How esports orgs are supporting the LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month

June is Pride Month, which is all about celebrating and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. Many esports organizations have changed their logos on social media to rainbow-colored icons in solidarity as well as voiced their support for the LGBTQIA+ community through tweets and posts. However, some organizations have gone beyond simple words and gestures and are taking action this month. These esports organizations are pledging money and/or taking part in more direct initiatives this month to support the LGBTQIA+ community.

Cloud9

Cloud9 has planned several initiatives throughout Pride Month. The esports organization announced that profits from its Pride collection would go to the following charities that support LGBTQIA+ causes: LA LGBT Center, Trans Lifeline and the Ali Forney Center.

The organization is once again opening up applications for the Cloud9 Training Grounds Pride Scholarship. Applications are now open through June 30, and three winners will receive enrollment to a Training Grounds camp as well as a HyperX peripheral set.

Finally, C9 is also hosting charity streams throughout the month to raise money for LGBTQIA+ charities. Cloud9 already has hosted charity streams to support Qweerty Gamers and Queer Esports this month.

FlyQuest

Like Cloud9, FlyQuest also has a Pride merch line that the org is rolling out this month, with 50% of the proceeds going to the Trevor Project, a national organization that seeks to raise awareness for suicide prevention among LGBTQIA+ youth. FlyQuest’s motto is “Showcase Greatness,” and this initiative fits right in with what the org is all about. FlyQuest is going beyond just Pride Month, as it announced that the Pride merch line would be available for the rest of the year.

XSET

Earlier this month, XSET sponsored Boston Gaymer’s first-ever Pride Gaymer party. Boston Gaymers are a social group for LGBTQIA+ gamers in the Boston area. As part of the sponsorship, XSET gave away two Xbox Pride-themed controllers.

Earlier this week, XSET revealed a Pride merchandise collection, which will be available permanently, according to Dot Esports. Dot also reported that profits from the shirts will go toward charity, with this month’s proceeds going to the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts via Boston Gaymers.

Spacestation Gaming

At the beginning of June, Spacestation Gaming announced a couple of things they would be doing in support of Pride Month. First, the Utah-based organization announced that it would be participating in the Utah Pride Parade. SSG Chief was indeed there too.

Additionally, the org said that it planned to fundraise for Encircle throughout the month. Encircle is a Utah based organization that provides support and counseling for LGBTQIA+ youth.

TSM

TSM is organizing a fundraiser this month to raise money for the Trevor Project. The org has pledged to match all donations up to $10,000.

Washington Justice

In May, the Overwatch League’s Washington Justice rolled out their own Pride merch line with all profits being donated to the Trevor Project and SMYAL. While the Trevor Project is a nationally recognized nonprofit, SMYAL is an organization based in Washington, D.C. that seeks to support LGBTQIA+ youth in the area.

Toronto Defiant

Earlier this month, the Overwatch League team hosted the Toronto Defiant Community Cup for Pride. Thirty teams competed, and the winning team, Yuki Speed SkyPAD, donated $1,000 to the Trevor Project.

Lead image credit: Cloud9 via Twitter