06/03/2021
Your definition of who you are is always the correct answer.
A lot of businesses are talking about their support for the LGBTQIA+ community because it's June. As a member of the community myself, I obviously support it 12 months out of the year. However, given the amount of publicity the community is receiving since the start of the month, I had some thoughts.
As a brand designer, what I do is help people, businesses, and entrepreneurs create their image - their brand "identity." So when I say I really understand the importance of having an identity that one can really feel represents the core of who they are and what they're doing in the world, I mean it.
Many people don't understand the importance of identifying with a "label" for their gender or sexual identity or choosing a flag to identify with. However, in branding their business, they put quite a bit of their soul into the process of building their image and how it feels for them. They want their brand to stand for something, and at the risk of being repetitive in this post, they want the world to know who they are and what they're doing here. They want their representation to matter.
It's a funny thing building your image and brand. It's important, a part of your soul, a mirror that makes you feel like what you're doing matters. That your vision and life's purpose is executed with justice to the ways you identify with all facets involved.
In this way, we all understand why identity, representation, and how it's all symbolized MATTERS. We all understand that we want something we can look at and feel like our place in the world is meaningful and real. The pride flags are the logo that solidifies the identity's place in the world. It gives us a sense of purpose, of visibility, of the average person's sense that we take up space and are an option to do business with, to get to know us, to value what we're bringing to life as a unified human species.
So if you're confused about what pride is here for, what the flags and labels and everything is all about, just think about your business, whether it's a realized one or one you've been thinking about. Think about how you want it represented, how you want the viewers and prospective acquaintances to better understand you through that branding. Hopefully, this will help you understand our community a bit better. Pride is basically about branding and celebrating that identity!
Come see me if you're proud of what you do, too, and want others to get who you are and why you're here. I promise I'll make you stand out proudly, too. Again - your definition of who you are as a business, entrepreneur, streamer, or person is always the right answer.
I made this graphic hoping to let anyone know, whether you're a prospective client, someone who stumbled across this post, a friend or acquaintance of mine, a stranger, WHOEVER: if you know who you are but aren't quite ready to tell everyone yet - even if you don't see your flag here - I am a safe person to come out to. Your truth is THE truth, it's sacred and valid, and I am here for it. Even if you just need to practice telling someone, are questioning and need someone to objectively help you work it out - whatever! My inbox is open and I will make sure you know that who you define yourself as is the truth and it is perfectly wonderful.
Feel free to steal that above paragraph and tweak it however you'd like, too, if you repost, steal the graphic, or post a different image entirely ;)
Happy Pride month, world!
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧🖤🤎
💗 Ash
