Why we still need Pride

A few days ago, we posted this iconic image of our Protect Trans Kids Revolution Hoodie and our friend who inspired the design.

Since then, we've spent countless hours managing the comments that followed.

We won't repeat them here. They don't deserve a larger platform. But we will say this: many were ignorant, cruel, and rooted in fear rather than understanding or curiosity. They were a reminder that, despite the progress we've made, there is still a great deal of work left to do because there are members of our community who still aren't safe.

At VC, you'll often see two recurring messages in our designs: Start With Kindness and You Do You.

They are reminders to approach people with curiosity instead of judgment, respect instead of assumptions, and empathy instead of hostility. They are reminders that people should be free to be themselves without fear of exclusion or harassment.

People should be free to be themselves without fear of exclusion or harassment.

When we launched this design, we questioned whether a message like "You Do You" could be interpreted as validating those who choose to spread hate. In the end, we believed the risk was worth taking because the message was never intended for the haters. It was intended for the people who needed to hear that they belong.

So why do we still need Pride?

Because this still happens.

And if it happens within a sport and community that prides itself on inclusion, imagine what many people experience in spaces that are less welcoming. Imagine what happens in schools, on playgrounds, in workplaces, and in everyday life.

The reality is that there is still too much hostility directed at people simply for being themselves.

That's why messages of inclusion, equality, and allyship still matter - not just during Pride Month, but throughout the year.

Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander

Allyship is a choice we make every day in how we speak, how we listen, how we treat people, and how we show up for one another.

Pride is often joyful, colourful, and celebratory, and it should be. But it also exists because there are still people whose safety, dignity, and humanity are questioned every day.

Until that changes, Pride will continue to matter.

And whether Pride is still needed is not a question for those who feel threatened by it. It is a question best answered by the people whose lives are directly affected and by those who stand beside them.

For us, the answer is simple. There is no debate.

Everyone deserves to feel welcome here.