Pride campaigns come and go. Most float by in a rainbow haze of half-baked allyship and one-size-fits-no-one hashtags. But every now and then, a brand gets it. This year, Damson Madder didn’t slap a rainbow on a t-shirt and call it a day. They put their money, platform and voice behind something that actually matters to us: the protection and celebration of queer spaces.
We have all seen it happen, queer spaces are dissapearing. However, they’re places that have held us when the world wouldn’t. In London, 58% of LGBTQIA+ venues shut down between 2006 and 2017. In the States, lesbian bars are nearly extinct – fewer now than there were in the 1980s – a massive cultural loss. Gentrification, sky-high rent, and political hostility are slowly killing off the places we’ve danced, cried, kissed, protested, and found our people in. And let’s be honest – the government’s not rushing to save them.
Which is why we were so pleased to see Damson Madder’s campaign. They’ve teamed up with three queer creators across London, NYC, and LA – Sienna King, Ella Snyder, and Tatiana Ringsby – to highlight their most loved LGBTQIA+ spaces. Not to romanticise queer struggle, but to celebrate these venues as the vital, living ecosystems that they are – and to remind us that they deserve to be protected. Plus each creator isn’t just shouting out a space – they’re also choosing a grassroots queer charity that Damson Madder is donating to directly.
In NYC, fashion columnist and blogger Ella Snyder has chosen Callen-Lorde, a community health centre offering judgement-free, gender-affirming care to trans people regardless of income. “The care they provide is amazing and life-saving,” she says. And let’s be real — when your country’s using trans rights as political ping pong, accessible healthcare becomes nothing short of revolutionary.
In LA, actor and creator Tatiana Ringsby is shining a light on The Trans Wellness Center, which provides trans people with essentials — therapy, legal services, housing help, you name it. It’s community-run, it’s local, and it’s genuinely life-changing.
As Tatiana puts it:
“They provide real, tangible resources… It’s a space that’s run by and for the community. They’re so kind and caring. Supporting them felt like a meaningful way to give back locally and directly.”
When asked why queer spaces matter so much in 2025, Tatiana hit the nail on the head:
“Having your rights under attack is a deeply unnerving experience. All we really have is each other. Queer spaces provide a safe place where we can show up fully as ourselves… to protect and uplift the places that have always held us – our love, our grief, our creativity, and our resistance.”
And back in London, the incredible Sienna King is repping a collection of the spaces that have shaped her. First stop: The Common Press in Brick Lane, a queer-owned library, cafe, and event space run by Aisha Shaibu Lenoir. It’s part bookshop, part community living room, and 100% vital. Then there’s PRIM, the vibey OKHA book club-turned-reading-and-music event, and finally Bar A Bar in Dalston, home to countless sweaty nights thrown by her queer mates. Together, they map out the reality of queer London — creative, resistant, and very much alive.
Sienna’s chosen charity is also The Common Press itself — more than just a venue, it’s a queer cultural hub that hosts events, fosters conversations, and supports grassroots organising. Damson Madder’s donation will help it stay open and thriving.
What we love about this campaign is that it doesn’t centre the brand. It centres us. Damson Madder isn’t trying to lead the conversation – it’s passing the mic to the people who should be holding it.
In a world where “Pride” too often gets flattened into a marketing checklist, Damson Madder’s approach feels refreshingly right. Thoughtful. Cool. Serious without being sanctimonious. It’s about culture, not clout. And it’s about time more brands took notes.
We don’t need more rainbow logos. We need spaces. Real ones. That serve real communities. That offers a sweaty dancefloor, a toilet mirror to cry in, or just a chair where you don’t have to explain who you are.
Ella put it perfectly:
“As government policies try to quiet us or deny our existence, we need spaces to enjoy that feel safe and communal and uplifting.”
So this year, if you’re scrolling past another glitter-filled ad that says absolutely nothing, pause and head over to @damsonmadder instead. Check out their Pride series and learn about the venues still standing. And if you’re lucky enough to still have a queer space near you… Go. Show up. Buy the drink. Tip the drag queen. Stay late.
Happy Pride,
Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
