It’s almost Pride season, which means corporations are about to start rolling out their latest rainbow merch.
On Wednesday, Gay Twitter™ started talking about an old Pride t-shirt from American Apparel that, despite being well-intentioned, checked all of the wrong boxes.
It certainly has… a lot of words?
Like many pieces of Pride merchandise sold during Donald Trump‘s presidency, the t-shirt in question carries strong political undertones.
Back in 2017, the Trump administration prohibited the CDC from using seven words or phrases in official documents, all of which are featured on American Apparel’s plain white tee: diversity, transgender, evidence-based, science-based, fetus, entitlement, vulnerable.
It’s basically the Pride t-shirt version of those “In This House We Believe…” yard signs.
In all seriousness, Pride has always been political, and we love to see brands make strong statements in support of the LGBTQ+ community. But this shirt is just… not it.
There’s no context to any of the words! Try strolling into a Pride party this year with “fetus” written on your shirt without explanation.
That’s definitely not a slay.
This is the shirt equivalent of not knowing if someone’s trying to offend you or complement you.
— Squish (@squish_evani) May 10, 2023
I’d rather be called slurs.
— Zucc (@Zucchary) May 10, 2023
tag yourself, I’m fetus and vulnerable
— 💙🐙Dori_Casper🐌💚 (@CasDee_Ghosty) May 10, 2023
this shirt looks an adult swim pride month commercial
— Luigi the ‘Phobe Hunter (@LuigiFindPhobes) May 10, 2023
Pride became a commercialized event years ago, resulting in criticism about some brands using the celebration to promote slacktivism and merchandise sales. While slogans are nice, they don’t really help vulnerable LGBTQ+ people.
Other brands, however, have mastered the art of Pride merch. Like Target, whose Pride offerings this season are so bad they’re… good. Great, even! The ironic (and iconic) collection includes a drag bird, dog bone, and shirts that say “live, laugh, lesbian.”
As we’ve seen, there’s still risk involved for brands that promote inclusive LGBTQ+ messaging. Most recently, the MAGA crowd went berserk after Bud Light hired trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney to post a couple of Instagram ads.
The blowback was so relentless and Anheuser-Busch wound up capitulating, placing the two execs responsible for the campaign on leave.
Even the U.S. military isn’t exempt from backlash for partnering with out LGBTQ+ ambassadors. Just last week, the Navy SEAL who helped kill bin Laden threw a hissy fit over the U.S. Navy enlisting a drag queen to help boost sign-ups.
This Pride season, we encourage corporations to stand up for LGBTQ+ people, and keep supporting us year round. It’s also fine to try and sell a little merch. We don’t mind! Just make sure it isn’t embarrassing. 🙃
Scroll down for more reaction to American Apparel’s epic Pride miss…
Reminds me of IKEA’s Pride Collection couch inspired by bisexuals pic.twitter.com/hRtryvdXE7
— Ｊａｓｋａ🐛 (@pisamiajaska) May 10, 2023
One ticket to the Barbie movie please pic.twitter.com/vnR8hfBrBN
— אוריה🍪 (@kruvsagol) May 10, 2023
It’s like if AI tried to design a pride shirt
— JollyGreenBuddha (@JollyGBuddha) May 10, 2023
This looks like it’s from Cards Against Humanity.
— Random Mobile Phone Dump (@phone_dump) May 10, 2023
this is “Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.” for the “In This House We Believe” crowd
— jess (@beebosfemme) May 10, 2023
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dbmcvey
Fetus? Entitlement? Did they just use some kind of random word generator?
Kangol2
These were the 7 words the Don the Con administration prohibited the CDC from using.
So it’s a response to that psychotic monster’s policies. It loses something (a lot?) in the translation (to clothing), though.
abfab
Remember Judy Chicago and how devastated the GOP RIGHTWINGNUTJOBS got with her exhibit; The Dinner Party.
And Mapplethorp, too. Such fools.
The just can’t with art and science.
And thanks Kangol2. A quick and simple history review is always welcome. But wait there’s more! MTG
and Mike and KAREN Pence are adding to the list as we speak. Someone was defending Pencey Poo here the other day. Unreal
Mary Jane
A cute guy though. Where is he now?
dbmcvey
It has the look of them hiring a model and just photoshopping the clothing in. I doubt he ever wore that actual shirt.
Mary Jane
Too many words that we cannot post together in the cancel culture of free speech.
dbmcvey
I guess we’ll find out;
Diversity.
Transgender.
Evidence-based.
Science-based.
Fetus.
Entitlement.
Diversity.
Will it pass the mods?
dbmcvey
Hmmm…..
Looks like you can post those words together.
Brian
This is yet another example of how stupid Donald Trump and his appointees are: The agency in charge of diseases can’t say the word “diversity.” Diversity isn’t just about human skin colors. Diversity is also how we describe mutations, evolution, and novel viruses like the current coronavirus pandemic. If a scientist is prohibited from mentioning evolution, we can’t really discuss science accurately.
Of course, they’re the same party that told us, “If evolution is real, then why are there apes?” The entire Republican Party is far too stupid to understand even basic science. Every last one of them needs to be voted out.
abfab
If evolution is real why do we have neanderthals like MTG still running around.
RIGay
It’s from the Edina Monsoon collection, dahling! The Edina Monsoon collection! Look it up!