• by Todd Wasserman , Staff Writer, June 3, 2022

June is not only the start of the summer, but Gay Pride Month. While brands don’t have sexualities per se, brands are perceived on a continuum of either supporting gay rights or being in opposition to the idea.

According to the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, there are an estimated 1.4 million LGBTQ-run companies in the U.S., accounting for $1.7 trillion a year in revenue.

While the number of national brands led by an openly gay founder are few, more than 400 businesses -- including Apple and Facebook -- signed support for the Equality Act, which would would provide civil rights protection for LGBTQ+ people.

President Biden recently voiced support for the Equality Act, which is being debated by Congress.

While some 55 brands, including Adidas, Apple and Banana Republic, have been vocal in their support of gay rights, not every brand voices its support. Among those in opposition include:

In years past, Chick-fil-A donated to three groups with “a record of anti-LGBTQ discrimination,” according to Think Progress. AT&T, UPS, Comcast, The Home Depot and General Electric, which Popular Information found had donated to anti-gay politicians

Popular Information also found that Verizon, Walmart, and CVS Health have been big supporters of anti-LGBTQ legislation at the federal and state level since 2019.

Such brands, of course, are free to pursue their beliefs, but consumers should also be aware of the organizations those brands support.