The Disney Store has launched a brand new range of rainbow-themed merchandise ahead of the upcoming Pride month in June.
The newly-released Rainbow Collection includes a Mickey t-shirt, a ‘Believe in Love’ tank top, a tropical backpack with a rainbow Mickey logo, a pair of rainbow sunglasses, a rainbow tumbler, and two rainbow pin badge sets.
Disney has also launched a rainbow Mickey Mouse soft toy. The toy sold out immediately online, however, Disney has confirmed that it will be restocked in June for Pride month.
It has been announced that from now until 30 June, they will be donating 10 per cent of proceeds from the Rainbow Collection to the charity Diversity Role Models, which “seeks to embed inclusion and empathy in the next generation” by tackling bullying and running school workshops featuring LGBT+ role models or allies.
Disney fans have frequently called for the company to work towards greater LGBT+ representation in their films and TV shows. The hashtag #GiveElsaAGirlfriend spread rapidly around social media in 2016, after Disney earned a failing grade on GLAAD’s recent LGBT report card, which rates same-sex representation in films.
It was announced that the upcoming adventure film Jungle Cruise will feature the first ever gay Disney character, but that in itself was a cause of controversy. When it was announced that Jack Whitehall would play a “hugely effete, very camp, and very funny” character, people complained it would merely cement stereotypes.
The Rainbow Collection comes ahead of Disneyland’s first ever Pride celebration, Magical Pride, which takes place on June 1. The celebration will feature an exclusive parade, a lip sync battle, performances by Years & Years and Corine and a DJ set by Boy George.
The new Rainbow Collection is online now and will be available to purchase in the Dublin store on Grafton Street as well as stores across the UK.
© 2019 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.
Support GCN
GCN has been a vital, free-of-charge information service for Ireland’s LGBTQ+ community since 1988.
During this global COVID pandemic, we like many other organisations have been impacted greatly in the way we can do business and produce. This means a temporary pause to our print publication and live events and so now more than ever we need your help to continue providing this community resource digitally.
GCN is a registered charity with a not-for-profit business model and we need your support. If you value having an independent LGBTQ+ media in Ireland, you can help from as little as €1.99 per month. Support Ireland’s free, independent LGBTQ+ media.
comments. Please sign in to comment.