02/09/2022
Much needed publicity was given to the Queer Emporium Shop in Cardiff on the BBC Wales news website this week, as the city gears up for its Pride Week. Initially set up last Pride season as a one off pop up service, the shop was so successful and so welcomed by LGBTQIA Welsh people that it has stayed open and currently stocks books, art work and merchandise from around fifty independent LGBTQIA+ creatives. The feature from the BBC met up with Yan White from the Queer Emporium, who noted that although visibility is important, some mainstream businesses that go rainbow for Pride season are not really rooted in the community. He said “I think the trans community is by far the most persecuted in the UK in the media and on a political level as well, so I think a lot of those companies could throw their weight behind that particular group and I think that could make a bigger difference if they really do want to do something progressive." The article went on to meet with Izzy McLeod who campaigns for Pride Merchandise to be ethical and fairly traded from producers who genuinely support Pride. "These corporations are doing it because it is profitable, and when they're doing it in a way that's saying 'we support LGBTQ+ people whilst making merchandise in countries where maybe it's illegal to be gay', then it comes across as very 'we're going to take your money, but we're not going to do the work," the 24-year-old said. Positive news also came from the Welsh Retail Consortium, which reported how nearly eighty retailers from across Wales joined forces in 2021 to sign a charter on Diversity and Inclusion. https://queeremporium.co.uk/
