Visible, the Verizon-owned prepaid brand that caters to consumers who prefer to do their transactions digitally, is celebrating Pride month with a 1970s-themed show called “No Straight Answers.”
Hosted by Benito Skinner, aka Benny Drama, the game show format features two teams, The Old Gays and The Young Slays. Clearly, it’s gunning for laughs, but in all seriousness, it’s an effort to foster connections between younger generations and LGBTQ+ elders.
Visible teamed up with SAGE, an organization advocating for older people in the LGBTQ+ community, which is notable because Visible prides itself in connecting really well with Gen Z and Millennials. LGBTQ+ elders is a growing but often overlooked population within the broader LGBTQ+ community, according to SAGE.
But Visible says its wireless phone service is for anyone who’s digitally savvy, so it’s not strictly for the younger generations. “We like to say we’re for the ‘digital generations,’” a spokesperson said.
Verizon isn’t disclosing how much its spending on the campaign, but part of the deal includes a $50,000 donation to support SAGE programs like the SAGE Hotline, which connects LGBTQ+ older people with friendly, trained responders when they need a shoulder to lean on.
"Offering connectivity for all isn't a side project; it's central to our business," said Angie Klein, president of the Verizon Value portfolio of brands, which includes Visible, in a statement. "As a brand that reaches younger generations in droves, we knew we had a unique ability to educate our customers during Pride with 'No Straight Answers.' Visible's support of SAGE and LGBTQ+ elders gets to the heart of why we celebrate Pride: to foster connections and bring awareness to the LGBTQ+ community's resilience and ability to overcome challenges."
Visible pledged to maintain its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community regardless of what's going on in the broader retail environment. The prepaid carrier's Pride celebration comes after upheaval at Target and other retailers that became the subject of boycotts for their Pride-themed merchandise.
“Since its inception, Visible has never wavered in its support of the LGBTQ+ community and has partnered with organizations including PFLAG, GLAAD, Trans Lifeline, SAGE, and the It Gets Better Project,” the company told Fierce. “We will always maintain our commitment to uplifting the voices and stories of people within the LGBTQ+ community, and we will continue to work with our impact partners to identify the best moments throughout the year to do so.”
The Visible spokesperson also said its support of LGBTQ+ extends well beyond the month of June.
“Visible is committed to celebrating and amplifying the voices and stories of LGBTQ+ community members, and this year’s campaign builds on years of efforts to stand with the community,” the spokesperson said.
In addition, Visible continues its work with Trans Lifeline, a trans-led organization that connects trans people to community resources.
“Our work with SAGE this year is the latest announcement representing our continued support for the LGBTQ+ community, and we are actively planning additional ways we can sustain our support for LGBTQ+ elders with SAGE beyond Pride month,” Visible stated.