The Weekend Mumbo: We’re here! We’re queer! Do you not care about us this year?
Welcome to The Weekend Mumbo.
When I was a kid, desperately hoping I wasn’t gay but terrified by the sinking realisation that I was, I rarely saw people like me in the media or pop culture.
There were camp portrayals of promiscuous airline flight attendants in sketch comedy shows, documentaries about the AIDS epidemic, and news stories about the spate of homophobic murders that plagued Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Corporate support of Pride is welcome and great to see.
However, if brands capitulate at the first sign of any right-wing backlash (ala Bud Lite) then they can be accurately accused of attempts at rainbow-washing.
If brands honestly support the queer community then they need to be willing and prepared to be hit with some of the same stones that are thrown at us.
I think its pretty simply, people don’t want brands telling them what to do, whether the individual agrees with the brand or not.
The old fashion, stay in your lane.