June is LGBTQ Pride Month. And to celebrate, Apple has launched two new rainbow-hued bands for Apple Watch — despite the fact that many Pride events have been canceled this year due to the ongoing pandemic. The bands work with all versions of Apple Watch.
First up, the Apple Pride Watch Pride Edition Sport Band has a vertical stripe rainbow design, reflective of the rainbow flag that has been used as a symbol of LGBTQ pride and activism for decades. It looks similar to the brand’s Pride-themed bands that were originally released in 2016.
The product description says the color strips are die-cut and compression-molded, which results in variations that make each band unique.
It’s priced at $49.00 and comes in two sizes: 40mm (which also works with 38 mm watches) and 44 mm (which also works with 42 mm watches).
There’s also the Apple Watch Nike Pride Edition Sport Band, which comes in the same sizes and is also priced at $49.
“Made from a custom high-performance fluoroelastomer with compression-molded perforations for breathability, the Nike Sport Band is durable and strong, yet surprisingly soft,” reads the product description. “The smooth, dense material drapes elegantly across your wrist and feels comfortable next to your skin. An innovative pin-and-tuck closure ensures a clean fit.”
The bands were supposed to match new rainbow watch faces that were just released with watchOS 6.2.5 featuring rainbow designs, but 9to5Mac reports people are having trouble finding them after updating their smartwatch’s operating system.
Apple supports a number of LGBTQ advocacy organizations with these Pride products, including Encircle, Gender Spectrum, PFLAG, SMYAL, The National Center for Transgender Equality, The Trevor Project, Gender Spectrum ILGA World and GLSEN.
Elle Smith is a 2020 high school graduate of Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, Texas, and has been named Student Advocate of the Year by GLSEN, an LGBTQ education organization that works to end discrimination, harassment and bullying in schools.
Smith restarted her school’s Genders and Sexualities Alliance Club to support LGBTQ students and leads it virtually now through weekly meetings. Their commitment to community and advocacy earned them the award.
“Pride season is a time where it feels safer to be authentic,” Smith (pictured above) said in a statement. “It’s the ideal world where you’re able to be safe, you’re able to be yourself, and you’re able to be loud. I think everyone who’s involved with LGBTQ organizations has done a great job shifting our programs and outreach to a virtual format. We want to keep our momentum going and make sure everyone has access to resources just as they would have pre-COVID.”
These cute watch bands are the perfect way to support Pride! Will you grab one?
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for additional stories.
