Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City’s annual Pride March celebrating LGBTQ+ lives and struggles has been canceled, but that doesn’t mean that people can’t still celebrate Pride Month from home.

Obviously, the cancellation of the big march has been disappointing to many in the community, but it isn’t the end of celebrating Pride Month.

There are other ways to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community,, ways that might even be more productive than the march.

One big way to do that is to spend money.

Companies that sell products with the LGBTQ+ flag on them or other associated logos have become controversial in recent years, as some feel that the companies are only doing so to appear to be in support of the community without actually being so.

Fashion brands will sell rainbow purses, stores have Pride flags in their windows for the month of June, even Disney puts out Minnie Mouse ears that have a rainbow bow between the black ears.

Some people claim that businesses do this to market themselves to LGBTQ+ individuals in hopes of bringing in more customers and revenue.

It’s true that just because a company puts out Pride-related products and hangs up a rainbow poster in their storefront doesn’t mean they’re a real ally of the community that cares for its individuals and rights.

However, this doesn’t mean it’s wrong for an ally or a LGBTQ+ person to buy the company’s products — if someone wants a cute rainbow outfit from a big chain store, they shouldn’t feel bad for buying it.

In any case, if people really want to put their money where their mouths are, so to speak, they should buy from companies that support LGBTQ+ causes and treat their LGBTQ+ staff fairly.

And that doesn’t mean a company that just tweets in support of LGBTQ+ rights, but a company or brand that actually donates to real causes that benefit the community. Another way is to shop — online for now, of course — at LGBTQ+ owned businesses.

By patronizing companies that support or are owned by members of the LGBTQ+ community, people are indirectly supporting the exacerbation of LGBTQ+ acceptance and rights.

On top of that, people can show their pride or support without spending much money at all.

People can stream podcasts or songs, read poetry or books or otherwise consume art from LGBTQ+ creators. By giving them views, likes or shares, it can generate ad revenue for the artists or expand their audience. In addition to supporting causes or artists, people can celebrate their own pride by joining virtual Pride celebrations.

Some organizations are attempting to make up for the march’s cancellation by holding events over Zoom where LGBTQ+ communities can meet and talk to each other, as well as holding virtual panels.

At the end of the day, Pride Month is still very much on, regardless of marches being canceled, and no matter how people choose to celebrate.