During our meeting with the Rainbow Folks Infinity Group at GSWW, we initially planned to create a T-shirt to be sold in our retail shops for Pride Month 2023. Our goal was to produce a product that celebrated Pride and could be embraced by our community.

However, as we delved deeper into the discussion, we recognized the importance of directly supporting our LGBTQIA youth members in a more meaningful way. We decided that the best approach would be to survey our youth membership to gather their input on what they would like to have to represent them during Pride Month.

The retail department promptly conducted this survey. The results were insightful: our youth members indicated that, instead of having another T-shirt, they would prefer a mascot character based on a local animal and expressed a preference for a more personal and practical product, such as a notebook, over a T-shirt. They believed that a mascot would be more fun and engaging.

Taking these preferences into account, we brainstormed and discussed various options. Ultimately, we decided that the 2023 Pride Month mascot would be this colorful and approachable jellyfish character. This choice not only resonated with our youth members but also beautifully represented our coastal saltwater region. The jellyfish mascot, with its vibrant colors and friendly design, would serve as a symbol of inclusion, diversity, and regional pride for our LGBTQIA community.