.gay Community Spotlight on The Phluid Phoundation

In this week's .gay community spotlight, we bring you an interview with Rob Smith, the Founder and CEO of The Phluid Project — a gender-free fashion line that recently launched The Phluid Phoundation.

Rooted in LGBTQ+ movements, The Phluid Phoundation establishes partnerships with grassroots nonprofits across the country to ensure that corporate resources reach leadership across communities of color, prioritizing Transgender and gender nonconforming people.

Read the interview below to learn more about how The Phluid Phoundation is changing the landscape for LGBTQ+ communities.

How would you describe your organization’s mission?

Our mission is “to challenge boundaries with humanity”. Phluid is a gender-free fashion brand grounded in values and inclusion and existing at the intersection of community, activism and education.

Tell us about how that mission is brought to life through your work?

By creating The Phluid Project, I’ve immersed myself in an adventure of creating and exploring uncharted territories.  I’ve chosen to unlearn in order to relearn. I went off into this wilderness with curiosity, parked both judgment and ego and rooted myself in honest connection, social justice and a deep interest in the desires of our youth. This commitment has created The Phluid Project, a gender free fashion brand grounded in activism, community and education. Through The Phluid Project, I've had the great fortune of getting to know humans of every generation, gender, race, religion, and socioeconomic status, better understanding the reality of the limiting labels society prescribes to us. Creating the space between the binaries allows each of us the curiosity and freedom to truly be our authentic selves. Fueled and inspired by the outlook and philosophy of younger generations, and realizing they want to identify and express in a way which heightens self-empowerment and demand for equality, I am extending The Phluid Project outside of a retail experience. We are a brand with brand extension through licensing, wholesale, pop-up shops, partnerships and collaborations.  We are also an Education and Training vehicle, GET Phluid, helping to facilitate learning about the new generation and the non-binary mindset through gender expansive training. As we continue on our journey, sharing the knowledge we’ve learned over the past two years and helping major companies prepare for this new generation, not only as consumers, but as the newest generation to enter the workforce…I look around and recognize that there is nothing I would rather do with my life.  It is my greatest honor to be a part of this moment in history. I recognize my privilege to be a part of this cultural zeitgeist as we all learn to free ourselves of the past and move toward the future...free to be.

What would happen if your organization suddenly did not exist?

Our existence pushed companies, humans and society forward. We’re not delusional and exclusive in our mission. If we didn’t exist, we’d hope other companies would step up and continue the mission.

What can people do to get involved and help make sure that never happens?

People can leverage their access and ability to influence corporations to support us by carrying our brand, leveraging our education platform and supporting our Phoundation. Each person has an opportunity to become an advocate for positive change. Additionally, buying products from our website and following us on social platforms (and commenting) is easy and appreciated.

Why does LGBTQ+ visibility matter to you?

Visibility means including the entire queer community and the intersection of race, gender, age, body size and ability. We are as diverse as any collective identity.

In your own words, what does “LGBTQ+ safety and support” mean specifically?

To mean this means straight and cis folks shift from being Ally’s to becoming advocates. Listen, learn, and advocate for change.

Who are some of your LGBTQ+ heroes?

Everyone who has the courage to be their authentic selves.

If you could give LGBTQ+ youth one message, what would it be?

You are perfect and deserve love, especially love of self.

Tell us about a time when you felt like the work you do at your organization really mattered or made a difference for the communities you serve?

Last year we launched The Phluid Phoundation, raising nearly $750,000 since June 2021. The Phluid Phoundation is a 501C3 non profit and private foundation. Rooted in LGBTQIA+ movements, we establish partnerships with grassroots non-profits across the country to ensure that corporate resources reach the leaders who need them most and who are best positioned to achieve transformational change. Specifically, the Phoundation raises and distributes funds to services and strategic initiatives led by and for diverse constituencies, prioritizing transgender and gender non-conforming leadership across communities of color. With due diligence, The Phoundation maintains deep relationships with grantees, enabling authentic engagement from our partners.