Regardless of corporate retreat from Pride, queer businesses are still here for LGBTQ+ communities

I’ve been celebrating Pride since 1993 when I came out of the closet and embraced my truth as a queer human being. Back in the 90s, the groups that marched in the parades were largely community organizations and local businesses that directly supported LGBTQ+ people. However, for the past decade or so, Pride Month has become an opportunistic season in corporate America: rebranded rainbow logos, capsule merch collections, and hashtags full of supportive intentions. As a gay man and the CEO of a clothing company that serves the queer community year-round, I watched this shift with both cautious optimism and a wary eye. On one hand, visibility matters. On the other hand, commodification does not amount to liberation.