Here’s How The Nike BETRUE Campaign Has Positively Impacted The LGBT Community

Each and every June since 2012, Nike has honored the LGBT community with a special BE TRUE collection for Pride Month, amassing $3.6 million in financial and in-kind support to the community. They’ve also received 100% scores from the Human Right Campaign for the last 17 years, all while supporting over 20 organizations that advance the LGBTQIA+ community through grants administered by the Charities Aid Foundation Of America. It’s a cause that the Swoosh has deeply cared about for, and for the upcoming 2019 collection of footwear and apparel, they’re recognizing the universally known symbol of the rainbow flag created by political activist and designer Gilbert Baker.

The collection offers special takes on the Air Max 720, Air Max 90, Tailwind, Zoom Pegasus 35 Turbo, and Benassi slides, all of which feature some embroidered detail or hand-crafted approach as a nod to Baker’s handmade flag. For example, the 90 features eight Swooshes embroidered in different colors, and the Tailwind boasts an embroidered heel-tab. The 720 features a bold multi-piece rainbow gradient on top of a translucent Air Max cushioning unit, while the Pegasus runner features a rainbow ribbon from heel to tongue. The insoles also recognize the specific meanings of each color, from sexuality all the way down to spirit. Additionally, Nike will feature a striped rainbow pattern for the first time (previously designed with a gradient); you can see it in place of the NIKE logos as well as on the JUST DO IT box graphics.

The entire Nike BETRUE 2019 Collection will release on June 1st, 2019 at global retailers and on June 8th on nike.com, North America, and select Nike retailers.

Available now at Offspring, Afew, Solebox, Overkill.