Don't Say Gay, we say GAY IS GOOD!

Reading about the "Don't Say Gay" bill that passed last week by a Florida House Committee, serves as a stark reminder why this business exists.

Don't Say Gay bill Florida

"A Florida House committee on Thursday passed a bill seeking to ban discussions of sexuality and gender identity in school classrooms, which LGBTQ+ advocates say will effectively “erase” LGBTQ+ history, culture, and students.

The Parental Rights in Education bill, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, passed Thursday in the House Education and Employment Committee largely along party lines.

“This bill is about defending the most awesome responsibility a person can have: being a parent,” Florida state Rep. Joe Harding (R), who first introduced the bill, said Thursday. “That job can only be given to you by above.”

Harding’s bill, along with its companion bill introduced Tuesday by Florida state Sen. Dennis Baxley (R), would block teachers in Florida from talking about LGBTQ+ topics that are not “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.” The Hill; Changing America

Speaking from personal experience, rest assured that the lack of any discussion of sexual orientation in my grade school certainly didn't stop me from being gay, but it certainly did make me feel alone, ashamed, and different.

When the business launched the summer before the 2016 election it pained me to think we could move backwards. I can only imagine how these bills may impact kids today, not just the LGBTQ kids, but those from LGBTQ parents. "Be the queer person you needed growing up" is always in the back of our mind.

Here's one of the many customers we met during our first summer in Provincetown. All of the merchandise emblazoned with "Queer" supports the lifesaving work of The Trevor Project.

queer camo snapback adam's nest

We are grateful every day that our engaged fellow citizens voted to remove Donald Trump from the White House and place Joe Biden there instead.  We were thrilled to see him come out so strongly against the "Don't Say Gay" legislation.  

desmond napoles joe biden gay is good

Thank you Desmond Is Amazing for sharing this collaboration tee with The Gay Rub, an endeavor of Steven Reigns featuring the rubbing from Frank Kameny's foot-stone. We are directing 10% of proceeds from these tees to Equality Florida.  Thank you Joe Biden for your strong statement slamming this hateful legislation.