Shoppers are sipping on more than flavour this Pride , Brandon Flynn teamed with Pressed to relaunch a Tropical Wellness Smoothie as Tropic Queen, a limited Pride offering that donates a portion of proceeds to GLITS and spotlights the ongoing work of grassroots queer organisations.

Essential Takeaways

  • Limited-time collaboration: Pressed relaunched a Tropical Wellness Smoothie as Tropic Queen for Pride, with proceeds supporting GLITS, a New York nonprofit.
  • Authentic intent: Brandon Flynn uses the campaign to emphasise visibility, community and the everyday work of queer joy alongside activism.
  • Honest tone: Flynn describes his mental-health approach as “depression sprinkled with hope,” favouring simple wellness like phone-free walks.
  • Representation matters , and isn’t enough: Flynn argues visibility must go beyond casting to reshape systems and create lasting pathways for queer artists.
  • Boots-on-the-ground giving: GLITS was chosen for practical, direct services to the most marginalised LGBTQ+ New Yorkers.

Why this Pride smoothie feels different

Pressed’s Tropic Queen isn’t just a seasonal rebrand; it’s built around a visible face who ties the product to purpose. The actor Brandon Flynn , known for 13 Reasons Why and Hellraiser , lent not only his name but his perspective, making the drink less of a gimmick and more of a conversation starter. He describes the campaign’s message as an invitation to show up fully, with all the messy humanity that comes with it. That helps the promotion feel tactile and human, not just colourful marketing.

What Flynn says about visibility and responsibility

Flynn has been out since his teens and says he never stepped back from being himself when fame arrived. He’s candid about the responsibility that comes with being visible, arguing that representation on screen is a beginning, not the finish line. He warns that inclusion within unchanged structures can ring hollow, and he’s focused on leaving a wider, less narrow path for queer artists who follow. It’s a reminder that celebrity partnerships can carry weight when paired with real perspective.

GLITS: why grassroots giving matters

Flynn specifically chose GLITS because the organisation is “boots on the ground,” prioritising direct services over image-led philanthropy. GLITS works with transgender people, those impacted by incarceration, and folks facing housing and healthcare inequities in New York. That emphasis on practical support mirrors a larger Pride trend: donors and brands are being asked to fund real-world services rather than just visibility moments. If you want your spending to matter this month, look for collaborations tied to local, direct-action charities.

Mental health, honesty and everyday care

Pressed’s messaging allowed Flynn to talk about authenticity in a way that feels relatable , he calls his state “depression sprinkled with hope” and describes his self-care as mostly low-tech. Instead of expensive routines, he favours shutting off, going for phone-free walks, and letting thoughts and feet do the work. For anyone thinking about how to participate in Pride meaningfully, Flynn’s approach is a useful nudge: small, repeatable practices can sustain you long after June’s parties have ended.

How to choose Pride collaborations that actually help

When a product promises to give back, do a quick check: who benefits, and how direct is the support? Look for named organisations doing frontline work, like GLITS, and simple, transparent donation mechanics. If you care about representation beyond the label, favour projects where talent speaks about systemic change, not just visibility. Finally, consider whether a brand partners with communities that will continue to benefit after the promotion ends , that’s how short-term hype becomes lasting impact.

It's a small shift , buying a smoothie instead of a different drink , but when paired with thought and honest voices, it can nudge real support to the people who need it.

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