STYLE COUNCIL

FASHION: 10 T-Shirts To Help You Wear Your Pride On Your Sleeve

June is quickly coming to an end and some of you still haven’t picked out that perfect Pride outfit—the one that has people snapping your picture and, just maybe, asking for your digits.

We can’t help you develop a sense of style this late in the game (we’re only human)—but we can show you some snazzy T-shirts that simply scream “I’m gay and I’m fashionable.” And most help benefit worthy causes, so it’s a win-win.

We should mention that there are lots of other gay-friendly retailers you should try to patronize (like JCPenney), even if they don’t have a rainbow tank-top to sell. And, sadly, it looks like Old Navy has discontinued the line of Pride shirts it rolled out last year. (Meh, we always feel like we’re swimming in Old Navy, anyway.)

Click through for our handy guide of hot Pride T-shirts. As for shoes, well, you’re on your own!

Have a queer tee you just adore? Tell us about it at [email protected] and we might include it in a future roundup.

Photo: Stonewall UK

 

“De(vote)d for Equality” by Kenneth Cole
$35, kennethcole.com, shop.hrc.org

Long-known for his socially-aware ad campaigns, Cole designed this cute and right-on tee, the net profits of which go to Awareness: The Kenneth Cole Foundation in support of HRC.

 

Give a Damn Campaign Celebrity T-Shirts
$35, wegiveadamn.org

Sponsored by Van Gogh Vodka, limited-edition shirts designed by gay faves Jane Lynch, Alan Cumming, Idina Menzel, Chelsea Handler and Cyndi Lauper benefit the Give a Damn Campaign, which encourages straight allies to get involved in advancing LGBT rights.The campaign is an offshoot of Lauper’s True Colors Fund.

 

“Gay O.K.” Shirt by American Apparel 
$17–$25, americanapparel.com 

American Apparel was one of the first national chains to offer clothing with pro-LGBT slogans. (We’re particular to the “Legalize Gay” tighty-whities.) This year, the L.A.-based company got trans looker Isis King to model their Pride shirts in a print campaign. You’ll also see the the tees on the backs of GLAAD volunteers at New York Pride. (15% of profits from the shirts benefit GLAAD.)

 

This photo provided by Target Corp. shows one of the T-shirts being sold to raise money for a group working to defeat a gay marriage ban in Minnesota. >

Pride Collection By Target

$12.99, target.com

We were pretty stunned the Minnesota-based big-box chain came out with a line of Pride shirts. One, because the company had previously donated to anti-LGBT politician Tom Emmer. And two, we didn’t think they were that cool. But not only do the four shirts they’ve produced benefit Family Equality Council, a group working to defeat Minnesota’s gay-marriage ban—some, like the one here, were designed by Gwen Stefani. Hariju-kyou doin’?

 

 

“IT’S ALL FUN. AND GAY ‘TIL SOMEONE LOSES THEIR RIGHTS” By fun./Revel & Riot
$15, ournameisfun.com

It it wasn’t enough the band fun. has a serious contender for song of summer, they’ve also come out with a kick-ass pro-gay T-shirt, with proceeds benefiting Revel & Riot, a company that uses branding to support LGBTQ rights.

 

The Commitment Collection By A Lot to Say
$44–$49, alottosay.com  

This one’s a two-fer: the shirts are made from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles and have through a no-water-dye process, so you’re helping the environment and your community. Available for men and women, the tees bear a word like “Love,” “Cherish,” or “Commit,” with phrases expressing how each relates to the gay community. Hey, buy all three: 25% of profits are donated to charities like The International Green Energy Council, Stand Up to Cancer and Heal the Bay.


“Gay, Proud and Compassionate”  by John Bartlett
$30–$40, johnbartlettny.com

Oh, we’d buy one of these just because it’s Bartlett and we’d never be able to afford anything else he put out. Fortunately, the out designer and animal advocate is covering hil bases with his new T-shirt capsule collection. The “Gay, Proud and Compassionate” tees and tanks feature Bartlett’s three-legged dog logo in rainbow foil.  Now we just have to get Marc Jacobs’ “If Dad Says No, Ask Dad” shirt.

 


Point 5 CC Trans Visibility T-Shirts

$20, point5cctshirtcompany.com

Point 5 CC founder Aydian started designing trans-rights tees to help fund his own top surgery, but the shirts proved so popular (among trans and cis folk alike) he’s continued rolling them out.  They’ve got tops (no pun intended) for every gender expression and, best of all, 25% of all sales go to help fund surgeries for other trans men.

 

photo

HRC at Macy’s
prices vary, macys.com

Macy’s is selling two different shirts to benefit HRC: One says “Vote Equality” and another “Love Conquers Hate.” (Both sport the nonprofit’s logo.) But these babies are hard to find: Only six Macy’s are carrying them, including stores in Boston, L.A., Minneapolis, St. Louis, Columbus and San Francisco.

 

 

Sharon Needles T-shirts
$30, odd-style.com

Granted, these are less Pride shirts than #TeamSharonNeedles shirts. But they’re fierce. And we’re really hoping they’ll send us one if we plug them. (Kidding!)


Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated