Friday, November 20, 2009

Romans 13:10

Catholic Charities has been getting a lot of press lately, because of their stance against the potential legalization of marriage in D.C.

D.C. Council and Catholic Charities Argue Gay Marriage

D.C. Officials Push for Compromise with Catholic Charities

As a former Catholic, often referred to as a lapsed or recovering Catholic, I am absolutely disgusted. As a modern day agnostic, homosexual, and citizen of the United States, I am appalled.

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, so Catholics can feel free to hate me. But people forget that there is a separation of Church and State. So when public funds become an issue, you must comply with the law at hand or give up your government monies.

And to threaten to potentially have to close homeless shelters or giving aid to the needy, on the basis of "religious freedom." Well... how very Christian...

Do we need reminders that the Bible historically has also been used to justify slavery and racism as slaves should be obedient to their masters (Ephesians 6:5) and countless of times in the oppression of women.

Homosexuality as a concept and subculture, did not exist back then as it did now. Oftentimes religious leaders quote small portions of the Bible and ignore the greater context - that drives me nuts. Nothing more annoying than a religious zealot who does not know their own scripture.

Regardless, let us merely go back to the separation of Church and State. Stick to your guns Catholic Charities and lose your public funding. And in so doing, lose a lot of respect from intelligent people who would see that as manipulative and cruel.

My latest design out of frustration from this situation:




Wear What Matters

Friday, November 13, 2009

Kiss Me I'm Irish

A recent contest for best interactive gay male kiss was held online at http://www.biggaykiss.com/.

The winning entry shown below got met thinking.




Kissability.

It's a deal breaker for me.

I may meet Princes of England or the most down-to-earth model on the planet. If he cannot kiss, friends can we only be.

In my support of the importance of the kiss, my advocacy for gay rights, and my love of affection, I designed a t-shirt for WEARISM that exemplified my passionate pursuits (the shirt was designed well before the video was made).




I do love a kiss.

Kudos to the contest makers and the contest winners. I'm going to go watch the rest of the contest entries now... Until next time.


Wear What Matters

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Introduction

Our belief at WEARISM is that apparel has a tremendous impact on society. Whether it is a fashion fad that sweeps a nation, a requirement of one's faith, an attempt to challenge modern norms, or anything in between, what we wear makes a statement.

Outside our corporate mission to get people to wear what matters, this blog was created to take a look at fashion as artifact as well as an influence on culture.

Wear What Matters

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Not So Humble Beginnings

Wearism.com originated at a protest for Marriage Equality in Philadelphia on November 15, 2008.
Photo by David Toccafondi

A romantically challenged designer and business consultant based in Philadelphia, PA had designed a shirt for the protest in order to impress a boy he had been casually seeing.


A happily coupled screen printer who gaily prints in Camden, NJ had also printed a shirt for the protest to distribute and sell.

The designer/business consultant and the screen printer met and decided to put their advocacy to broader use. Their vision is to change the world one t-shirt at a time and promote social change via fashion.

The two founded WEARISM, a clothing line designed by minorities of some kind or another and printed by hand in the United States on fashion fit garments. A percentage of profits goes to support like-minded organizations related to the cause promoted on the t-shirt. So not only does the buyer promote by wearing, they donate and further the cause simply by buying.

Wear What Matters