How to Spot Fake LGBTQ+ Allies During Pride Month Using Public Info Tools



Pride Month is when many brands and public figures show support for the LGBTQ+ community, but that support isn’t always real. A 2024 GLAAD study on Visibility Perceptions in Advertising found that while 90% of advertising decision-makers believe LGBTQ+ representation is important, many limit their efforts to Pride Month only.

Fake allies can waste your trust, distort public perception, and use the moment for clout or sales. But with a few simple tools, you can check whether their support is real or staged.

What Fake Allyship Looks Like

Some accounts go all-in on Pride for a few weeks and then disappear. Others change their logo to a rainbow, post once about "love is love," and never mention LGBTQ+ support again. It can be hard to know who's real and who's pretending.

Signs Someone Might Be a Performative Ally

  • Suddenly posts Pride content but has no history of LGBTQ+ advocacy
  • Sells rainbow-themed products without donating or supporting community causes
  • Stays silent during anti-LGBTQ+ legislation or hate events
  • Deletes Pride posts after June ends
  • Has no clear policies about inclusion in their business

These are not guarantees someone is a performative ally. But they're worth checking.

Morning Consult surveys show widespread skepticism about brands’ social cause efforts. In one of their 2023 reports on public attitudes toward 'woke' companies, many respondents said they believed businesses were using social justice language for image rather than impact. That trust gap makes fact-checking even more important.

Fake allyship doesn’t just dilute the message. It can actively harm the community by redirecting attention and resources away from real advocates. Brands that only show up during June often fail to support LGBTQ+ employees, customers, or issues year-round. The problem isn’t visibility—it’s authenticity. Visibility without substance feels hollow, and audiences are starting to notice.

How to Spot Fake LGBTQ+ Allies

Tip 1: Use a Background Check Tool to See Who They Really Are

Some influencers and brand reps hide behind handles and stage names. You can find out more by looking up their name using public information tools like a people search tool and a background check tool.

What to Check:

  • Full name and other known aliases
  • Relatives with their age
  • Contact information (such as phone number with line type)
  • Publicly known addresses or employment history
  • Professional licenses
  • Linked businesses or organizations
This info helps you confirm their identity and dig deeper about their history.

Tip 2: Review Past Behavior and Online History

Don't just judge what someone posts in June. Use basic search and social tools to scroll through their post history.

Things to Look At:

  • Do they consistently support LGBTQ+ topics, or is this a one-time post?
  • Did they speak up during real community struggles?
  • Have they shared, liked, or followed accounts tied to hate groups?
  • Did they rebrand quickly just for Pride?

Tip 3: Check Business Records and Brand Ownership

Some so-called LGBTQ+-owned businesses aren’t really owned by LGBTQ+ people. You can check who’s behind a brand using search info tools such as background checks that show registration data. If you know the owner of a business, it's best to perform a background check.

Where to Look:

  • Using a Background check tool lets you review an individual’s corporate filings, business registrations, entity details, and regulatory status
  • LinkedIn profiles of founders or executives
  • Who-Is data if the company has a website
  • Social Media pages to know more about the life of the owner
This helps confirm whether the company is aligned with what they claim during Pride campaigns.

Tip 4: See if They’re Connected to Real LGBTQ+ Support

It’s easy to post a hashtag. It’s harder to stand up consistently or donate. Use online tools and even old press releases to see what kind of real-world action backs up their posts.

What to Verify:

  • Have they donated to LGBTQ+ causes? If yes, where and how much?
  • Are they sponsoring or attending Pride events?
  • Do they partner with known community organizations?
  • Have they supported anti-trans or anti-queer figures in the past?
If there’s no record of action or support, it might be for show.

Tip 5: Use Reverse Image and Name Lookups for Fake Influencers

Some influencers are totally fake. Stock photo profile pics. Bought followers. Made-up names. If you feel something is off, it probably is.

How to Spot Them:

  • Use reverse image search on their profile photo
  • Check their username or full name in public databases
  • Review engagement—do they get real comments or just bots?
  • Are they tagged in actual events or real-world campaigns?
If nothing checks out, it’s smart to keep your support elsewhere.

What to Do After You Spot a Fake Ally

Once you’ve confirmed someone’s support isn’t real, the next step is figuring out how to respond without making it about conflict. The goal here is to protect your space and help others focus on real advocates.

Step 1: Don’t Boost Their Content

Even if you’re calling them out, sharing their posts helps their reach. Instead, document and summarize what you found with screenshots or summaries.

Step 2: Share Alternatives

Showcase LGBTQ+ people and brands who consistently support the community. Tag them. Comment. Recommend their work.

Step 3: Talk About It Without Getting Pulled Into Drama

Focus on facts. Say what you saw. Let people decide based on real info. Don’t attack—just inform.

Step 4: Unfollow or Remove Your Support

Your attention is valuable. Give it to people who’ve earned it.

Why It’s Worth the Effort

Every Pride Month, corporations flood social media with rainbow content. Not all of them are bad, but not all of them are helping either. Some are using your voice to make money. Others are saying the right words but backing harmful causes behind the scenes.

Spotting fake allies doesn’t just protect your values. Using public information tools helps you filter out the noise and focus on the people and companies doing the real work. And when more people start asking questions and checking receipts, it raises the standard.

Brands notice when consumers stop rewarding shallow behavior. It pressures them to invest in lasting change instead of quick, colorful campaigns. Over time, that can help shift corporate priorities from seasonal marketing to year-round support.

Conclusion

Fake allyship wastes attention and weakens the support that real LGBTQ+ advocates deserve. If someone is posting Pride content, make sure their history, behavior, and impact match their message.

Taking five minutes to fact-check can help you avoid performative allies and focus on those doing the work year-round.



Data Verification

How to Spot Fake LGBTQ+ Allies During Pride Month Using Public Info Tools