If you’re buying roses for your beau (or your BFF) this Valentine’s day, red is overrated.
Morrisons has teamed up with The Albert Kennedy Trust to launch rainbow flowers that help young LGBT+ people who are homeless.
The charity provides safe homes and support to young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bi or trans because “no young person should have to choose between a safe home and being who they are”.
Almost a quarter (24%) of young homeless people identify as LGBT and the majority (77%) say coming out to their parents contributed to their homelessness, according to the charity.
Morrison’s is selling each limited edition rose for £4 – double the price of a single red rose – but 50p per stem sold will be donated to The Albert Kennedy Trust.
The roses, available in store from 11 February, have been dyed so that each petal displays the colours of the rainbow. To do this, florists cut the rose stems and dipped each part into a different coloured water, which was then absorbed by the flower to turn each petal into a vibrant shade, including blue, yellow, green, violet and pink.
Carrie Reiners, director of fundraising from The Albert Kennedy Trust, said the charity is delighted to have partnered with the supermarket, adding: “As the national LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, we are always looking to raise awareness and raise vital funds to support the work we do to provide safe homes and support to young people who face homelessness - just for being brave enough to come out to their families and communities.”