Latest news with #LGBTQI+
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
IKEA Canada renews partnership with Rainbow Railroad to support at-risk LGBTQI+ individuals for a second year
Rainbow Cake makes a sweet return to IKEA stores across Canada on June 1st and every slice contributes to a good cause BURLINGTON, ON, May 29, 2025 /CNW/ - IKEA Canada is proud to announce the renewal of its partnership with Rainbow Railroad for a second consecutive year, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to a fairer and more inclusive world. This continued collaboration supports Rainbow Railroad's mission to help LGBTQI+ individuals facing persecution and violence find safety through emergency relocation, crisis response, and advocacy. This year, IKEA Canada will donate up to $200,000 from the proceeds of its Rainbow Cake, available in stores nationwide from June 1 to July 31, 2025. Every purchase of this colourful dessert directly supports Rainbow Railroad's lifesaving efforts, helping approximately 300 LGBTQI+ individuals find safety and resettle in Canada—more than twice the number typically supported in a single year. 'Our vision at IKEA is to create a better everyday life for the many people – a vision that holds even greater significance today,' says Selwyn Crittendon, CEO & CSO, IKEA Canada. 'Supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community is deeply rooted in our values. The Rainbow Cake initiative reflects our belief that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and truly at home in every aspect of their lives. Pride is not just a moment; it's a movement, and we're proud to stand as allies every day of the year.' Through this partnership and others, IKEA Canada continues to be a vocal advocate for those facing persecution for simply being who they are. Over 70 countries still criminalize same-sex relationships, and in many, LGBTQI+ people are targets of violence and exclusion at home, at work, and in their communities. 'We are proud to continue our partnership with IKEA Canada during this Pride season,' says Scott Ferguson, Director of Corporate Partnerships at Rainbow Railroad. 'Thanks to the leadership of IKEA and the generosity of Canadians, we are helping more LGBTQI+ individuals than ever before escape dangerous situations and begin new lives where they can live freely and authentically.' In recognition of IKEA Canada's long-standing commitment to 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion and the strength of this partnership, the collaboration with Rainbow Railroad has been recognized with North American honours, reaffirming the impact of aligning purpose with action. 'Rainbow Railroad's mission to support people fleeing anti-LGBTQI+ violence closely aligns with IKEA Canada's ongoing efforts to welcome and support refugees and newcomers,' says John Williams, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Leader, IKEA Canada. 'Together, we have a great opportunity to create meaningful change in local communities and help build a more inclusive and compassionate Canada.' This year, IKEA Canada will continue championing everyday allyship of the 2SLGBTQ+ community by: To learn more about how to support this initiative or get involved, visit: ABOUT RAINBOW RAILROAD Rainbow Railroad is an international non-profit organization with headquarters in New York and Toronto dedicated to helping LGBTQI+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. Since its founding in 2006, the organization has helped more than 20,000 LGBTQI+ individuals find safety through emergency relocation, crisis response, cash assistance, and other forms of support. Rainbow Railroad is a registered Canadian charity and 501(c)(3) organization in the United States. For more information, visit ABOUT IKEA CANADA Founded in 1943 in Sweden, IKEA is a leading home furnishing retailer, offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible can afford them. IKEA Canada is part of Ingka Group which operates 574 IKEA stores, shops and planning studios in 31 countries, including 16 in Canada. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 32.6 million visitors to its stores and 162.6 million visitors to IKEA Canada operates business through the IKEA vision - to create a better everyday life for the many people and does so through its local community efforts and sustainability initiatives. For more information on IKEA Canada, please visit SOURCE IKEA Canada Limited Partnership
Euronews
7 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
Fearing Trump ire, corporate America ditches Pride month
In the United States, every June is Pride month – commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer culture and community. This period allows for a wide range of events, parades, marches, and discussions to take place, providing opportunities for LGBTQ individuals and their allies to come together and make their voices heard. This year, expect fewer rainbow logos and less corporate celebration. Despite a long track record of supporting the LGBTQ community, many companies said they would no longer participate in 'external events' such as Pride parades and are pulling their sponsorships. This is a major pivot for the once proud corporate America who until now considered DEI efforts as essential for business success. It comes as Donald Trump's administration cracks down on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programmes, transgender rights emerge as a culture-war flashpoint and Trump's tariff policy has ushered in a period of considerable economic uncertainty for companies and consumers. Around two in five corporations have scaled back their financial contributions to Pride month, according to Gravity Research, which advises companies on social, political and reputational risks. Examples? Mastercard isn't renewing its sponsorship of NYC Pride but said it would still participate in the event. Other traditional New York sponsors like soda and snacks maker PepsiCo and car manufacturer Nissan are not returning this year. Banking giant Citi is not returning to sponsor NYC Pride, but plans to march there as well as in at least 30 pride events globally. Other Pride events have also lost key sponsors including brewing and spirits groups Anheuser-Bush in St. Louis and Diageo in San Francisco. The loss of big-name sponsors has forced Pride organisers to find alternative funding to ensure the parades take place without a hitch. Despite corporate intentions to keep a low profile without angering customers, the Pride community is not discouraged. 'This is concerning for the LGBTQI+ community in the short term, but some companies are even doubling down on their sponsorship and support. So, I don't think this will be a long-term phenomenon,' Caleb Smith, director of LGBTQI+ Policy at the Center of American Progress, a liberal Washington-based think tank, told Euronews. 'We need to see how many of these temporary pullbacks are here to stay. I think that, in reality, the consequences will be rather limited,' she added. 57% of federal contractors plan to dial back 'external engagement' because they do not want to be caught in a publicity battle with the government, according to Gravity Research. For example, defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, which shuttered its DEI department, dropped sponsorship of Washington's WorldPride 2025. The star-studded festival in the American capital is one of the biggest Pride events in the country. Organizers are expecting the more than 2 million visitors to spend almost $800 million, making it a lucrative showcase for corporate sponsors. WorldPride says the annual purchasing power of the LGBTQ community in the United States is about $1.4 trillion, and it claims global buying power three times that much. And the typical LGBTQ household's disposable income is nearly double the national average. No wonder that what some call 'rainbow capitalism' will continue to attract dozens of blue-chip sponsors and partners to Washington's Pride event, ranging from Amazon and Hilton to Verizon and McDonald's. 'Hopefully, we can still educate consumers' on which companies to support and which not, Caleb Smith said. A recent survey suggests that Americans broadly support the Pride marches. A GLAAD-Ipsos poll found 70% of Americans say that knowing a company offers LGBTQ Pride merchandise either positively affects or does not impact their purchasing decisions negatively. Slightly more – 71% – believed companies should be free to support Pride month if they choose.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Dua Lipa to Ali Fazal: Celebrities rock quirky slogan tees
Remember words patched on your chest back in the day? Quirky phrases, sentences and even whole paragraphs running across your tee. It was once a staple back in the '70s as a protest symbol and then again in the '00s. Well, the trend of wearing your heart's desire quite literally is back now, and it is celeb-approved. From Pedro Pascal to Ali Fazal, celebs have quickly jumped on this trend train and are expressing themselves in a few words slapped on their chest. While some have brought back the plain old white T-shirt with black text scribbled onto it, others have taken a modern graphic approach with different colours and fonts. Have a look! Actor Ali Fazal stepped out wearing a plain white T-shirt, but a standout element of the look was the words written across his chest. 'Indie Film Lover' is what the text reads, and implies his love for Indie films. Though simple, it is hard to miss. The Protect Your Dolls slogan tee by designer Conner Ives debuted on his Fall 2025 show, and since then, it has grabbed eyeballs. Pedro Pascal stepped out wearing the T-shirt for a movie screening. The slogan is a statement of support for transgender individuals, who are sometimes referred to as "dolls" by some in the LGBTQI+ community. Dua Lipa is known for her over-the-top looks, which are equal parts edgy and statement-worthy. She also took on the slogan trend by wearing a cropped tee which had the word 'Fetishette' slapped across. The term is derived from "fetish" and "little". While "fetish" typically refers to an object or activity that is the focus of sexual attraction or obsession, "fetishette" seems to be a playful and slightly more diminutive or affectionate term for a person interested in fetishism. Charli XCX posed wearing a blue cropped tee which reads 'baddie en el club', translating to 'baddie at the club', showing off her party animal side. This showcases who she is at the core: a badass girl who loves partying. With these slogan tees accepted by everyone, one thing is clear: this trend is back from the dead.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Unfinished business: Why the world is quietly slipping back on gender equality
She is a tech entrepreneur, author, and relentless advocate for gender equality in STEM and beyond. Over the past 20 years, she had immersed herself in the fast-paced world of technology and AI, building innovative products and leading initiatives that challenge the status quo. LESS ... MORE 'When sleeping women wake, mountains move.' But what happens when the world tries to rock them back to sleep? In early 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres made a chilling statement: 'Patriarchy is far from vanquished; it is regaining ground.' This wasn't poetic alarmism. It was a data-backed wake-up call. And yet, outside activist circles, hardly anyone flinched. Across continents, from Kabul to California, gender rights are being quietly, and sometimes violently, rolled back. After decades of hard-won progress, we're now staring at a grim reality: no country is on track to achieve full gender equality by 2030. In fact, at the current pace, a child born today may not see a gender-equal world in their lifetime. That's not just a policy failure; it's a moral collapse. A global gender recession Nearly 40 per cent of countries have stagnated or declined in gender equality indicators over the past few years. One in four nations has seen rights regress, according to UN Women. A toxic mix of democratic backsliding, economic turmoil, climate crises, extremist ideologies, and digital radicalization is fuelling this slide backward. Let's be clear: this isn't happening in the shadows. It's happening in broad daylight. Afghanistan : With over 50 edicts banning women from schools, jobs, even parks, the Taliban erased 20 years of progress in months. Iran : Women-led protests erupted in 2022, only to be met with brutal crackdowns. Poland : Abortion rights were stripped, and women hit the streets holding signs that read 'This is War.' Argentina : Austerity measures slashed violence-prevention budgets by 80 per cent, and the Ministry for Women was shut down. United States: In 2022, the constitutional right to abortion was overturned after nearly 50 years, placing the next generation's rights behind their grandmothers'. These aren't isolated events. They're part of a global pattern: when democracy falters, gender rights are the first to go. When power shifts, rights slip The last decade has seen a sharp rise in nationalist populism, and with it, a strategic, coordinated push to restrict bodily autonomy, civil liberties, and identity freedoms. In the US, federal and state-level rollbacks on reproductive rights, LGBTQI+ protections, and gender-affirming care haven't just reshaped domestic policy, they've emboldened regressive forces globally. Movements across Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia have mirrored this playbook: eroding gender rights under the banner of 'protecting children,' 'preserving tradition,' or 'restoring order.' In many countries, legal protections for LGBTQI+ communities are being diluted or scrapped altogether. Trans and non-binary individuals are targeted not just by fringe groups but by state-sanctioned policies, media rhetoric, and social hostility. It's critical we understand this: gender equality isn't just about women. It's about dismantling structures that police identity, enforce conformity, and punish difference, whether you're a girl forced into early marriage, a queer teen denied healthcare, or a trans activist fighting online hate. So, why now? Crises, historically, have never been gender-neutral. Covid-19 pushed millions out of the workforce, overloaded unpaid care systems, and gave governments an excuse to shelve equity agendas. Add economic inflation, conflict, and the global rise of strongmen politics, and you get a perfect storm, where patriarchy doesn't just survive, it thrives. Often, the rollback is subtle. Rights are stripped under the cover of 'national interest.' Budgets are cut. Language is sanitized. The erosion is slow, but deliberate. And the battlefield isn't just policy. It's culture, media, school curriculums, even algorithms. Women, queer folks, and gender-diverse people find themselves at the centre of a global identity war, used as symbols, silenced as threats. But, not all is lost There are countries bucking the trend. France recently became the first to enshrine abortion rights in its Constitution. Nations like Ethiopia and Kenya are bringing more women into high office. And grassroots movements are mobilizing everywhere, from schoolgirls in Uganda demanding education, to queer artists in Brazil reclaiming public space. Because backlash, ironically, is proof of progress. You don't push back unless something's pushing forward. The louder the opposition, the more threatening gender equity has become to the status quo. India's tightrope walk India isn't exempt from this global tide. We've made progressive strides, women in leadership, strong legal frameworks, vibrant feminist movements. But we also face rising digital misogyny, shrinking dissent, moral policing, and economic pressures that disproportionately impact women and LGBTQI+ communities. Whether it's regressive dress codes, diluted sex education, or the lack of data on trans and non-binary persons, our challenges are structural, not just social. As the world backslides, India must decide whether it wants to lead from the front or lag in the shadow of patriarchy's return. The price of regression If current trends continue, by 2030 the world could be more unequal than it was in 2015, when the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were first adopted. We're talking higher maternal mortality, wider pay gaps, more child marriages, increased violence, and the silencing of entire identities. And this isn't just a 'gender issue.' Three-quarters of all SDG targets depend on gender parity. You can't fight poverty, hunger, climate change, or health crises with half the population locked out of decision-making. Backsliding is a choice. So is resistance This piece marks the first chapter of a series titled Unfinished Business, where we'll unpack how global systems, governments, economies, ideologies, are structurally wired against women. In the coming editions, we'll explore: How authoritarianism feeds misogyny Why austerity hits women hardest How climate change displaces women first And why data gaps make women's struggles invisible But we'll also spotlight the powerful resistance movements shaping a more equal world. Because while the backslide is real, so is the fightback. And history reminds us, when women rise, the world follows. Let this be a beginning, not an obituary. Stay tuned for the next chapter: Democracy in Decline: Why Authoritarianism and Misogyny Go Hand in Hand Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Lanarkshire entertainer's delight after being shortlisted for Proud Scotland Award
Garry King has been a main driving force behind Lanarkshire Pride events A drag artist entertainer and actor from Wishaw is amongst the finalists in this year's Proud Scotland Awards. The awards celebrate those who champion diversity and inclusion throughout Scotland by recognising the outstanding work and commitment of individuals and organisations within and supportive of the LGBTQI+ community in Scotland. Garry King, who has been at the forefront of organising Lanarkshire Pride events over the last few years has been nominated in the Performer/Entertainer of the Year 2025 category. The category recognises an individual, or group, which represents, or has taken action to directly impact and support, the LGBTQI+ community in the entertainment industry. Garry is in exalted company with seasoned entertainment duo Robert and May Miller also among the finalists. The others shortlisted in the category are Shut Up and King!, Daz Alexander (Venus Guytrap), Doctor Bonk, and Graham Irving Cole. Garry said: 'The public voting was open for a few weeks and I was nominated and I think it's those with the most votes that are chosen then a panel of judges decide who goes through to the finals shortlist. 'I think it's quite cool that I'm one of those who has received all those votes. It's obviously recognition for all the work I've been doing for Lanarkshire Pride and Glasgow Pride, and for my performances every week that I've been doing around the country. We're educating people as well as entertaining them. It's nice as there are so many performers, especially in Glasgow. 'Robert and May Miller are two of my best friends and have been going for about 40 years, they've been so successful and I'm up against them. It's crazy because they've been performing for longer than I've been alive. 'It sounds like such a Miss America answer but I think you've already achieved something with everybody nominating you. To be recognised is massive. 'I'm going along to the awards with a group of people and some of them have been nominated in different categories. And you get to meet people from other parts of Scotland who have been nominated. 'It's nice hearing about everything that's happening around the country, especially with protecting people's rights, with everything that's happening just now. 'And people get the chance to enjoy themselves and express themselves.' The awards night will take place at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Argyle Street, Glasgow on Saturday, May 31. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
