In celebration of Pride Month, Nike announced the release of the 2015 #BETRUE collection, an LGBT-inspired line of footwear, apparel, and equipment aimed to celebrate the LGBT community, particularly those involved in professional sports.
“Nike is deeply committed to diversity, inclusion and unleashing the potential of all athletes,” said Tim Hershey, Vice President of Global Merchandising for Nike and Executive Advisor to Nike’s LGBT Employee Network. “We’re rallying the world to embrace #BETRUE as a call-to-action for all athletes to be their most authentic selves in June and all year long.”
The #BETRUE collection first launched in 2012, but this year's line features redesigned rainbow sneakers, including the first ever #BETRUE basketball shoe, Elite socks, and a Five-Panel hat. The line also debuted updated versions of their signature #BETRUE T-shirts highlighting eight cities: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Atlanta, Portland, OR, and Washington, DC.
Aside from selling #BETRUE merchandise for the last few years, Nike also helped to start the LGBT Sports Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, and nondiscrimination in sports, no matter one's sexual orientation or gender identity. GLAAD is a proud member of the coalition. Each year since the coalition's founding, Nike has hosted the LGBT Sports Summit, which aims to put a stop to anti-LGBT bias in sports. Next week, from June 11-June 13, Nike will hold the coalition's fourth annual summit in Portland, Oregon. At the summit, GLAAD will co-present a workshop for LGBT athletes on how best to share your story in the media.
Nike has always been a proud supporter of the LGBT community, and GLAAD commends the company for continuing to celebrate diversity. Starting June 5, you can purchase items from the 2015 #BETRUE collection on nike.com, and part of the proceeds will go to the LGBT Sports Coalition. Select Nike stores (Portland, San Francisco, Union Street, New York, Flatiron, Boston, Chicago, Georgetown, Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Lenox) and Nike Factory Stores (Portland, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, D.C., Orlando and Celebration, Florida) will also be selling #BETRUE merchandise over the course of the month.