The LGBTQ+ campaign Include Mx is calling out big brands which adopt the colours of Pride in June, but exclude non-binary customers and service users by failing to include the gender-neutral title on their forms.
Tweeting from @Include_Mx, Include Mx is tagging major brands which have updated their logos and brands to incorporate the colours of the Pride flag, and stating whether they include Mx on their forms.
Tom Pashby, founder of Include Mx, said: “The campaign was started because I was frustrated with having to misgender myself to buy everyday basics. Some companies were already leading the way by either getting rid of titles altogether, by having a blank box for titles, or by including Mx.
“Companies which force people to choose a title and don’t include Mx are alienating customers like me. When those same companies adopt the Pride colours, it reeks of hypocrisy – pretending to be queer inclusive while excluding a whole group of LGBTQ+ people.”
The campaign was started by journalist and LGBTQ+ campaigner Tom Pashby (they/them) in late 2020 and has successfully encouraged brands such as River Island, Next and Wilko to add Mx to their forms.
Include Mx is a micro campaign celebrating organisations which include the gender-neutral title Mx as a title on their forms, and to encourage others to adopt Mx. Over 12,000 people signed a petition in summer 2022 calling on Argos to add Mx to their forms. As of the morning of 1 June 2023, Argos had changed the logo on their website to the Pride colours and still had not added Mx.
Brands are incorporating the colours of the #Pride flag during June, but how many are inclusive towards groups such as non-binary people who use the gender-neutral title Mx?
Argos still hasn’t added it to their forms #IncludeMx #Pride2023 pic.twitter.com/6YRsmmsdY2
— Include Mx (@Include_Mx) June 1, 2023