Wake Up to Makeup with Pride

For many people in the community, self-expression through the use of colorful makeup is used as a tool to represent all of the beautiful sub-groups of the LGBTQ flag. From sparkling eye shadows, bold lips, and a beat to the gods, makeup plays a vital role in representation.

One year after the 1969 Stonewall uprising, the first-ever Pride parade was held in honor and affirmation of those who are a part of the LGBTQ community. The historic event, which was led by BIPOC trans women, occurred after violent police raids tore through the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village. Fifty year later, we continue to honor the memory of our mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers who are a part of the community; honor them we shall.

As of the beginning of this month, The Makeup Museum of New York has been hosting a digital campaign on their Instagram to pay homage to the beautiful queer people and the makeup they use to express themselves.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5AVdFHjiZ/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Co-founder and executive director of the museum Doreen Bloch says the “focus of the digital campaign is highlighting LGBTQ+ beauty pioneers.” She continues, “It’s less, necessarily, about specific looks and more about showcasing how critical LGBTQ+ people are to the [makeup] industry.”

The first posts within the campaign are intimate images of Kevin Aucoi, capturing his role as a makeup artist to celebrities and featuring his star studded clientele.

The second post is a wonderful look back at the beauty and style of the courageous Marsha P. Johnson, her inspiration for her amazing looks, and being true to herself.

The 20-plus posts of the campaign will continue to grow until the end of this month. Though that is not all; every post with #makeupwithpride that receives a like, comment, or both the Makeup Museum will donate $1 to The Trevor Project, which is focused on suicide prevention of LGBTQ youth.  The museum’s Instagram will also play host to a series of insta-live sessions with queer and nonbinary influencers.

If you haven’t already, check out the amazing history and rumination of beauty via #makeupwithpride as well as on the Makeup Museum’s Instagram. With thousands of years of history, both the queer and beauty pioneers are hand-in-hand in changing the way we see ourselves and the way we deserve to feel.

If you are unsure how to celebrate Pride month in this crazy time, don’t feel down: don’t breakup, makeup with pride.