Father’s Day 2020 is another occasion that feels significantly different than the year prior.
Sunday, the day devoted to dads may conjure up thoughts of George Floyd, a father whose death in police custody ignited nation-wide protests demanding justice and racial equality. Or perhaps, one might think of his daughter Gianna, 6, who, as seen in a clip that has gone viral, understands “Daddy changed the world.”
There are also those still separated from their fathers due to the global health crisis. Some who live close to dad might be staying away to reduce his risk of infection. Others might not feel safe traveling to see pops just yet.
June is also Pride Month, when members of the LGBTQ community come together to recognize the progress they’ve made since the 1969 Stonewall Riots.
Here are some ways to have a meaningful Father’s Day.
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Shop those supporting the Black community
In addition to spending money at Black-owned businesses both large and local, you can also spend money with those dedicating funds to the cause.
Reviewed.com, a part of the USA TODAY Network, has assembled a list of 70 retailers who have pledged contributions to organizations advocating on behalf of Black Americans, and there’s likely a shop with a gift perfect for dad.
Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand announced they would donate “$100 million over the next 10 years to protecting and improving the lives of Black people through actions dedicated towards racial equality, social justice and education.”
Levi Strauss & Co. committed $100,000 donation to the ACLU, and the Levi Strauss Foundation is contributing a $100,000 grant to Live Free, an organization that aims to “to end the scourges of gun violence, mass incarceration, and the criminalization of Black and Brown bodies that tears at the soul of our society.” Patagonia gifted the NAACP Legal Defense Fund $100,000.
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Unmask your philanthropic side
The CDC recommends donning a cloth face covering in public, in addition to maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Subscription-based MaskClub donates a medical grade mask to First Responders Children’s Foundation when one is purchased. MaskClub came about when founder Trevor George wanted to find a mask that he could wear without scaring his 8-month old son. Its Father’s Day collection includes masks for the “Cool Dad” and “King of the grill.”
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. is also doing its part to provide assistance during the pandemic with a program that gives goods to those in need. The company said its Bringing Home Everywhere program will provide $10 million in essential home, infant, and healthcare items to help workers on the frontline and in communities affected by COVID-19.
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Pick up a Pride-worthy page-turner
Perhaps your dad is a bookworm. Then he might enjoy one of 10 titles that celebrate, examine and champion gay lives. The list includes the newest from Glennon Doyle, the inspirational memoir “Untamed,” which tells the story of a woman divorcing her husband, coming out to her family and finding love with Olympic soccer player and now-wife Abby Wambach – and “Once a Girl, Always a Boy,” from Jo Ivester, which charts son Jeremy’s journey from childhood through transition to his emergence as an advocate for the transgender community.
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Binge with Pops for a purpose
Streaming services are supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.
Netflix’s welcome screen looked different on June 10, when it presented audiences with a featured collection titled “More than a Moment.” The collection features 47 titles highlighting “the complex and layered stories about racial injustice and Blackness in America” from Netflix’s original series “Dear White People” to “Malcolm X” and “School Daze.” Hulu shifted two premiere dates, as to not detract from Juneteenth, a June 19 holiday recognizing the end of slavery.
Streaming services also offer numerous LGBTQ-friendly series and movies. Kick up your feet and enjoy Season 5 of “Queer Eye,” in which the Fab Five makeover deserving Philadelphians (Netflix), or learn about trailblazing LGBTQ TV stars like Margaret Cho and Neil Patrick Harris in “Visible: Out on Television” (Apple TV+).
Change the world with a charitable donation
Still thinking your father is hard to shop for? Might we suggest the touching gift of a donation in Dad’s name.
If you’re in need of suggestions, as part of its list of “100 ways you can take action against racism right now,” USA TODAY has included more than 20 causes and organizations – including Communities United Against Police Brutality, ERASE Racism and Black Girls Code – to help make a difference.
Contributing: Rasha Ali, Gary Dinges and Barbara VanDenburgh, USA TODAY and Reviewed Staff
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Father’s Day 2020: Meaningful ideas amid coronavirus, BLM, Pride Month
