Alice Vol. 6 No. 1

Brands paying LGBTQ+
individuals in “exposure” to
create content for them.
Brands often have large budgets of money when working with influencers to create
content. During Pride Month, many brands reach out to LGBTQ+influencers to create
content for social media with the goal of highlighting campaigns and products created
specifically for Pride Month. While influencer collaborations are not new, what isn’t
often known is that LGBTQ+ influencers, especially those who are Black, are often
pitched collaborations in exchange for “exposure” on a brand’s social media. Lydia
Okello (@styleisstyle), a queer Black creator, was recently asked by Anthropologie to
take part in its #sliceofhappy campaign for Pride in exchange for a free outfit. Okello
shared their typical rates for working with brands only to be told by Anthropologie
that they didn’t have the budget for an influencer of their level.
Exposure doesn’t pay the bills, and for large brands like Anthropologie, there’s no
excuse to not pay LGBTQ+ influencers for their work especially during a month that
is meant to highlight and celebrate them. Be mindful of how brands treat LGBTQ+
influencers, and if you want to stay informed about this and other issues in the
fashion and beauty industry, follow accounts like @diet_prada and @esteelaundry
on Instagram.
Hiring LGBTQ+ directors, talent,
production staff, and writers to
tell LGBTQ+ stories.
There’s a plethora of LGBTQ+ talent in the industry waiting to make their mark
on the screen and in the media. One of Hollywood’s biggest debates is having actors
and production staff who are not members of this community telling the stories of
LGBTQ+ characters. Out of the 25 actors who have been nominated for an Oscar for
playing an LGBTQ+ character, none are openly LGBTQ+. The film and television
industry is divided on the issue, with some actors like Darren Criss vowing to turn
down future LGBTQ+ roles, while others like Ben Whishaw, who is gay himself, don’t
see the issue with non-LGBTQ+ actors playing LGBTQ+ characters.
While the debate continues, Hollywood should provide more opportunities for
LGBTQ+ individuals to bring their talents to the industry in all aspects, especially
when it comes to telling LGBTQ+ stories. People like screenwriter Steven Canals
(Pose), director and writer Dee Rees (Empire, Pariah, Space Force), and actor
Keiynan Lonsdale (Love Simon, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow) are paving the
way for other LGBTQ+ individuals in the industry. Including their voices and talents
in Hollywood makes it exciting to see what’s to come for the industry in the upcoming
years.
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