Brands like Loungefly, Torrid, Hot Topic, Kohls, and Funko are jumping on board with their own contributions, as well as Pride products from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel. The 2021 release has only partially been revealed and already is no exception to the escalating trend. This highly-anticipated merch release has become a favorite among fans in subsequent years, expanding each time with more elaborate offerings. I’m talking, of course, about the Rainbow Collection, which took another leap forward in 2019 when a second follow-up series was released, building on the items from the previous year and broadening their options with a series of matching family shirts for adults and kids.
Little did they know at the time, it would soon become an annual merchandise collection that would have fans counting down the days until its release. But they didn’t stop there, vowing to donate 10 percent of their profits to GLSEN – a US-based organization dedicated to the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ school-aged children. By May of the same year, with a mixture of rave reviews and peer pressure to expand the selection, Disney had released a matching handful of clothing and accessories items. In April of 2018, the Disney theme parks took a step in a new direction, debuting the rainbow-themed ear hats in celebration of the LQBTQ+ community.