Fae Johnstone: 5 Things About Trans Women Featured in Hershey’s Women’s History Month Campaign

• Hershey’s celebrates Women’s History Month with its “Her for She” campaign.
• Transgender activist Fae Johnson is one of five women featured in the campaign.
• #BoycottHersheys started trending on Twitter after the ad went live.

Hershey’s defends the activist fae johnstone after her appearance in the candy company’s Canadian Women’s History Month campaign caused controversy. The chocolatier chose to feature five empowered women in his limited-edition “Her for She” candy bars, in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8. Among them was Ottawa activist, businesswoman, and trans woman Fae Johnson.

While many online praised the campaign for its diversity, others expressed anger at the inclusion of a trans woman. Shortly after the ad debuted, #BoycottHersheys started trending on Twitter.

Hershey stood by Fae, defending the “Her for She” campaign in a statement to CNN business. “We value unity and recognize the strength created by diversity,” she said.

Want to know more about Fae Johnson and her campaign for Hershey’s? Read our five things, right here.

Fae is a mental health and LGBTQ advocate

Hershey chose to feature Fae due to her work for the LGBTQ community. She is the CEO of consultancy Wisdom2Action, which focuses on LGBTQ+ issues, combating gender-based violence, mental health advocacy, and more.

Her background is in mental health and she is a member of the Champlain Regional Planning Board for Transgender and Diverse Health and the Ontario Youth Suicide Prevention Leadership Committee, according to her website.

In the commercial, Fae introduces herself and says to the camera, “We can create a world where everyone can live in the public space by being honest and authentic.” At the end, she tells viewers, “she’s watching women changing the way we look at the future in Hershey’s Canada” through a voiceover.

she doesn’t back down

Fae wasn’t letting disgruntled candy-eaters steal the shine. Sharing the campaign on Twitter, she said: “It means a lot to be included, as a young trans woman (sort of?). I grew up with very few trans models. Many trans youth have yet to meet a trans adult. I hope this campaign shows trans girls that they too can dream big and change the world.”

The chocolate is out of the box!

It is an honor to be featured in this campaign by @hersheys Canada a #International Women’s Day along with 4 brilliant and transformative sisters. https://t.co/0s9uh8MvHv pic.twitter.com/jdXNJfcZmo

— Fae Johnstone, MSW (@FaeJohnstone) March 1, 2023

After the #BoycottHershey hashtag started to catch on, Fae defend yourself with indignation. “The backlash to my inclusion as a trans woman in Hershey’s Canadian IWD campaign shows how far we must go in the fight for feminist liberation and trans rights,” she tweeted on March 2. “I’m not going anywhere. I won’t shut up. I will always defend women and girls, cis and trans.”

The “diversity” of Hershey’s samples

Hershey doubled down on his message and offered a press release on March 2. “We value unity and recognize the strength that diversity generates,” he said Cnn business. “For the past three years, our Women’s History Month programming has been an inclusive celebration of women and their impact. We are grateful to the countless people and important partnerships behind these efforts.”

Through her campaign, Hershey has pledged to donate up to $10,000 to the five organizations in attendance, as well as an additional $30,000 to Girl Up, a group that focuses on women’s equity.

The ad features five different women.

Fae isn’t the only woman who changed the world in the ad campaign, which Hershey created to “illuminate the women and girls who inspire us every day.”

Even the “Ella para Ella” chocolates. autumn peltierwater and indigenous rights activist; Naila Molooclimate technology researcher; Rita Audi, gender equality and education activist; AND Kelicia MassalaFounder of Girl up Quebec.

Anti-trans legislation is on the rise

The backlash against Hershey’s and Fae comes as anti-trans legislation is introduced in the United States. Mississippi passed a health care ban for transgender youth in early March, banning the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery in children under 18, it said. ABC News. Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, South Dakota and Utah have also enacted anti-transgender laws, according to the ACLU.

Meanwhile, Tennessee just passed laws limiting dragging performances in public spaces, per NPRa move LGBTQ activists warn could be used against the transgender community.

Transgender and gender nonconforming people face more than legal barriers. According to the UCLA Williams Law Institute, transgender people are four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime.

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