Skittles has asked candy lovers to “taste the rainbow” for decades and now they’re eating their own words by expanding their LGBTQ+ support to the National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) by donating $100,000 to help with BTAC’s Black Trans COVID-19 Community Response Fund initiative, parent company Mars Wrigley announced in a press release.
Last month, the brand tweeted it was giving up its rainbow packaging in support of Pride Month (June) and would donate $100,000 of sales from its Pride Packs to GLAAD.
During PRIDE only #OneRainbow matters. That’s why we have given up our rainbow to show support for the LGBTQ+ community! For every SKITTLES Pride Pack sold we are donating $1 to @glaad.? pic.twitter.com/mecpWaVhzA
rn— SKITTLES (@Skittles) May 20, 2020
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This month, the company will partner with performer Todrick Hall to help BTAC better support the lived experiences of transgender people. See Hall’s video tweet below:
Most brands only celebrate Pride in June. I’m proud to partner with @Skittles to show that Pride lasts all year long and that my Black LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters deserve visibility and support beyond just June. That’s why we’re donating $100k to @blacktransusa #OneRainbow #ad pic.twitter.com/ABHUZctS86
rn— Todrick Hall (@todrick) July 14, 2020
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“In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, BTAC is working to minimize the heightened suffering of so many Black trans people, as an already marginalized community,” Carter Brown, National BTAC executive director, said in a statement.
“A recent study published reflects that 67 percent of transgender people of color are very concerned they cannot pay their bills on debt, compared to 20 percent of LGBTQ people and 15 percent of the general population. Thanks to the support and partnership of Skittles and Todrick Hall, we will change that. With the gracious donation of $100,000 we can now expand our current Black Trans COVID-19 initiative by ensuring at least 400-500 more Black trans people are served through the program.”
Visit the Black Trans COVID-19 Community Response Fund initiative site to learn more about the organization’s work and to donate to their efforts.