Better Pride Marketing for Everyone
Consumers are no longer content to settle for a product or service based on location or price-point, they are looking to align their spending dollars with brands that align with their values. What does that mean for your organization and Pride marketing initiatives?
UpHouse, a CGLCC certified marketing and public relations agency, commissioned a third-party Queer-owned-and-operated research company, Mat Meir Consulting, to gather insights from the 2SLGBTQ+ community across Canada and the USA.
The research results aim to help brands better connect and support their Queer audiences in ways that are authentic and meaningful through systemic change, both internally and externally.
Key Takeaways
- Insights from members of the Queer community in Canada and the USA.
- Community expectations and the importance of creativity and diversity in Pride marketing initiatives.
- Key statistics outlining the importance of authenticity and memorable marketing initiatives.
Co-Owner, UpHouse Inc. (he/him)
Host + Moderator
While leading UpHouse’s impressive growth year over year, Alex Varricchio has helped develop and maintain UpHouse’s culture of limitless creativity and ideas, and cultivated a safe space for testing and launching creative projects to learn from. Noticing a trend in businesses moving agency work in-house, Alex, and business partner Kiirsten, created a collaborative agency model based on filling in the gaps—not replacing in-house talent or duplicating efforts.
Alex has been nominated for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year award and winning Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce’s National Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Brand Strategist and Consumer Researcher, Mat Meir Consulting (he/him)
Research Presenter
Mat is an award-winning brand strategist and consumer researcher, with over 15 years of experience in network and independent creative agencies across Canada, the USA, and the UK. As a certified qualitative researcher, Mat loves using data and insight to inform and guide branding decision-making. He has worked on both global and national brands, including Nestle, Coca-Cola, BMW, Honda, and the Government of Canada.
A natural collaborator, Mat balances research data and creative intuition to drive client efficiency and effectiveness. He’s helped spearhead award-winning DEI brand and communications strategies and has worked with Signet’s consumer research team in a year-long research program to understand modern love, and managing a bespoke consumer panel that featured 2SLGBTQ+ participants.
Founder & CEO, Rebekon Consulting LLC (she/they)
Panelist
As the Founder and CEO of Rebekon Consulting, Celia’s “Bathroom to Boardroom” advocacy focuses on educating and empowering Trans, Gender Diverse and Intersex communities, spanning across public and private sectors.
In her role as a health equity ambassador, she’s established an ecosystem of alliances to foster trust within the medical community. Her efforts center on advocating for underserved communities, removing barriers in clinical trials, and combating the stigma and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ people of colour who are disproportionately affected by mental health conditions and HIV/AIDS.
As an immigrant and Asian Indian trans woman, Celia writes and speaks passionately about her personal struggles and challenges within her family, work, and society, both in the US and India.
Celia is also recognized as one of the Top 20 LGBTQ leaders in Biopharma and among the Top 10 LGBTQ+ Voices on LinkedIn in the US and Canada, and was listed in the Top 100 LGBTQ+ Women in DEI worldwide.
Owner, Calvin Campos Media (they/them)
Panelist
Cal is a self-employed Media Producer and Inclusivity Public Speaker from Toronto, Ontario. They’ve been speaking about their story as a racialized, Queer, gender non-conforming person since 2013 and they center marginalized communities in storytelling. Campos has worked with CBC, Kids Help Phone, Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce, University of Toronto, and the Get REAL Movement. Their north star is creating spaces where people can feel seen.
Partnership Engagement Director, IGLTA (he/him)
Panelist
As the Partnership Engagement Director for the IGLTA Foundation, Thomas “TJ” Chernick is passionate about creating powerful and sustainable partnerships that will help advance the mission of the IGLTA Foundation to promote LGBTQ+ travel and tourism around the world.
Previously, TJ served as the Director of the New York Chapter of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCCNY) and brings his unique brand of partnership development with a business and economic development lens.
TJ has culminated over 15 years of experience in international human rights, international education, and partnership development and stewardship. Before being a chamber leader, he coordinated international human rights programs with the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul University and served as a Program Officer for the International Fulbright Scholarship program. He holds a B.A. in International Relations from St. Edwards’s University in Austin, Texas, and an M.A. in Journalism from DePaul University.
