Typically, when controversy stirs in the LGBTQIA+ community, it's because its members and their sexualities or gender identities are being misrepresented in a problematic way. But this time, Twitch fans are accusing the platform of using Pride Month as a cash grab to sell merchandise.
This accusation is fairly normal within the LGBTQIA+ community. In the last few years, most companies change their logos to don a rainbow during June or perhaps even sell some rainbow-themed merchandise to market to this specific group. Now, most folks raise a few eyebrows at companies that don't do this sort of thing than those who do. Despite this, many will point out that, much like posting a black square on social media or "#BlackLivesMatter," brandishing a rainbow icon ultimately does very little, if anything, for a marginalized group of people. Now, Twitch is doing more than nothing with its new line of merch, but fans are disconcerted at the way it's being handled.
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Via Amazon, fans can purchase an array of Pride-themed Twitch products. While most fronts of the shirts, jackets, and hoodies are simplistic with a small rainbow heart and "Pride 2021" alongside the Twitch logo, the backs say "We stream as one" several times decorated with the colors of different flags such as the bisexual and trans flags. A $20 shirt has a rainbow Twitch logo on the front with "Unity" written up the side. For each purchase made through the end of Pride Month, Twitch will donate $5 to Trans Lifeline.
The problem, as many fans have pointed out, is that Twitch will cap the money donated to Trans Lifeline at $25,000, and Twitter users are wondering why the company would limit how much money can be donated at all. Other commenters point out that the Amazon-owned platform has been valued at $5 billion dollars, possibly implying that any further money the line accrues will simply go to Twitch's normal revenue instead.
In related news, Twitch has recently met several community demands in the way of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity. This big change was adding a trans tag for streamers to display on their channels and streams, but Twitch also changed the lesbian flag emote after waves of transphobic accusations against the creator of the original pink lesbian flag. It's clear that Twitch is doing more to promote inclusivity for trans folks. Though a $25,000 cap on donations might be limiting for a multi-billion-dollar company, it's a step in the right direction, at the very least.