Latest news with #rainbow
Vogue
7 days ago
- Business
- Vogue
Why Is It So Hard to Find Good (Non Cash-Grab) Pride Merch?
'Hi, gay!' Nothing kicks off Pride Month quite like corporate rainbow-washing. Every June, mega retailers get into the LGBTQ+ spirit by plastering rainbows and cheeky words like 'slay!' onto colorful tees and hoodies. As a member of the community, I'm not hating on this approach per se: It's the spirit of allyship that counts. Especially as our current administration continues to threaten LGBTQ+ health and rights across the nation, some pro-gay energy via fashion is harmless and, in fact, welcomed. But still: As someone who partakes in Pride Month but rarely wears flashy colors, I wonder why it's so hard to find good Pride merch that isn't a blatant cash-grab. Using the vague spirit of acceptance in a splashy way to tick an inclusivity box? Not very slay. Luckily, there are a few brands who have created Pride merch with intention this month—partnering with LGBTQ+ causes to use fashion for good. And better yet, in addition to the charitable components, the designs are even tasteful, too. Take New York designer Connor Ives and his signature 'Protect The Dolls' tee, which has already been worn by celebrities like Pedro Pascal and Troye Sivan. Not only does it have a clear message, but all of its proceeds are also donated directly to Trans Lifeline—a trans-lead charity that delivers life-saving services to those who need them. Diesel, meanwhile, released a special hoodie that benefits the Tom of Finland Foundation; It features imagery from the foundation's collection of erotic queer art, which it aims to preserve and support. Other chic and thoughtful Pride merch on the scene? Brands like David Yurman have released Pride-themed jewelry that benefits The Trevor Project, providing life-saving resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Levi's has released denim items supporting Outright International, a global organization dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ human rights. Turns out, you can authentically support the community, and wear more unexpected and discrete Pride merch. Not that there is anything wrong with the full-on rainbow approach—now is the month to be loud and proud. Just try not to buy the soulless corporate pieces, 'kay? Below, shop Pride merch that benefits good causes. Human Rights Campaign Rainbow sweat shorts $55 HRC Converse Chuck Taylor platform sneakers $90 CONVERSE
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
A change is coming: A week of warmer weather will follow this cooler stretch
We won't find Tuesday to be much different than Monday, but the change starts Wednesday, and then we head into a seven-day stretch of warmer weather. Tuesday will be a lot like Monday—below-normal temperatures, a cool wind out of the north, isolated showers possible (especially in the afternoon) and the chance of late-day, non-severe thunderstorms. danielle weather / june 2, 2025 A ridge of high pressure will start to build in on Wednesday. This will drop our chance of precipitation down to 30 per cent, but temperatures will be back to normal for Wednesday. The return to the 20s arrives by Thursday. Expect a seven-day stretch of the warmer weather. danielle weather / june 2, 2025 Monica Schultz shares a rainbow over the city. The photo was taken Sunday:
New York Times
01-06-2025
- General
- New York Times
At Gaudreau Family 5K, memory of late brothers Johnny and Matthew shines bright: ‘The boys are here'
SEWELL, N.J. — In the hour before the Gaudreau Family 5K on Saturday morning, with the sidewalk still wet from a rainstorm the previous night, hundreds and hundreds of participants filed into Washington Lake Park and headed toward a clearing where the race was to begin. A rainbow in the sky greeted all of them. Advertisement 'The boys are here,' said Deb Vasaturo, one of the event organizers. Nine months ago, mere days after John and Matthew Gaudreau were struck and killed by an SUV driver while riding bicycles together on Aug. 29, a group of close friends, including Vasaturo, had gathered at the family home in Penns Grove, N.J., hoping to offer support to the brothers' parents, Jane and Guy. That day, a double rainbow had split through the sky — a tiny comfort in a period of unimaginable grief. The 31-year-old John, better known as Johnny among fans, was playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets when he and 29-year-old Matthew died, and Zach Aston-Reese felt his presence throughout the NHL season. In February, on the first birthday of John's oldest son, a beautiful sunset graced Columbus; late in the season, before a must-win road game for the Blue Jackets, a rainbow appeared above the Philadelphia Flyers' arena. He was touched again when another rainbow emerged before the 5K, as throngs of runners and walkers gathered for the race. 'It's almost a year since (the accident), but I think it's something that can take a lifetime to heal from,' Aston-Reese said. 'Any time you get a chance to support, especially the bigger events, it's really special.' Around 1,100 people signed up for either the competitive 5K, which kicked off at 8 a.m., or a more casual 8:45 a.m. race of the same distance. Kids had their chance to compete in a one-mile run later in the morning. Multiple race participants wore jerseys of John, a seven-time NHL All-Star nicknamed Johnny Hockey, who played for the Calgary Flames and Blue Jackets. Some also wore gear for Matthew, who reached the AHL after a four-year career at Boston College and most recently suited up with the ECHL's Worcester Railers in 2021-22. The park was alive with activity throughout the morning. One tent showcased signed jerseys up for a silent auction, as kids played lawn games nearby. Baskets sitting on the covered stage were raffled off. Below them, attendees wrote memories and messages of support for the Gaudreau family on a big white banner. Advertisement The event raised money for an adaptive playground at Archbishop Damiano, a special education school in Westville, N.J. The Gaudreau family has deep family connections with the school: Jane's brother has special needs, and their mother worked there for more than 40 years. All four of the Gaudreau kids — Kristen, John, Matthew and Katie — have either volunteered for or worked at the school too. 'The playground has been a project for I think four or five years, and there just never was enough funding,' Vasaturo said. '(The 5K) was a perfect marriage of doing something good to honor the boys and seeing children laugh and smile.' Jane, Guy, Kristen and Katie were present throughout. Both boys loved children, Jane said, so seeing all the smiling kids would have been everything they would've wanted in the event. 'I think they would just be so proud of us that we did (this),' she said. Guy noted that Matthew would have run the 5K and won. He frequently beat John in off-ice exercises growing up, leaving his older brother 'so mad he couldn't see straight,' their dad said with fondness. Professional hockey players went out of their way to attend as well. South Jersey natives Buddy Robinson, who played 62 NHL games and is now in the KHL, and Tony DeAngelo, who played with the New York Islanders this past season, were both there. Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk, a teammate of John Gaudreau's for the United States at the World Championships last summer, traveled from his offseason home on the Jersey Shore and wore a black sweatshirt that read 'Johnny Hockey.' Aston-Reese and Erik Gudbranson represented the Blue Jackets. 'Our family wouldn't have missed this,' said Gudbranson, who came with his wife and kids straight from a trip to Disney World. 'There's no way.' In the aftermath of John and Matthew's deaths, the Gaudreau family's friends wanted to find ways to help. Vasaturo initially thought of the charity 5K. When she approached Guy and Jane in October, Jane thought it was a wonderful idea but felt the family didn't have the emotional bandwidth to provide much help. Advertisement That wasn't an issue. Their friends — a committee of around 18 people — took care of it all. 'They did everything, organized everything,' Guy said. 'They just wanted us to be here.' Community members beyond the committee, including Aston-Reese, helped too. The Blue Jackets forward studied graphic design while playing college hockey at Northeastern University, and one of Jane's friends reached out and asked him to create the event logo. Honored, the Blue Jackets forward came up with a design — two interlocking hockey sticks with doves above them and the Gaudreau family name across the middle — that ultimately went on the race shirts and medals. 'It was pretty surreal pulling in and seeing everyone with their shirts on and the logo you created,' Aston-Reese said. Along with the race in Sewell, more than 1,300 people signed up to compete in a virtual 5K, with participants across the U.S. and Canada, as well as in multiple other countries, including Ireland, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. Florida Panthers players, who are preparing for the Stanley Cup Final, participated from Fort Lauderdale. 'Thursday, yesterday and even this morning I woke up, (and) I can't clean out my inbox because I get all the notices of all the donations and all the registrations,' said Paul O'Connor, an organizing committee member whose son was a childhood friend of Matthew. 'It just keeps growing.' Jane Gaudreau said it was emotional pulling into the park and seeing how many people were there. She and Guy initially expected the 5K to draw maybe 100 or 200 people. To see it balloon into an event with more than 1,000 was 'overwhelming, but in a good way,' she said. After the races, the family stood on stage for an award ceremony. The public address announcer listed off the overall top finishers, then the winners of each age group. The NHL players on hand presented awards: In place of trophies, each person received a gift card and one of the hockey sticks left at public memorials after John and Matthew's deaths. 'Just to be able to show support for this amazing family and see this amazing turnout, it was pretty great to be a part of,' said Tkachuk, who walked the more casual 5K. 'I'm just so thankful they had me here.' Every finisher received a medal that read '1st annual 5K run/walk,' indicating Saturday wasn't a one-off event, and indeed the current plan is to continue it in the future. Jane has seen messages asking if the family would host the race in Calgary or Columbus, which has given her ideas. She saw requests from Calgary first, so she said she'll perhaps run next year as a virtual participant with people there. Advertisement But this year the Gaudreaus were home in New Jersey, only a five-minute drive from Hollydell Ice Arena, the rink where the boys spent countless hours as kids. Jane stood near the end of the course as the fastest runners wrapped up the competitive race. She clapped and whooped as they neared the finish line. Guy, meanwhile, ran the race. He wore a bright orange long-sleeved shirt, and the crowd burst into applause when the public address announcer pointed him out as he came around the final turn. Vasaturo, the friend whose idea led to Saturday's event, cheered and cheered from the stage. 'His strength and Jane's strength and their resiliency is just amazing,' she said. 'We just want to be there and help them along the way, take these steps with them.' (Top photo of the Gaudreau family and NHL players: Gillian Kocher / Gaudreau Family 5K)
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Parents outraged as children at a daycare centre are urged to dress up in rainbow colours and eat fairy bread as part of LGBTQ celebration
A daycare centre's upcoming LGBTQI celebration with a rainbow-coloured dress code and fairy bread making has come under fire. Margaret Ives Community Children's Centre announced its plans to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) this Friday in a letter to parents earlier this week. The Adelaide centre invites the preschool-aged children to wear 'as much colour as possible – rainbows encouraged'. It explained that children will be read excerpts from different books on the subject before ending the day making fairy bread - an Aussie party favourite which consists of buttered slices of bread covered in colored sprinkles. It's the third consecutive year the event has been commemorated to honour its diverse broader community. 'We are incredibly passionate about fostering a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, seen, and celebrated for who they truly are,' the letter stated. 'At Margaret Ives, we work intentionally to challenge gender stereotypes and ensure authentic representation of the many ways people live, love, and form families.' 'We guide children to understand and value that families can take many forms – whether nuclear, single parents same-sex parents, foster or surrogate parents, blended families and beyond.' The event has sparked an outcry from parents. One told The Advertiser a number of parents felt the subject was inappropriate for preschool-aged kids but were afraid to raise their concerns for fear of backlash. They added some parents felt their rights to control their children's sexual and gender education had been undermined. 'Parents are not happy as the option of when and how to introduce the topic of sex, sexuality and gender issues is being taken away from (them),' they told the publication. 'These are serious and private topics that the parents feel need to be discussed when the family and child is ready - not dictated by a child care centre.' They added parents were reluctant to raise their concerns with management out of fear they may be considered homophobic. In a blog post published to its website in advance of last year's celebration, 'Bottlebrush' team leader Sarah Bowden wrote: 'Early childhood is a critical time for children to learn about diversity and inclusion.' 'Celebrating IDAHOBIT teaches young children about the importance of respecting and accepting everyone regardless of gender, binary or family dynamic.' The Bottlebrush room hosts children aged between 18 months and four years. 'We respect the identity of each child that is shared with us by their parents/caregivers unless the child explicitly informs us otherwise.' Ms Bowden said Margaret Ives' commitment to respecting gender identity has nothing to do with sexual orientation and urged parents to 'familiarise themselves' with the definition of gender identity as distinct from biological sex. 'Gender identity may or may not align with the sex assigned to [a person] at birth. It's important to recognise that gender identity is deeply personal and may vary from person to person,' she wrote. Last year's celebration had a similar rainbow theme and involved readings from 'The Family Book' and 'Pink is for Boys' by Robb Pearlman for Bottlebrush students. This option was also made available to children below the age of two-and-a-half. Those aged between three-and-a-half and school age were read 'Two Homes' by Claire Masurel, 'Heather has Two Mummies' by Leslea Newman and 'Be Exactly Who You Are' by Laura Gehl.
CTV News
12-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Sweltering Mother's Day conditions smash heat records across Manitoba
A rainbow over Manitoba Highway 34 near Powerview-Pine Falls, Man. on May 10, 2025. (Ruby Buboire)
