The new Starbucks ad about a trans man changing his name has melted the internet
Starbucks has launched a new campaign to raise funds for the trans youth charity Mermaids. (Starbucks)
An advert by coffee giant Starbucks depicting a trans man using his name for the first time has melted the internet since premiering yesterday.
The #whatsyourname advert, which will help raise at least £100,000 for trans kids charity Mermaids, was shown for the first time on Channel 4 on February 2.
In the ad, a young trans man named James goes through several situations in which his deadname is used.
Being called for his appointment at a doctor’s surgery, receiving a parcel, meeting his dad’s friends – the jarring sensation of being called ‘Jemma’ is clear.
Finally, at the end of the one-minute ad, James goes to Starbucks.
There, he says his name is James and we see it scrawled on a cup and then called out by the barista.
It’s an experience many trans people will recognise – and it clearly resonated, with people online flooding Twitter with praise and emotion.
“This is a lovely, authentic story. It will mean a lot to the trans kids who see this. Thank you,” said Dad Trans, a popular Twitter account run by the dad of a trans child.
Amanda Jetté Knox, a bestselling author and parent of a trans daughter, said, “This is lovely. Thank you for supporting trans kids.”
Wonderful ad ❤️
Our team will be drinking lots of coffee over the next month!
— GenderGP (@GenderGP) February 2, 2020
They’ve made so many people cry today. ♥️
Job well done! Hope to see more companies take this inclusive approach this year
— Leather Citizen X (@xma1e) February 3, 2020
The groundbreaking advert won Channel 4’s Diversity in Advertising competition. The award includes £1m worth of commercial airtime.
Starbucks pledged to raise a minimum of £100k for trans kids charity Mermaids, by selling cookies shaped and decorated like a mermaid’s tail.
Today is the first day these cookies have been available, and people have been sharing pictures of themselves buying the cookies and supporting young trans folks.
Gahhhh YOU CAN BUY STARBUCKS MERMAID COOKIES IN THE UK TO SUPPORT TRANS KIDS THROUGH @Mermaids_Gender AND I CANT WITH THIS GOODNESS ?❤ https://t.co/aFhwwf5559
— Amanda Jetté Knox (@MavenOfMayhem) February 3, 2020
Starbucks are selling a Mermaid cookie to support a Trans and Gender Diverse helpline. Say what you will about corporations but sometimes they do things right even if it’s for clout. 50p of every sale goes to help our trans and non-binary family. pic.twitter.com/wy3z0fPlBk
— ?Kyle (@thegaycomicsguy) February 3, 2020
The mermaids cookie is hand decorated and 50p from each sale goes to supporting the Mermaids helpline.
