San Francisco and Washington, DC – June 5, 2017 – Gap Inc. and the United Nations Foundation today announced a new partnership to raise awareness and funds for UN Free & Equal, a program of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to promote equal rights and fair treatment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people globally. Building on a joint effort last year to raise awareness of the Free & Equal campaign, the 2017 partnership marks Pride Month and includes two main components:
- As part of Gap Inc.’s #WearYourPride campaign, 30 percent of net sales from Gap brand’s Pride t-shirts will be donated to the UN Foundation to benefit Free & Equal. T-shirts will be available online as well as select stores in the U.S., Canada, France, Hong Kong, Italy, Taiwan and the U.K. Pride t-shirts will be available through October while supplies last.
- Additionally, Gap Inc. brands will offer special, Pride-themed eGift Cards this year. For every Pride eGift Card sold during the month of June, $2 will be donated to the UN Foundation in support of Free & Equal up to $25,000. Pride eGift Cards will be available from Athleta, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory, Gap, Gap Factory and Old Navy.
“We’re proud to partner with the UN Foundation in support of UN Free & Equal,” said Roy L. Hunt, SVP of Gap Inc.’s global franchise operation and executive sponsor of the company’s partnership with UN Foundation. “For more than 47 years, Gap Inc. has stood for equality for all, and we’re pleased to give our customers a way to express their support and celebrate Pride. We are committed to doing our part to bring people together and work towards a brighter future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive as equals.”
UN Foundation COO Richard S. Parnell added, “The UN Foundation is fully committed to the values embodied in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’ Working with Gap Inc. means that message will reach thousands of the company’s customers, giving them a way to celebrate their own commitment to human rights while also supporting those working for LGBTI equality around the world through the Free & Equal campaign.”
UN Free and Equal Campaign Director Charles Radcliffe at the UN Human Rights Office welcomed Gap's support for the campaign and called on the corporate sector more broadly to play a bigger role in tackling human rights abuses, including discrimination against LGBTI people.
“The UN Free & Equal campaign is working globally to open people's hearts and minds and promote greater respect for the rights of LGBTI people,” said Radcliffe. “With Gap Inc.'s help and the support of its customers, the campaign will this year reach more people in more countries than ever before.”
He continued, “As Pride month begins, we are calling on companies around the world to join us in standing up for equal rights and fair treatment for LGBTI people everywhere. Business has a stake in diversity and inclusion, and a vital role to play in tackling discrimination -- both in the workplace and in communities worldwide.”
About Gap Inc.
Gap Inc. is a leading global retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, Intermix and Weddington Way brands. Fiscal year 2016 net sales were $15.5 billion. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase in more than 90 countries worldwide through about 3,200 company-operated stores, over 450 franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.
About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation builds public-private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and broadens support for the United Nations through advocacy and public outreach. Through innovative campaigns and initiatives, the Foundation connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The Foundation was created in 1998 as a U.S. public charity by entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner and now is supported by philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual donors. Learn more at: www.unfoundation.org.
About UN Free and Equal
UN Free and Equal is an unprecedented global public information campaign aimed at promoting equal rights and fair treatment of LGBTI people. It was launched by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in July 2013 and has since reached over a billion people globally through traditional and social media as well as generated a stream of widely shared materials – including powerful videos, impactful graphics and plain-language fact sheets. For more information please visit www.unfe.org.
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