I think it’s very easy to conceive of the fashion industry as gay-friendly; After all, it’s filled with women and gay men. But really the problem lies: from there gay. Gay men move around the world, especially the fashion world, with so many privileges — more than any woman of color, more than any other individual or gay woman — to they are often gatekeepers and body flavors unlike their own. It is important that we recognize this point because it is so easy to list of LGBTQ+ designers and brands dominated by gay men who already hold such huge platforms in the industry. If you can easily think of lesbian, bisexual and gender-nonconforming designers, that warms my heart. But I daresay that many of you can’t, especially since I’m a freak woman who works in the fashion industry, and it’s hard for me to think of more than a few here!
Honestly this article, it’s hard not to offend some people. But it’s also hard to ignore the fact that it’s really sad that such an article is needed. I wish there were more marginalized identities running businesses because more often than not, these are the businesses that have the most emotional impact: They are often the most inclusive, active businesses. flexible genderracially diverse and eco-friendly — brands that truly represent change and help those with marginalized identities feel represented and honored.
