June is PRIDE Month and the theme parks are full of rainbow merchandise. You’ve probably noticed it more and more in recent years. Just like many other businesses, they put out the rainbows in June and start raking in the money.

What they do with that money has often faced controversy. Some businesses are simply lining their pockets, while some donate it. Some are far more generous with donations than others.

Three years ago a young kid summed up the feeling of many with one sentence. “Wow, they’re making money off my sexuality.”

That year I recall seeing that Disney and Universal were donating 10% of their profits to LGBTQ+ causes or foundations. Most years that I can recall, it’s been that same 10%.

This year Disney has changed their donation to “all of our profits.” I can’t help but believe this is due to the uproar of their quite delayed response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and the firestorm that followed. Bob Chapek eventually apologized for his original stance of not saying anything publicly. However this change came about, I think it’s absolutely what should be done every year. And not just by Disney, but all those who profit off of Pride merchandise throughout the year. You can check out their Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel Pride collections on shopDisney and in the parks.

Disney has a long list of organizations these funds will support. Check them out at the bottom of this page.

I reached out to Universal Orlando to see what their donation situation is this year. I was told, “Through October, 10% of the proceeds from all Love is Universal merchandise will benefit the Universal Orlando Foundation and will be donated to the National Pulse Memorial & Museum in support of their education programs to advance human equity.” I’ve taken the liberty of adding a hyperlink that was not provided in the original message I’ve quoted.

While I’m totally on board with their 10% being donated through October, I’d be a lot happier with seeing that percentage much higher than 10%. I am pretty sure I’m not the only one.

You can purchase items in the Love is Universal collection online and in the parks.

Pulse is near and dear to many in the Universal family, Orlando, and the LGBTQ+ community. the onePULSE Foundation is an organization I support and follow. Please take a moment to visit their site.

I noticed that SeaWorld’s rainbow merchandise is labeled “rainbow” or “retro rainbow.” I didn’t see anything associating it with Pride, nor do I recall anything specifically signed as such in the parks.

I reached out to SeaWorld for clarification through several different avenues and haven’t received a response as of this writing. I’m very much hoping to find out that they are in this ball game. Intended to be Pride or not, having a rainbow collection has implied meaning. I think the majority of consumers understand this. I will update this article if they respond.

You can shop their rainbow merchandise in parks and through their online store.

The history of Pride hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows, but I hope that we continue to move in a more loving direction. Maybe someday who a person loves, or who they are, will no longer be a deciding factor to their marriage rights, healthcare, job, or anything else. LOVE IS LOVE.

Disney’s US profits are supporting:

Ali Forney Center
The Ali Forney Center (AFC) is the largest organization working to care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning youths who have been rejected by their families and thrown out into the streets because of their identity. AFC provides housing, mental healthcare, and a host of other supports to help LGBTQ youth heal from the trauma of family rejection and the harms of street homelessness. Operating across 18 sites that serve over 2,000 young people a year, AFC is a leading provider ensuring that the most vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community have the necessary resources and support to thrive. Additionally, AFC also operates specialized training and advocacy in 10 countries and partners with 44 entities in the United States helping communities build resources and support locally for LGBTQ youth who are facing homelessness due to family rejection. Funds raised through this collection will benefit the Ali Forney Center’s meal services which provide over 300,000 meals a year to homeless LGBTQ youth.

GLSEN
GLSEN exists to create safe and affirming schools and learning environments for all K-12 students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, because no young person should have to choose between their well-being and an education. As a leader in both the global movement for LGBTQ+ equality and in the whole-child movement for educational equity, GLSEN programs assist students, schools, educators, systems leaders, and communities in reducing victimization of our LGBTQ+ youth and setting the course for a safer, more equitable future. Disney and GLSEN have collaborated for more than 20 years with support going towards various GLSEN programs. New funds will be used to deepen the impact of student leadership programs and racial equity capacity-building across the GLSEN network, including such programs as GLSEN’s National Student Council and Freedom Fellows.

LGBTQ Center OC*
Over the last decade, the LGBTQ Center OC’s Youth Program has served as a comprehensive model program built upon unconditional acceptance of sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, and cultural diversity. The Center provides a variety of services and programs to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and young adults through social support, education, mental health services, and youth leadership and empowerment. The Center supports student leaders, teachers, the school administration, and parents to create safe, equitable and restorative schools for LGBTQ students. Funds will supplement existing support for Orange County schools and school districts, where the Center has partnered with over 50 Gender and Sexualities Alliances or Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) student clubs.

Los Angeles LGBT Center*
Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center’s nearly 800 employees provide services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy. The Center is an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world; a world in which LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. The Walt Disney Company’s donation will support the provision of hot meals to LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness.

PFLAG National
PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies. PFLAG’s network of hundreds of chapters and hundreds of thousands of members and supporters is committed to creating an equitable, inclusive world where every LGBTQ+ person is safe, celebrated, empowered, and loved. PFLAG National will use partnership funds in direct service of PFLAG National’s mission to create a caring, just, and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.

SF LGBT Center*
The SF LGBT Center’s mission is to connect its diverse community to opportunities, resources, and each other to achieve its vision of a stronger, healthier, and more equitable world for LGBTQ people and allies. The Center works to strengthen this community by fostering greater opportunities for people to thrive, offering aid in organizing for the future, celebrating the community’s history and culture, and ultimately building resources to create a legacy for future generations. The Center’s major program areas are Financial Services, Employment Services, Youth Services, Community Programs, and Room Rentals. Disney’s funding is planned to support the Center’s Youth Services department to put LGBTQ+ youth (ages 16–24) on a path to connection and stability by building a strong queer youth community through education, creative and performing arts, community events, mental health services, access to housing, and drop-in navigation services.

The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people. The organization works to save young lives by providing support through free and confidential suicide prevention and crisis intervention programs on platforms where young people spend their time: a 24/7 phone lifeline, chat, and text. The organization also runs TrevorSpace, the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ young people, and operates innovative education, research, and advocacy programs. The Walt Disney Company’s donation will support The Trevor Project in the scaling and growth of its crisis intervention services and suicide prevention programming, enabling the organization to provide more LGBTQ young people with life-affirming support.

Zebra Coalition*
The mission of Zebra Coalition is to empower LGBTQ+ youth to thrive. The Coalition envisions a community where all LGBTQ+ youth feel safe and empowered. The Walt Disney Company funding is planned to be used to expand housing and services for LGBTQ+ youth.

*Proceeds will be donated to the TWDC Pride Collection Fund at CAF America (EIN: 43-1634280), and a grant will be recommended to this organization. Final grant distributions are subject to the review and approval of CAF America’s Board of Directors.

Disney’s European profits are supporting:

ARELAS
ARELAS is a Spanish association that provides support for trans children and their families and that has been working for more than five years to achieve equal opportunities and rights for Spanish trans minors in all areas of public and private life. ARELAS fights to achieve a diverse society free from discrimination based on sexual identity. The association develops activities and programs promoting the participation of trans minors in social, political, cultural, sports and financial life. ARELAS offers information, advice, support and accompaniment to families and trans people who are without family support, creating networks and spaces for meeting and mutual support. ARELAS will use The Walt Disney Company’s donation to develop training activities and offer support and advice to trans children, youth and their families.

BeLonG To Youth Services
BeLonG To Youth Services is the national organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) young people in Ireland. Since 2003, BeLonG To has worked with LGBTI+ young people to create a world where they are equal, safe and valued in the diversity of their identities and experiences. BeLonG To’s work spans people, policy and practice. The organization focuses on eliminating the isolation, discrimination and harassment faced by LGBTI+ young people through frontline youth work and vital support services. At a policy level, the organization works to promote equality for LGBTI+ young people to remove the structural and social barriers which result in exclusion, isolation, and marginalization. The Walt Disney Company’s donation will assist BeLonG To in their efforts to help lower the barriers that create isolation for LGBTI+ young people.

diversity München e.V.
diversity München e.V. is an LGBTQ+ youth organization with a youth center based in Munich, Germany. The organization is self-governed by youth members, using a peer-to-peer approach to create a welcoming community through the youth centers and cafés for LGBTQ+ youth in Germany. The organization also hosts educational sessions on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools and youth centers, as well as events at their diversity Café. The Walt Disney Company’s donation will help diversity München e.V. maintain these safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth to meet friends and simply be themselves.

Diversity Role Models
Diversity Role Models (DRM) is a U.K. LGBTQ+ education charity with a vision of a world where everybody embraces diversity and can thrive. DRM embeds inclusion and builds empathy through educational workshops in schools featuring personal, lived-experience stories from LGBTQ+ and ally role models. The workshops help students understand the impact of their language and actions, equipping them with the skills to challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic comments and bullying happening within the student body, driving a school culture shift to celebrating and embracing differences. To ensure sustained change, student workshops are supplemented by training staff, governors and parents/caretakers. The Walt Disney Company’s donation will continue to help DRM’s efforts in delivering their workshops into more schools.

Famiglie Arcobaleno
Famiglie Arcobaleno, created by LGBT+ singles and parents, is an independent Italian association founded in March 2005. The organization stands against all forms of discrimination and advocates for LGBT+ parenting to be recognized in the Italian legal system and in society, to protect children and their loved ones and to reduce the stigma around LGBT+ parenting. The association aims to promote cultural, social and political changes around the topic of family, and facilitates dialogue between current parents or would-be LGBT+ parents, while equipping them with the tools needed to raise their children. The Walt Disney Company’s donation will support Famiglie Arcobaleno in creating a culture of greater social inclusion for all types of families.

MAG Jeunes LGBT+
MAG Jeunes LGBT+ is a non-profit organization for LGBTI+ youth aged 15 to 30 years old. It is the leading national LGBTI+ youth organization in France. The organization helps and guides young people in need through educational interventions in schools that raise awareness about LGBTI+ discrimination and promote respect for diversity and inclusion. It also organizes several leisure, cultural and sports activities, as well as big annual events such as the Grand Pride Ball of Paris. Established in 1985, MAG Jeunes LGBT+ provides LGBTI+ people with opportunities to live better and freely express their sexual orientation or gender identity. The organization fights against displays of rejection, hatred, violence and discrimination that LGBTI+ youth may face, and fights against homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and sexism. The Walt Disney Company is delighted to collaborate with Mag Jeunes LGBT+ to provide education for young people and more opportunities to live as their true selves.

Disney’s Latin American profits are supporting:

It Gets Better
LatAm Affiliate Network It Gets Better helps LGBTQ+ youth embrace their identities and feel empowered through storytelling and educational efforts. By showcasing other people’s experiences of overcoming adversity, It Gets Better seeks to inspire hope in new generations to make them feel more accepted and loved by their own community, in spite of their situation at home or at school, by connecting them with the information and resources they may need. The Walt Disney Company is supporting It Gets Better affiliates in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru by funding efforts to develop content that will serve LGBTQ+ youth across the region.

Disney’s Asian and South Pacific profits are supporting:

Minus18
Minus18 is a champion for LGBTQIA+ young people in Australia. By leading change and building social inclusion, Minus18 is advocating for an Australia where all young people are safe, empowered, and surrounded by people that support them. Minus18 believes in equipping young people with the skills they need in every program to be at the forefront of driving change, empowering the next generation of LGBTQIA+ leaders. Through a preventative model of mental health support, Minus18 tackles social isolation by creating fun-filled spaces where LGBTQIA+ young people belong and are celebrated. Minus18 events are about being visible, making friends and feeling supported. Creating an Australia free from discrimination is a job for everyone. Minus18 transforms communities through LGBTQIA+ training, resources, and digital campaigns that enable others to champion inclusivity. The Walt Disney Company’s donation helps Minus18 develop videos and articles that offer online resources for parents to help support their children.

Nijiiro Diversity
‘Nijiiro’ means rainbow in Japanese. Since the establishment of Nijiiro Diversity in 2013, the organization has been encouraging diversity, inclusion and individual agency in the workplace. Nijiiro is the first non-profit organization in Japan to take on issues of LGBTQ+ discrimination in the workplace and attempt to create change by providing research, informational lectures, training and consultations for corporations, government agencies and academic institutions. Nijiiro Diversity aims to create a safe and friendly working environment for LGBTQ+ people, empower the Japanese LGBTQ+ community and contribute to the creation of an inclusive society for all people. Nijiiro Diversity’s vision is that people should be accepted and treated fairly in all workplaces without fear of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. From 2022, the organization is also operating Pride Center Osaka, the first LGBTQ+ center in western Japan. Nijiiro will use The Walt Disney Company’s donation to conduct research and study together with academic researchers. The data will be shared on the organization’s website, with the media, and as part of submission requests to local governments throughout Japan for advocacy.