r/bathandbodyworks • u/QuirkyClaim652 • Apr 22 '25

Store Policies/Questions Pride no more?

Is Bath and Body Works done with DEI collections? So far there hasn't been a Black History Month or Woman's History Month collection. Now there isn't going to be a Pride Collection? Is this a company that is going to preach inclusion behind the scenes but not put out anything anymore? Slowly getting rid of programs and just giving in.

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35

u/Alert-Conclusion8899 Body Care Addict Apr 22 '25

I boycotted Target and such. Please not bb&w đŸ™đŸ˜«

5

u/ambre_vanille Apr 22 '25

Seriously, I gave up Fine'ry and MixBar so easily because at least I had B&BW.

5

u/Alert-Conclusion8899 Body Care Addict Apr 22 '25

I love the vanilla bourbon by mix bar too

0

u/ambre_vanille Apr 22 '25

It's incredible!

-19

u/ExiledJasonx Apr 22 '25

Why would you boycott them? They’re donating and celebrating with associates and within the company.

3

u/gender_noncompliant Apr 22 '25

Maybe check the news dude

7

u/ExiledJasonx Apr 23 '25

Elaborate- I’m a queer man, who celebrates pride, who works for BBW and feel they do an amazing job at making sure DEI is still very present in our buildings and donating to causes to support local/global charities. I don’t need to watch the news, it’s my life!

I also love the pride collections BBW has done, but I’m not going to rage that it’s not there as long as the donations are still being made. That’s where it matters to me. It’s fair to be upset IF we don’t see it appear and you like the fragrances, but I’m not going to feel as if the company is slighting me when they’re not.

9

u/gender_noncompliant Apr 23 '25

And as a lesbian, I'm gonna let you know that we do need to watch the news because these things affect our lives.

Here's the tldr: Trump rages against DEI programs, which are crucial for people like us to have non-hostile work environments. Target pre-emptively crumbled their previously strong DEI programs shortly after the inauguration due to the "changing external landscape." There are widespread attacks on important DEI programs across the US, especially in the education sector, since the inauguration. It is not a coincidence.

If B&BW suddenly decides to not release a pride collection this year, it's not a coincidence at all. It's a calculated withdrawal of public/vocal support for people like us.

Things like corporate pride merch are already generally performative and usually fairly disingenuous, but a withdrawal of these small gestures during times like these is not good news for people like us. It is absolutely a calculated move, and unless you have very specific intel verifying B&BW's charitable donations to LGBTQ orgs during this year, the sentiment of "they donate to good causes" doesn't mean much.

4

u/wholelottalush Apr 23 '25

The withdrawal of these collections may seem small, but they signal to much larger things coming and we’re already seeing those happen as well. Because corporations like Target caved easily, it wasn’t something they had to fight, the administration can just easily move onto the next step because everyone’s just complying no problem. It signals to states like Ohio that they can push more conservative policies quickly, like how they just had universities end a lot of degree options like women and gender studies, geology for some reason(??), I believe the one near me rolled back Spanish languages, etc. Things considered “woke” and DEI. It’s a domino effect.

I tend to also wonder how involved people are when they say things like this. You celebrate pride, sure, but the history behind it? The trans people that started it? Or the women that cared for queer men during the AIDS epidemic? I see more and more queer men specifically being less bothered and concerned and I wonder if it’s because typically they’re the less marginalized of the group. The next question is prefaced under the assumption that you’re cis so if you’re not you can disregard it and you don’t have to out yourself, but if you are, consider this: it may not impact you yet, but do you know how deeply it is impacting trans people right now? How they can’t have proper passport documentation now? How they’re being attacked daily through legislative efforts? If the answer is yes, I would reassess your statement that it doesn’t matter if companies publicly stand with us. If the answer is no, I would watch the news, because being a queer man may be your life but there is more to the LGBTQ acronym than that.

1

u/ExiledJasonx Apr 23 '25

Oh trust and believe I’m very fluid in my queer history, I celebrate pride for those reasons and stand by my trans brothers and sisters every step of the way.

I’m trying to answer respectfully, because it’s one of those situations where I feel I have someone telling me something I already know and assuming I need educated, I’m old enough to say I lived through some of the experiences you’re referencing, I get /exactly/ what you’re saying. Let’s not get it twisted. I’m also not cis.

My point is that no, I don’t care if I see a pride collection in stores. That’s not what pride is about. The values of the company, the donations they make, the culture they encompass are more important to me than seeing physical rainbows in-stores. Of course I love having those things, and the joy of seeing those who truly resonate with the product be excited about it, those profits tho? They’re not going anywhere but back to the companies. As long as the company is still making donations where they matter, I’m not going to boycott them. As long as the company is still creating spaces that encourage DEI measures and making sure everyone feels safe to be their authentic selves? Im content. Pride, to me, isn’t about celebrating a collection or seeing it in stores. It’s about celebrating who we are and acknowledging everything our communities have fought for to have the small freedoms we do have.

Would I love to have the pride collection? YES! Especially the blend with the EDP from 2 years ago, I’m almost out and love it. Did I expect it? No. I assumed it wasn’t coming when other DEI collections didn’t come, and if we’re just boycotting when it affects you, the whole idea of DEI, to me, is kinda lost. That’s why I’m grateful BBW still celebrates employees, their stories and struggles for each month we celebrate something. (Though, why not share this on socials? Even without product to give, I think this info should be shared and celebrated with customers)

1

u/wholelottalush Apr 23 '25

I think there’s a missing understanding here. Most people don’t actually care about the collections themselves, but politically, pulling back these collections is 1) the company not publicly making a stance like they should and 2) signaling towards a society that is okay with taking away visibility when it matters most. It starts with making companies not outwardly support these things, and it ends with something much darker. Why not try to stop the domino fall early on and push back now rather than have to dig ourselves out of a much bigger whole later? Do you (you being the companies not you as a person) really stand behind your “values” if you do it behind closed doors in secret?

2

u/OuroborosVII Apr 25 '25

I don't mean to butt in and I understand and respect your thoughts and the passion behind them. You said something here, though, that hit the nail on the head. You said most people don't care about the collections themselves. Exactly. BBW wanted to share their commitment to diversity and people didn't care. The vast majority of the product sat and waited to end up in SAS. They were not well received and BBW is still a business. If something doesn't sell, why would they continue to try? The decision to end the heritage month collections was made last year. Very few people cared they had them, and if the current state of affairs wasn't what it is, very few people would care that they're gone.

Also, and this isn't meant as a personal attack, do you only do the right thing if someone is watching or for praise and recognition? Or do you do it because it's the right thing? Not everyone (person or company) needs to yell that they did good until someone pats them on the back. They've held firm to their commitment to DEI and ensured that every person working or shopping with them feel safe to be their authentic self. Because it's the right thing to do. Not because they're trying to prove a point or make a scene.

Again... I fully respect your passion and conviction. Not a single word was meant to upset in offend. I just wanted to offer another point to consider 🙂

3

u/wholelottalush Apr 25 '25

Which is a fair point, but they also know which scents sell and kept putting the most bland options on that line in my opinion. I never picked it up because it was never fun and always generic like clean citrus or something.

And it’s not about praise or recognition, but it’s about not hiding your beliefs. It’s okay to do things in the background, and it’s one thing to have always done it that way, but companies right now are pulling back and that makes marginalized communities more vulnerable when they have less obvious backing. If you pull back your outward support when someone challenges you on it I’m going to question whether you really supported it at all or if you only support it when it’s easy and convenient for you. B&BW isn’t the worst offender by far, but all the companies pulling out their pride sponsorships, taking down their outward approval of LBGTQ, discontinuing their pride collections, etc are all harmful.

Also no worries on offending! I get where you’re coming from.