As expected, on June 1st, many public entities, subreddits and corporations changed their profile pictures to filters with rainbow flags and put up messages supporting LGBTQ+ initiatives. Leading up to June this year, people were already anticipating the large corporate shift that was obviously about to happen. These memes centered around how immediately after June ended, all the companies that had rainbow flags and Pride Month messages shifted back to their regular talking points and disregarded their previous branding, like Halloween decorations being taken down on November 1st. The crack in the armor started last year with Companies When Pride Month Ends. Soon that joy and acceptance of the commercialization, the woke sales tactics, became just a little too obvious, and people started to meme the pandering to gay culture or the exploitation of Pride Month. At first, it was celebrated, as pride became a more mainstream topic and with corporations backing it, but it seems the empty corporate platitudes have worn thin. However, a trend that has been increasing in recent years is the overcommercialization of Pride Month. This is an exciting time of year for many people, even those who aren't a part of the group but consider themselves allies. Welcome to the first week of Pride Month! Every year, all of June is dedicated to the expression and acceptance of LGBTQ+ pride.
