Despite corporate retreat, queer businesses still support LGBTQ+ communities.

My Fellow Nasty Pigs,

For the past few months, many CEOs across the country have flippantly rolled back their business’s support of the LGBTQ+ community in an attempt to protect their organizations and their bottom lines. As the CEO of Nasty Pig I don’t have that luxury - nor would I want it - because I am an out, loud, very proud gay man, and I am here to serve you.

For you - and for me - visibility is not a seasonal campaign. It doesn’t just happen in June. It is a daily act of courage to exist authentically in a world that too often tells us we should do no such thing. For us, Pride isn’t optional. It isn’t something we can hastily pull from our shelves or wipe off of our websites. Pride isn’t defined by who sponsors it. Pride belongs to us.

So show your Pride by supporting community-organized marches and grassroots protests that push back against those who want to erase us. Feel your pride at the parades and parties that give us spaces to rejoice in our identities. Live your Pride as you walk down the street, owning your truth, whether your ass is hanging out in a jock strap or you’re wearing a three piece suit.

As businesses large and small pull back their support for our community, I encourage you to stand in the fact that our existence is not a corporate strategy that's up for negotiation. Our identities are not marketing trends. We are more visible and more powerful than ever. We are still here. We are still queer. We are still gay. And we don’t need the approval of anyone’s Board Of Directors cuz we truly fucking slay - every single day. Period.

Yours In Sodomy,

David Lauterstein

Founder/CEO, Nasty Pig Inc.

PS- To read the full text of the Op Ed I wrote for The Advocate on corporations’ sponsorship of Pride month, click here.