In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Levi’s® is spotlighting three artists who are creating their own legacies in music, Hollywood, and sports. While their Asian American identities are a common thread, what unites these creatives are their commitments to authenticity, supporting their community, and being a beacon of light for others following in their footsteps.

At Levi’s®, authentic self-expression is behind everything we do—our clothes, for sure, but also our values. So for this year’s Pride campaign, we set out to champion self-expression with a greater purpose. We wanted to celebrate how being able to show up as yourself—in the ways you dress, act, love, create, make people feel—empowers you to show up for others. And you’ll find a beautiful demonstration of that truth in the lives of our Pride 2023 cast: six inspiring LGBTQ+ individuals from around the globe and across the spectrum of self-expression.

Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have played an immense role in the shaping of American society, lending beauty and color by suffusing it with their rich histories and exuberant cultures. To commemorate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month during the 150th anniversary of the Levi’s® 501®, we’re collaborating with four artists across the country to transform secondhand 501® jeans into wearable works of art that celebrate their unique heritage and experiences.

Black culture and creativity are inherently intertwined. From iconography that’s fueled world-shifting movements to art collectives that have birthed cultural reckonings, creatives have always been at the center of storytelling around the Black experience in America. In the spirit of celebrating the work and diverse experiences of these creatives, we’re partnering with three artists in three cities that have shaped Black history to explore their unique journeys and how having the city as their backdrop has allowed them to blossom.

Heritage is defined as one’s inheritance — what gets passed down from generation to generation. That inheritance is a crucial part of a person’s backstory, especially in a place like the United States that is undoubtedly made better by its diverse cultures and perspectives. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, get to know six creatives who are proudly bridging the gap between the past, present and future.

Courtney Barnett is an Australian singer, songwriter and musician who is finally living her dream through her latest project: Here and There Festival.

More is more, identity is exponential, and visibility is essential. For this year’s AAPI Heritage Month, four Levi’s® ambassadors are re-coding the stereotype, building layers into their heritage, and honoring it all through their customized Levi’s® 501® jeans, with the help of our own Levi’s® Tailors.

Activism doesn’t just look like leading a protest. It’s that low-fi video that makes you feel a little less alone in the world. It’s serving the community through social work. It’s sharing your story. It looks like each and every day you make the choice to dress true to your authentic self in a world that demands conformity. This Pride season, we pay homage to the activists—past, present and future—fighting for queer liberation and equal rights. And at the very forefront is living ancestor Cecilia Chung.

Sef Cavendish is an autistic writer, survivor of behavior conversion therapy, student and critic of Psychology and self-described gender anarchist encouraging folks to think and act beyond the oppressive systems that make up our world, whether they’re harmful narratives we’ve internalized or power structures from which we benefit.

Activism doesn’t just look like leading a protest. It’s serving your community through social work. Or that low-fi video that makes you feel a little less alone in the world. It’s Black, queer multimedia artist Corinne Smith, also known fondly by the moniker Critty Smitty. Alchemizing paint into moving explorations of joy in the midst of grief and loss, Corinne is a testament to the power of art as activism.

One advocate on the forefront is Alex Locust, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and unapologetic glamputee spreading the word about disability justice one workshop at a time.

We know getting involved might seem a little intimidating, so we sat down with five leaders in the LGBTQIA+ community to hear about how they’re approaching activism in their own unique ways.