Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Instagram celebrates Pride Month by introducing more inclusive gender options

Social media platform shares list of inspiring LGBT+ accounts to follow

Tuesday 11 June 2019 09:35 BST

✕

Pride Month

Instagram has introduced more inclusive gender options in celebration of Pride Month.

In an effort to celebrate the LGBT+ community, this week the social media platform has rolled out several new updates.

One of these updates is the addition of new options when selecting your gender on the app.

Whereas before Instagram users could only select "male", "female" or "not specified", now they can select "male", "female", "prefer not to say" or enter the gender with which you identify in a custom entry field.

The update has been introduced specifically with transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in mind, Instagram states.

New gender options available on social media app (Instagram)

Instagram has also partnered with American LGBT+ organisation GLAAD to identify some of the most popular hashtags used by the LGBT+ community.

These hashtags – which include #lgbt, #bornperfect and #transequalitynow – will be transformed into a rainbow gradient when used in captions and comments, and a rainbow "Story ring" when included in an Instagram Story.

LGBT+ hashtags appear with rainbow gradient (Instagram)

Stories featuring LGBT+ hashtags feature rainbow 'Story ring' (Instagram)

The social media company has also introduced new custom camera effects on the app in celebration of Pride.

The camera effects have been created by a selection of LGBT+ augmented reality artists, including @orbgoddess, @CodyMesh, @shaunpez and @amberarcadia.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Show all 13

1/13Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

ASOS x GLAAD

ASOS and GLAAD - an organisation devoted to countering discrimination against the LGBT+ community - have launched their third exclusive collaboration for Pride 2019. The collection includes 50 pieces such as T-shirts, Co-ord sets and tote bags with 100 per cent of all net profits being donated to the LGBT+ charity.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Converse

Converse honours the origins of Pride with this year’s collection of footwear and apparel, specifically, the 1969 Stonewall Riots. The capsule includes the Chuck Taylor and the Chuck 70 which are emblazoned with rainbow hues and a lightening bolt design. For 2019, proceeds from the Converse Pride Collection will support the brand’s longstanding local and global LGBTQ partners, including It Gets Better Project and OUT MetroWest.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

DKNY

DKNY have launched a capsule collection celebrating Pride in partnership with NY based charity Hetrick-Martin Institute. The collection consists of clothing, accessories, footwear, eyewear, intimates, and jewellery, all with the pride flag incorporated into the design. A donation has been made by DKNY to HMI to support its pioneering mission and empowering results.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Pride Gin, £36

For 2019, Pride in London has launched Pride Gin: a crisp and refreshing tipple with an added bonus - each bottle sold helps keep Pride free for everyone to attend. Pride Gin will launch at Harvey Nichols and Gerry’s Wine & Spirits on Old Compton Street for £36 from mid-June, as well as being available by the glass at various bars in Soho.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Harry's Shave with Pride Set, £28

Popular men’s grooming company, Harry’s, has launched a “Shave With Pride” set, which includes their signature razor customized with a unique iridescent handle. The set also includes three blade cartridges and a bottle of Harry’s shave gel. The limited-edition set comes in an art-inspired box designed by Spanish illustrator, José Antonio Roda. Harry’s says 100 per cent of profits from the sale of this set will go to The Trevor Project, which will help the non-profit group serve more than 80,000 LGBTQ youth in crisis this year.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Marc Jacobs, Enamoured (with Pride) Dazzling Gloss Lip Lacquer, £22

Marc Jacobs Beauty is adding six shades of Pride-themed lip gloss to its best-selling Enamored Lip Lacquer collection. Available in June, the lip gloss will be sold in limited-edition rainbow packaging and 10 per cent of sales will be donated to Sage, an organization that supports older members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Boohoo

Online retailer Boohoo has launched the LoveWithoutLimits collection to celebrate Pride 2019. 10 per cent from each sale will be donated between two amazing pride charities - OutRight Action International & LGBT Foundation.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

House of Holland

For 2019, House of Holland is celebrating Pride and supporting the work of the Albert Kennedy Trust - charity that serves the LGBT+ youth community in the UK. A fresh new suiting capsule of 3 piece satin tuxedos in the colours of the Transgender Pride Flag will launch alongside the brand's Resort 20 collection. The four colour-blocked suits include a fitted blazer with large scalloped lapel, fitted waistcoat and a flared tailored trouser. 25 per cent of the profit generated from the sales of the range will be donated to the AKT.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

H&M

H&M continues its support of LGBT+ equality with a capsule collection for women, men and non-binary individuals. Featuring a range of slogan t-shirts, sportswear-inspired garments and fun accessories, 10 per cent of the sales price will be donated to the UN Free & Equal campaign.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Hunter is celebrating Pride by reimagining its Play boot with a rainbow sole and pull tab. The British boot brand has teamed up with five ambassadors on the launch including ShayShay, Tia Simon-Campbell, Jay Espinosa, Glyn Fussell and Lucy Fizz. Each of the partners has chosen a charity for the brand to donate proceeds to, such as The Outside Project, NAZ, Albert Kennedy Trust, MindOut and Mermaids.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Morphe

Morphe has teamed up with The Trevor Project, a charity that helps fund 24/7 suicide prevention and crisis intervention services for LGBT+ youth. One-hundred percent of net proceeds from the Live in Color Artistry Palette (£20) and the Live in Color Brush Set 7 Piece Eye Brush Collection (£26) will be donated to the organisation.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

UGG

Ugg’s new limited-edition capsule for Pride Month will benefit LGTBQ youths through the Born This Way Foundation, a crisis support and suicide prevention program. The Fluff Yeah Pride slides retail at £100 each with 25 per cent of the proceeds going to the Born This Way Foundation.

Pride Month 2019: All the brands giving back to LGBT+ charities

Ikea

Ikea US has released a rainbow version of its classic blue bag for Pride 2019 to help raise money for the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF). All proceeds from the bags will go directly to the HRCF.

Instagram will also be sharing features on its official account about several inspiring individuals from the LGBT+ community for Pride.

These accounts include Jake Graf, a transgender actor, writer and director who specialises in creating short films about transgender issues; Tanya Compas, an award-winning youth worker and head of youth engagement for UK Black Pride; and Munroe Bergdorf, a DJ and transgender activist.

Bergdorf was recently announced as Childline's first LGBT+ campaigner.

However, three days later, the charity cut ties with the activist – a decision which Bergdorf said on Instagram made her feel "unbelievably sad".

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

For all the latest news on Pride Month, click here.

Join The Independent for a panel discussion and Q&A as we ask: what is the role of Pride in 2019? Book your tickets today.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies