At H&S, we’re always looking for ways to grow and educate ourselves around PRIDE and how to be allies to the LGTBQ+ community. This month, we’re asking our staff what resources they hold near to them year round, but especially during PRIDE. We hope you’ll join us in reading, listening, and continuing to put words into action.

Ashlyn Holliday

I first heard about “Paris is Burning” when I started college and learned that a high school classmate was involved in the Ball scene in NYC. I was so intrigued and found the documentary on YouTube. Since then, I have urged friends and family to watch the documentary to learn about a community they likely hadn’t heard of. Now we have Pose on FX (which I strongly urge you to watch as well) for a scripted take on the community, but Paris is Burning is an intimate glimpse into the community everyone needs to see.

Erika Lam

I’ve learned so much this past month gearing up for PRIDE celebrations for several of our brands. I’m particularly excited to have come across the organization BTFA (Black Trans Femmes in the Arts), a nonprofit that now happens to have one of our former H&S interns working at! BTFA organizes programming that centers and highlights Black trans femme artists, executive produces projects led by Black trans femme artists, and provides direct to support to Black trans artists. Please check them out and give them a follow on Instagram!

Liz Santillanes

I first learned about this book from Drag Queen Story Hour, an amazing organization where drag queens read stories to children in libraries, schools and bookstores. As a parent, I love the approach to normalizing these conversations and showing our children that its okay to be different and to embrace your true self. I’m so grateful for these tools and love the way it’s presented – I highly recommend, for kids and adults alike!