Pride Merchandise Made in Anti-LGBT Countries Sparks Outrage

\u201c@stonewalluk @Primark @MattHemes @MrDanielBrowne Anyway, this is what Pride looks like in Turkey. Banned, attacked by police, tear gas and rubber bullets, activists detained. Hope they made it back to work on Monday, in the @Primark factory producing t-shirts for @stonewalluk.\u201d

— Steve Taylor (@Steve Taylor) 1526990470

\u201cYesterday, @Primark and @stonewalluk announced a partnership where Primark sell their 'Pride range' across the UK and western Europe and donate 20% of profits to Stonewall. I asked some questions, but got no answers. So I'll try again. A thread \ud83d\udc47\u201d

— Steve Taylor (@Steve Taylor) 1526972881

\u201cThere is no 'acceptance without exception' if the people producing these products are facing prejudice, discrimination and state-sponsored homophobia every day. (Here's @ILGAWORLD's index on Asia https://t.co/vRRZqnWvZT)\u201d

— Steve Taylor (@Steve Taylor) 1526972881

\u201cThird, why is the range being sold in cities where @stonewalluk are not attending the Pride event? In some of these cities, the Pride is itself selling merchandise, and this could harm their sales.\u201d

— Steve Taylor (@Steve Taylor) 1526972881

\u201cFifth, do @stonewalluk think it's appropriate to be setting up a partnership that will be in direct competition to Prides who sell their own merchandise? Merch sales can be an important income stream and Prides struggle for money every year (whereas Stonewall has a \u00a35m reserve).\u201d

— Steve Taylor (@Steve Taylor) 1526972881

\u201cAnd finally, do @stonewalluk have any plans to give *strategic* support to the Pride movement (UK or abroad) in the next year? It would be a great way to invest the many thousands of pounds they raise from this partnership.\u201d

— Steve Taylor (@Steve Taylor) 1526972881

\u201c#Primark\u2019s Pride Collection: Madr in China, Turkey and Myanmar. All three countries have an abysmal record on #LGBT rights. https://t.co/voEWotmrnN\u201d

— Shanty Elena (@Shanty Elena) 1527528004

\u201cGlad to see this issue is getting some traction in the mainstream media! Still awaiting an appropriate response from @stonewalluk so far the statement does not tackle the real issues of this whole charade! #lgbt #primarkstonewall #primark #stonewall #pride https://t.co/OS1y52h5ID\u201d

— Greg Stephenson (@Greg Stephenson) 1527366670

\u201cHi @Primark , any comments? Aren't you just trying to capitalise on a single event and put profit over people? #LGBT #primark https://t.co/DP1nGEABDe\u201d

— \u00a1 Ger\u00f3nimo! \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83d\ude37 (@\u00a1 Ger\u00f3nimo! \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83d\ude37) 1527163336

\u201cSeriously do you think it's acceptable that #Primark's #Pride collection is being made in countries where it's #illegal to be #gay @stonewalluk @Primark ?\nhttps://t.co/AgoipKRfGq #LGBTQ #China #Turkey #Myanmar\u201d

— Omar Kuddus (@Omar Kuddus) 1527171508

\u201c@WindupSkeleton Thank you! Very very not surprised. Stonewall are ehh at best when it comes to actually supporting the queer community, and this "deal" with Primark is just another reason I'm glad I don't support them any more.\u201d

— \u2728 Eggzackly \u2728 (@\u2728 Eggzackly \u2728) 1528099538

\u201c@SquarePegSaz Oh I completely agree, buying something and knowing that money will go even further and help change a life is better than just buying something. And, sure charity is an alternative but sometimes one requires stuff.\u201d

— \u2728 Eggzackly \u2728 (@\u2728 Eggzackly \u2728) 1528099538

\u201cThis is really interesting. How critical should we be of fashion brands producing 'Pride' capsule collections and outsourcing their manufacturing to countries notoriously intolerant of LGBT+ people?\n\nhttps://t.co/M1tmXDdO2k\u201d

— Jake Hall (@Jake Hall) 1528826040

\u201c@MrJamieLove This is incorrect. Primark are donating 20% of profits to Stonewall. Indeed it is a Stonewall partnership. However, that said, there is big criticism of the products for being manufactured in countries where being LGBTQ+ is against the law. Shocked at Stonewall for agreeing this.\u201d

— Jamie Love (@Jamie Love) 1527071071

\u201cWhy does any of this matter? Because @stonewalluk are endorsing @Primark and, to the person on the street, that will mean that the whole LGBTI movement is endorsing Primark. Prides will get questions about this and we need answers.\u201d

— Steve Taylor (@Steve Taylor) 1526972881

\u201cI was inspired by Michael Cashman who said at my 1st Pride in 1994 'we are everywhere'. He understood what that meant. Stonewall's alliance with Primark is antithetical to what Pride (& the quest for LGBT+ equality) is supposed to be about. https://t.co/9YpcygfFQu\u201d

— Jason is on Mastodon \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83e\udeb7 (@Jason is on Mastodon \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83e\udeb7) 1527188467

\u201c. @stonewalluk's silence over the concerns raised about their partnership with @Primark is deeply concerning. They are not doing themselves any favours by keeping quiet. It's alarming to learn some of the 'Pride' range was made in Turkey. Where are Stonewall's ethics?\u201d

— Daniel Browne (@Daniel Browne) 1527074361

\u201c@UKPrideNetwork Here is @UKPrideNetwork's statement on the @stonewalluk @Primark relationship.\u201d

— Steve Taylor (@Steve Taylor) 1526972885