Pride is a time to honour self-expression, celebrate love in all its forms, and uplift the voices and stories that continue to shape 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
At Graydon Skincare, we believe in showing up—not just with words, but with meaningful action. From the beginning, this brand has been rooted in care, not only for people’s skin but for the people themselves. Supporting inclusive spaces where everyone feels seen, safe, and empowered is a core part of that mission.
This Pride, we’re proud to support 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, a Toronto-based organization doing vital work to serve, support, and advocate for 2-Spirit people in Ontario.
As part of our commitment, we’ll be donating $1 from every Intimacy Oil sold—not just during June, but all of July and August too—to help fund their programs and services.
However you’re celebrating this month, I hope you’ll join us in honouring Pride with purpose.
Why We’re Showing Our Support
In the early days of finding my voice, I was lucky to be welcomed into a vibrant community of queer and feminist individuals who changed the way I saw the world. That experience became a turning point in how I understood allyship—not as a label, but as an ongoing practice rooted in listening, learning, and showing up.
Hearing their stories—of joy, struggle, creativity, and resistance—was a privilege that deeply shaped me. It expanded my sense of what’s possible, both for myself and for the kind of world we can build together when we lead with empathy and stand in solidarity.
Our current political climate has not been kind to those who express their sexuality and gender differently from “the norm”. Queer, nonbinary, trans, and 2-Spirit communities have been under attack, and supporting and advocating for them—whether as an ally or as part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community—is more important than ever.
I believe self care is a holistic practice. To me, it includes skincare, but for many others, especially 2-Spirit people, it means things like being part of a community, mental health support, access to culturally-aligned healthcare, and the opportunity to take part in and celebrate your culture.
That’s why I think work being done by 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations is so phenomenal.
About 2-Spirited People of the First Nations
What Does “Two-Spirit” Mean?
Before I dive into this great organization, I thought it might be helpful to clarify what “2-Spirit” means for those who aren’t familiar with the term.
To quote The Canadian Encyclopedia, “Two-Spirit refers to a person who embodies both a masculine and feminine spirit.” The term eventually developed to refer to Indigenous people within the LGBTQ community, and can be used by Indigenous people to “describe their gender, sexual, and spiritual identity.”
2-Spirited People of the First Nations is dedicated to building “a strong, healthy, and self-determining 2-Spirit community in Ontario where 2-Spirit peoples live with pride in their Indigenous heritages, values and roles in our communities.” Their focus is also on supporting their community’s emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, particularly for those who are living with or at risk of HIV, hepatitis C, and related co-infections.
The organization runs a number of phenomenal community events, including an annual 2-Spirit pow wow and recurring events like beading activities, annishinaabemowin language classes, and plant medicine workshops to foster culture and build community.
They also have an Indigenous-led unit of the Toronto Community Crisis Service, a community-based response alternative to police enforcement for people in crisis. The TCCS’s goal is to offer a “community-based, client centred, trauma-informed response to non-emergency crisis calls and wellness checks.” The TCCS provides support from a variety of perspectives: crisis intervention, primary care, harm reduction, basic life needs, mental health support, and more.
The 2-Spirited People of the First Nations also have a number of support systems in place for those living with HIV/AIDS, called the Positive Living programs, offering many of the supports listed above while also helping individuals access traditionally-aligned healthcare to treat HIV/AIDS, with the goal of eliminating AIDS (because undetectable = untransmittable!)
Lastly, 2-Spirited People of the First Nations offer bursaries to those in their community, for everything from pursuing education or receiving HIV treatment to buying yourself something you wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.
Why Intimacy Oil
The idea for Intimacy Oil started with a need in my own life for self care and healing. When I was dreaming up this body serum, I was called back to a time in my life where I was deeply struggling with my body image and an eating disorder. It made something as simple as putting on a body lotion difficult, even when I’d made the commitment to myself—after finding my confidence through a community of wellness-oriented people—to create a more positive relationship with my body.
I didn’t like touching or feeling my hands on my body or the residue that many lotions and oils leave on your skin—but I wanted to like it. That’s where the idea for Intimacy Oil came from: a desire for a body product that felt good to use and fostered a better intimacy between you and your body.
That idea of receiving care that meets you where you’re at is deeply valuable, so Intimacy Oil felt like the right match for an organization so dedicated to personalized support and meeting the real needs of people in their community.
Plus, Intimacy Oil has a lightweight, serum-like consistency that absorbs quickly into the skin but still feels ultra nourishing. Formulated with antioxidant and chamazulene-rich active botanicals, Intimacy Oil hydrates, protects from environmental factors, tones, and soothes your skin.
Intimacy Oil is multipurpose—you can use it on wet or dry skin, and as a body, massage, hair, shaving, or even cuticle oil! It’s also calming for sensitive skin, making it perfect for everyone, everywhere.
$1 from every bottle of Intimacy Oil sold during June, July, and August goes to the 2-Spirited People of the First Nations.
