Telling the world that #GayIsOK

In nearly 70 countries, it's a crime to be gay. In 10 it can cost you your life. In 2015, All Out teamed up with Lush Cosmetics to launch a global campaign to raise awareness around the world about these horrible laws.

We're launching a massive campaign in a few hours with our friends at @LushCosmetics. Can't wait! #GayIsOK

— All Out (@AllOut) 24 June 2015

The campaign aimed at reaching 10 million people with the hashtag #GayIsOK – we blew through that goal in 24 hours – and raising much needed resources for grassroots LGBT groups worldwide.

For the campaign, Lush created a special product called "Love Soap" – a golden bar of soap emblazoned with the hashtag #GayIsOK – and sold it in more than 800 stores around the world.

Thousands joined the campaign by purchasing the Love Soap, and posting selfies on Facebook and Instagram.

SER GAY É OK, SIM! “E se SEU amor fosse ilegal?” Vamos lavar todo o preconceito!... #GayIsOk https://t.co/ZDE3TnYORG pic.twitter.com/ibQyWcpBJi

— Leandra Leal (@leandraleal) 29 June 2015

The campaign was a hit! Lush customers worldwide fell in love with the product. 

In 2016, the campaign won a Shorty Award, which honors the best of social media, in the Hashtag category, and was a finalist in the Social Good Campaign category.

The campaign also won a Bronze Winner of the 5th Annual Lovie Awards, which honors online excellence in the European Internet community.

The campaign also raised an incredible US$425,000 for a “Love Fund” to support organizations fighting for love and equality around the world.

All Out received a grant from the fund to continue our global campaigns, with the huge majority distributed in grants to organizations chosen by a panel that included both Lush and All Out, as well as representatives from the East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative (Uhai) and the Astraea Foundation.

Grantees include amazing organizations like:

• My.Kali (Jordan), a volunteer-based web magazine covering LGBTQI issues.
• Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees (Canada), a group helping relocate LGBT refugees from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to safety.
• The Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative – WHER (Nigeria), the first lesbian organization in Nigeria.
• Somosgay (Paraguay), one of the most prominent LGBT organizations in Latin America.
• Okvir (Bosnia-Herzegovina), an organization that promotes human rights of LGBTQI persons through education, psychology, arts, and technology.

This campaign marks one of the broadest conversations in history about LGBT rights and a significant new source of funding for groups on the frontlines of our movement.

Feeling inspired? Join our ranks as an Equality Champion and help All Out continue to fight for love and equality.