POPSUGAR: How are you personally celebrating Pride month this year?:
Ty McBride: I honour the space we are in and the evolution we have made since the year before. One great resource for those wanting to take a different view of Pride this year is checking out the LGBT History Instagram, which reminds us of the amazing events, people, and spaces that have gotten us to where we are.
"I truly believe that the Gay Community has to step up for our own, cherish our own, and heal our own community as we push for the same from society at large."
This year I will be celebrating Pride in a much more reflective and quiet space. My heart is currently thinking about our community, but especially the Black Trans members of the LGBTQ+ family — the time for justice, equality, and honour for them is now. I truly believe that the Gay Community has to step up for our own, cherish our own, and heal our own community as we push for the same from society at large. Pride was started by our strong Lesbian and Trans sisters of Colour — it is time the community as whole steps up to support the entire spectrum of the rainbow.
PS: Who are your Pride heroes in the fashion industry?:
TM: André Leon Talley, I love old Marc Jacobs, and I recently re-watched Unzipped and fell deeper in love with Isaac Mizrahi. A lot of early taste makers and trend setters have paved the way for small LGBTQ+ brands like myself to be openly queer, totally out, and free to create: the Halstons, The YSLs, and those who pushed gender bounds before us when things weren't as open. I love that there are a bunch of queen indie brands blazing trails loudly and boldly in 2020! (I love NOTO botanics, Lockwood51, SYRO, Patrick Church, SEEKER.)
PS: What can the fashion industry be doing to be more supportive of the LBGTQ+ community?:
TM: The consumer base is more diverse than ever — brands are reaching every corner of the globe, so let's reflect that in the DNA of our own brands, platforms, and companies. I also have room to grow in this area, and I am here for the challenge. I want to push myself to really open my eyes to opportunities for inclusivity and a much overdue relearning on the personal/brand level.
Image Source: Courtesy of Intentionally Blank