5 Things / gender free

This week I learned about two new unisex / gender-smashing clothing lines produced by Levi's and Nordstrom. Levi's collection prominently features pronouns in the designs. This may seem like profiting off Pride, but here's why I think this goes deeper. The clothing itself is specifically designed to be gender-free.

Levi's collection features garments that are almost always gendered like jackets and jumpsuits, and Nordstrom's will have blazers and coveralls. It's remarkable to see gender-free clothing available to the mass market.

Not only that, but Nordstrom has been providing gender knowledge trainings for employees to ensure they are best equipped to serve customers before this product launches. They want to fulfill the promise made by their product. That matters and will create a better experience for all customers, but especially transgender ones.

Here are some other good vibes I found this week:

• A bunch of companies have signed the business statement on Anti-LGBTQ+ state legislation. Many have also come together as the America Competes coalition to support comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans. The coalition is designed to empower companies with tools to be advocates against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation popping up throughout the states. Many major brands have joined.
  
  There's even a coalition / pledge for small businesses. Yours can join here.
  
  This matters because 16+ anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been passed in states already in 2021, and this coalition will help companies better advocate for LGBTQ+ people.
  
  

• In other council news, over 200 companies, including Google and Pixar, joined the Care Economy Business Council, created by Time's Up. What I like about this is, again, that this council is heavily focused on advocacy and policy - supporting public and private partnerships and policies that will make child care easier for working parents. This matters because policy changes are systemic changes, and systemic solutions are required to fix the United States' child care mess that disproportionally affects BIPOC.
  
  

• HP became the first Fortune 100 company to commit to gender parity in leadership. They plan to achieve the goal by 2030. It's an ambitious goal, so ambitious that most companies won't touch it (although Unilever achieved it recently). This matters because public commitment creates accountability - and this goal requires serious initiatives and action that will probably help create more inclusion for everyone.

Image by Fashion School Daily