Pride in cans

Pride month is always a tricky one to cover in terms of products, because some big corporations just seem to love cashing in on the novelty, without contributing anything to the cause. However I have found three American brands that seem to be doing their bit.

Image: House Wine

Washington-founded House Wine’s limited edition Rainbow Rosé Bubbles is available in 12oz six-packs or 12-packs of 6oz mini cans, and for every case sold, House Wines is donating $2 to the Human Rights Campaign, the leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group in the US.

Cool Cat is a gay-founded brand based in Florida that is offering Pride Month white wine spritzers in four packs of 12oz cans in Berry and Citrus flavour variants.

“As a proud, openly gay minority, I created Cool Cat with diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind, which guides us every single day,” said co-founder and CEO Rocco Venneri. “That said, I’m thrilled to introduce a Pride-themed can this June that shines a spotlight on the LGBTQ+ community in support and recognition of National Pride Month.”

Along with its Pride offering, Cool Cat will donate $10,000 to The Center in New York, which provides vital programmes and services for the local LGBTQ+ community, including advocacy, health and wellness programmes, arts and entertainment and cultural events, recovery, parenthood and family support.

Image: Gay Beer

And finally, Gay Beer, a Brooklyn-based brewery, is a brand ‘designed to speak directly and authentically to diverse consumers,’ in its own words, and aims to pioneer change and inclusivity in the beer market.

As part of the company’s identity and ongoing mission, Gay Beer owners (and real-life couple) Jon Moore and Jason Pazmino make quarterly donations to LGBTQ organisations like Housing Works, the Hetrick Martin Institute, the Ali Forney Center and the Center for Black Equity.

It’s good to see some brands aren’t just slapping a rainbow on their cans and jumping on the bandwagon but actively campaigning and supporting LGBTQ+ communities through their products.

• Alex Rivers (she/her), CanTech International editor
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