Celebrating Love Stories
Together with British Vogue, in honour of Pride Month, we’re celebrating love in every form with stories from LGBTQIA+ communities
“Everything I’ve done has come out of love—for my family, for my friends, for who I am. I think we all want to make a good life for ourselves and our loved ones, to be happy and free to express who we are. That’s the same all over the world.”
CHOSEN FAMILY
Ebun Sodipo & Chloe Filani
She/Her & She/Her
ROMANTIC PARTNERS
Robert Taylor & Tristram Wyatt
He/Him & He/Him
SELF-LOVE
June Lam
He/Him
OUR HISTORY OF SUPPORT
Ralph Lauren and The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation have been proud supporters of LGBTQIA+ communities for more than 30 years
1990
Over the past three decades, Ralph Lauren and The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation have invested in LGBTQIA+ communities through support of the Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), amfAR, AIDS Walk New York, God’s Love We Deliver, and the Elton John AIDS Foundation
Seventh on Sale
With this inaugural event in 1990, co-chairs Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan and other fashion industry leaders began fundraising for the New York City AIDS Fund to benefit HIV/AIDS organisations
AIDS Walk New York
Ralph Lauren Corporation and The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation are proud to be one of the longest-standing sponsors of the AIDS Walk New York
2006
Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI)
Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) is the oldest LGBTQIA+ youth–serving organisation in the US. In 2006, Ralph Lauren employees began volunteering at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, serving dinner, tutoring, and acting as role models to LGBTQIA+ youth. For more than 15 years, The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation has partnered with the organisation on Café HMI, which addresses hunger and food insecurity through its meal programme. Café HMI functions at the heart of the organisation —giving LGBTQIA+ youth a chance to be a part of an affirming community while also receiving compassionate care
2008/ 2009
Youth from the HMI programmes participated in Ralph Lauren Corporation’s Polo Fashion School programme. A group of teens worked over a two-semester period with Ralph Lauren designers, merchandisers, and retail executives to create four evening gowns and a tote bag, which was sold in select Ralph Lauren stores and online
2015
The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation helped support the establishment of the New York City AIDS Memorial, a tribute to the 100,000+ New Yorkers who have died from AIDS and the community that has shared their grief
2020
The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation sponsored an immersive exhibition at the New York City AIDS Memorial: Hear Me: Voices of the Epidemic, an original, open-space, experiential sound- and light-based installation, in December 1–31, 2020. Subsequent memorial exhibits were sponsored in 2022 and 2023
2021
In 2019, Ralph Lauren Corporation began partnering with Stonewall Community Foundation as the beneficiary of our Pride capsule. Proceeds were used in 2020 and 2021 to keep vital nonprofits afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, invest in healing justice for LGBTQIA+ nonprofits led by people of colour across the country and put cash directly in the hands of LGBTQIA+ individuals
2022
For the third sequential year, the Ralph Lauren Corporation proudly received a 100% rating on our infrastructure for LGBTQIA+ equality in the workplace from the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQIA+ advocacy group in the United States
2023
For the fifth consecutive year, Ralph Lauren is proud to continue our partnership with Stonewall Community Foundation working to support LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide. Grantees that have benefited directly from our donations include UK Black Pride, Outright International, and Out My Closet, among others
Love in Every Form
With a shared goal of elevating and championing diverse voices within LGBTQIA+ communities, we’ve partnered with British Vogue to celebrate the beautiful love stories of five LGBTQIA+ individuals
One of the things I find unique about us as Black trans women is that we definitely give each other grace. We understand the nuances of our humanity in a way that other people don’t.” —Chloe & Ebun
CHOSEN FAMILY
Ebun Sodipo &
Chloe Filani
She/Her & She/Her
As artists of Nigerian descent and women of trans experience, Chloe and Ebun draw many similarities. Through their creative collaborations and chosen bond of sisterhood, they share a humanity of grace and understanding. One not so easily found in the world.
When we get to tell the intimate, authentic stories of queer lives, it gives other people an opportunity to see the full humanity of queer folk and to understand how much we have in common.” —Robert Taylor
ROMANTIC PARTNERS
Robert Taylor &
Tristram Wyatt
He/Him & He/Him
Tristram and Robert met in 1994. Coming from two different worlds—one, a scientist and climate activist, the other ex-military, a trained barrister, and now a portrait photographer—they’ve spent their years together exploring and finding joy in the unexpected ways their interests overlap
A big part of arriving at self-love has been being receptive to the abundance of love coming from my community and coming from partners and platonic friends.” —June Lam
SELF-LOVE
June Lam
He/Him
From researching his familial history as a first-generation immigrant to his trans experience and work as an artist and creative, June Lam’s self-love practice is based in present-moment-focused meditation. Taking time to focus on himself offers a generous, open invitation for others to do the same
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Timeless by Design
The Ralph Lauren world aims to create with intent, protect the environment and champion better lives through our brand commitments, including Timeless by Design, the Live On promise, Ralph Lauren Pink Pony and more