LGBTQ T-shirts to Show Your Pride and Protest All Year Long
Pride Month is over, but if there's one thing that 2022 is teaching the LGBTQ+ community is that the fight must never stop. With many anti-gay and anti-trans bills being created all over the United States, it's important to keep raising your flag, saying gay out loud and reminding everyone that we're here, we're queer and we're never going back to the closet. Every small gesture counts, including wearing a queer t-shirt with a clear message.
In a society like ours, to exist as a queer and proud person is already a protest, but there are many ways to help fight and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights all year long. Sometimes, a t-shirt can be a powerful way to spread your message. In fact, t-shirts have been used as a form of protest since the American Civil Rights in the 1950s.
In the queer community, t-shirts became a way of manifesting and also represent different parts of LGBTQ+ history, as you can see on Wearing Gay History. In the 1980s, the t-shirt "Silence = Death" was worn by many as a response to the lack of government help during the AIDS crisis. Keith Haring made his own version of the t-shirt.
Now that Pride Month is over, companies will take the rainbow colors out of their logos and fashion chain stores will stop selling Pride Clothing. Luckily there are many LGBTQ+ creators on Etsy selling their own designs. Since this year the anti-gay and anti-trans bills are targeting LGBTQ+ youth and transgender people and trying to censor the gay word and LGBTQ+ books in schools, designers are creating different t-shirts to fight back. You can find them below!
Protect Queer Kids T-Shirt
The Goods Spot is an Etsy store selling t-shirts with messages about women's rights, mental health and LGBTQ issues. Their Protect Queer Kids/Say Gay T-shirt has a special message for you to wear, especially if you live in Florida.
Say Gay T-Shirts
Speaking of LGBTQ issues and Florida, WhatWouldCaraDo's Say Gay t-shirt comes with a clear message: "Here's a gentle reminder that it's ok to say gay. And be gay! Or not be gay! But it's not okay to be a homophobic asshole!".
SunnyIsland is also selling another design about the same issue, the Say Gay All Day t-shirt.
Bold Queer T-Shirt
"Be the Bold Queer You Needed To See In Your Youth" is the main message of this t-shirt on Crash Can't Draw. By the way, this store is one of our favorites on Etsy! It has so many options of queer art in stickers, buttons and t-shirts; you should definitely check it out!
The World Has Bigger Problems T-Shirt
"The World Has Bigger Problems Than Boys Who Kiss Boys And Girls Who Kiss Girls" is a great t-shirt to wear anywhere. End of discussion.
Trans Rights T-Shirt
It's always important to remember that Trans Rights Are Human Rights! Also, let's not forget that if it weren't for two transgender women, the Stonewall Riots wouldn't have started. Lesbians, gays and bisexuals need to do more for transgender people!
Gay Rights
This t-shirt is inspired by Frog and Toad, the book created by Arnold Lobel in the 1970s. Decades after it was published, it was revealed that the characters were of the same sex, and they love each other. It's a cute, and nostalgic way to show support for gay rights on a daily basis.
Check other LGBTQ+ t-shirts we found on Etsy:
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