York City
The amount of courage and effort it takes to wake up in the morning PROUD is a lot more than most people realize. PRIDE takes time. It took time as a society to get here. It's going to take even more time to get the entire world on the same page.
Ambria, Jersey City
To honor those incredible individuals who have lost their lives and who sadly continue to lose their lives for simply being themselves.
Chaplin, Miami
Pride must be celebrated to rejoice and be grateful for the changes in our community achieved by the great fighters of the LGBTQ community, our family and our loved ones.
Peter, Miami
Nico
How has a member of the LGBTQIA+ community positively impacted your life?
Many of my closest friends are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and I feel like the fashion industry specifically wouldn't be the same without them.
Rose, New York City
To acknowledge that love is love and that everyone should have the right to love who they want to love, dressing however they want, and feel comfortable in their own skin without criticism or shame.
Aileen, New York City
They all taught me love, acceptance, family values, compassion, confidence and to be a grateful and proud member of our community.
Peter, Miami
It is important to celebrate PRIDE, especially now more than ever, because NO ONE should ever be made to feel less of a person. We are all people no matter what we look like or believe in and everyone should feel proud of who they are. If we all came together to support each other and stand against the haters in the world, we could be unstoppable.
Evelyn, Jersey City
Sonia, Peter, Chaplin
How has a member of the LGBTQIA+ community positively impacted your life?
Many of my closest friends are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and I feel like the fashion industry specifically wouldn't be the same without them.
Rose, New York City
How are you showing your pride this PRIDE month?
Just by being me and loving and celebrating all my LGBTQ friends and community.
Peter, Miami
I'm coming out as an ally in support of my friends and colleagues.
Aileen, New York City
