Latest news with #TransLifeline
Vogue
a day ago
- Business
- Vogue
Why Is It So Hard to Find Good (Non Cash-Grab) Pride Merch?
'Hi, gay!' Nothing kicks off Pride Month quite like corporate rainbow-washing. Every June, mega retailers get into the LGBTQ+ spirit by plastering rainbows and cheeky words like 'slay!' onto colorful tees and hoodies. As a member of the community, I'm not hating on this approach per se: It's the spirit of allyship that counts. Especially as our current administration continues to threaten LGBTQ+ health and rights across the nation, some pro-gay energy via fashion is harmless and, in fact, welcomed. But still: As someone who partakes in Pride Month but rarely wears flashy colors, I wonder why it's so hard to find good Pride merch that isn't a blatant cash-grab. Using the vague spirit of acceptance in a splashy way to tick an inclusivity box? Not very slay. Luckily, there are a few brands who have created Pride merch with intention this month—partnering with LGBTQ+ causes to use fashion for good. And better yet, in addition to the charitable components, the designs are even tasteful, too. Take New York designer Connor Ives and his signature 'Protect The Dolls' tee, which has already been worn by celebrities like Pedro Pascal and Troye Sivan. Not only does it have a clear message, but all of its proceeds are also donated directly to Trans Lifeline—a trans-lead charity that delivers life-saving services to those who need them. Diesel, meanwhile, released a special hoodie that benefits the Tom of Finland Foundation; It features imagery from the foundation's collection of erotic queer art, which it aims to preserve and support. Other chic and thoughtful Pride merch on the scene? Brands like David Yurman have released Pride-themed jewelry that benefits The Trevor Project, providing life-saving resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Levi's has released denim items supporting Outright International, a global organization dedicated to advancing LGBTQ+ human rights. Turns out, you can authentically support the community, and wear more unexpected and discrete Pride merch. Not that there is anything wrong with the full-on rainbow approach—now is the month to be loud and proud. Just try not to buy the soulless corporate pieces, 'kay? Below, shop Pride merch that benefits good causes. Human Rights Campaign Rainbow sweat shorts $55 HRC Converse Chuck Taylor platform sneakers $90 CONVERSE
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pedro Pascal Champions Trans Rights With Viral ‘Protect the Dolls' T-shirt at Marvel's ‘Thunderbolts' London Premiere
Pedro Pascal is voicing his support for the transgender community once again. The actor attended the London premiere of Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' on Tuesday, wearing the viral 'Protect the Dolls' T-shirt, which he had previously worn on his 50th birthday celebration on April 6. The T-shirt was created by Conner Ives, who debuted the design while closing out his fall 2025 runway show during London Fashion Week in February. The message written in it, 'Protect the Dolls,' shows support to trans women, who are affectionately referred to as 'dolls' in the LGBTQIA+ community. More from WWD Florence Pugh Embraces Gothic Romanticism in Sheer Elie Saab Gown for 'Thunderbolts*' London Premiere Nicole Scherzinger Brings Shimmering Details and Statement Jewelry to the Red Carpet for the Entertainment Community Fund Gala Sarah Jessica Parker Ushers in Subdued Spring Styling While Out in New York City After his show, Ives made the T-shirt available on pledging to donate all proceeds from the sale to the Trans Lifeline, an organization that delivers life-saving services to trans people in the U.S. 'Given the U.S. Federal government's current hostility towards trans people, support like this is needed now more than ever,' Ives wrote on his website. According to The New York Times, Ives has sold about $252,600 of the T-shirt since its release. He also invested in infrastructure to meet the online demand. The style is out of stock, but shoppers can preorder it at 75 euros (about $99). Other celebrities, including singer Troye Sivan and fashion designer Haider Ackermann, have also worn the 'Protect the Dolls' T-shirt recently. Pascal has long been a supporter of the trans community. His sister, actress Lux Pascal, came out as a transgender woman in 2021. The actor's appearance at the 'Thunderbolts' premiere comes a week after Britain's Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman is someone born biologically female. The decision is being highly criticized by trans groups and supporters who believe the ruling would undermine trans rights. View Gallery Launch Gallery: 'Thunderbolts' Red Carpet Premiere: Florence Pugh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Pedro Pascal and More Celebrity Style Moments [PHOTOS] Best of WWD Gigi Hadid Turns 30: Her Style Evolution Through the Years, PHOTOS Every Celebrity Skims Campaign: Donovan Mitchell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Abby Champion and More [PHOTOS] Victoria Beckham's Style Through the Years: From Her Spice Girls Era to Today [PHOTOS]
Forbes
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Can A ‘Protect The Dolls' T-Shirt Really Save All?
During Coachella weekend, Australian pop singer Troye Sivan joined Charli XCX onstage wearing a white T-shirt with bold black lettering reading: 'Protect the Dolls.' The shirt, designed by American-born, London-based designer Conner Ives, has quickly become a statement piece that has gone viral over social media and within Hollywood. This shirt comes in the wake of the UK Supreme Court's ruling, in which judges unanimously determined that, under equality law, a woman is defined by biological sex. It also coincides with bans in both the UK and in the U.S., that prohibit transgender women from participating in women's sports. The move marked yet another aggressive shift of Trump's legislative agenda, as he continues to push anti-trans rhetoric and vows to eliminate what he calls 'transgender insanity'. The phrase 'Protect the Dolls' is intended as a symbolic gesture of protection for transgender women, who are often affectionately referred to as 'dolls.' Seen on the backs of Pedro Pascal, Tilda Swinton, and Addison Rae, the shirt acts as a rallying of love toward trans women—but can a T-shirt truly serve as a lifeline to them and how do actual Transgender women feel about them? T-shirt culture, which gained prominence during the Black Lives Matter protests, has faced criticism for being performative, serving as a substitute for real activism. These shirts often project an image of progressiveness or social awareness without necessarily reflecting a genuine commitment to those values — which creates dissonance. Sophia Hernandez, a transgender model and influencer finds the t-shirts, "very intriguing." She continues, "People are so quick to buy a shirt and show that they are aware that trans people exist and that we need to be protected however it still falls short." Hernandez says "One could say 'oh well when is it enough?' but that's the bare minimum. It's like showing support from a distance without putting in the action, like donating to trans women or getting involved in community work that helps us." 'People need to take action and remember that a shirt doesn't save my life,' says Hernandez. While proceeds from the shirt go to Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit offering phone support to transgender people in the U.S., questions remain about how much is actually donated and how those funds are distributed. Retailing at £75, the shirt has reportedly raised up to £380,000 for the organization Trans Lifeline, according to The Guardian. 'If you're going to be for the dolls, make sure it's going to the right organization, okay? Why don't you just do direct pay-stubs—we need help in America,' says popular trans influencer Veondre in a TikTok video. Another trans influencer, Devin Halbal, echoes the concern: 'You're 'protecting the dolls,' but how? And ask yourself this—why, as a doll, do I need to be protected in this society? Why am I, as a doll, not granted safety?' She continues, 'How are you, my allies, complicit in the very systems designed to exclude the dolls?' These concerns reveal a deeper tension: Awareness, on its own, doesn't necessarily lead to tangible support or meaningful change. Instead, it risks remaining purely symbolic rather than truly transformative — and worse, a little transactional. Ives, the designer of the shirt, says the T-shirt was a response to anti-trans policies put in place by Donald Trump, and in support of his trans friends. 'I never had that intention when I was doing it,' Ives says. 'I was just like 'This is what I want to say. This is what feels right' and it turned into something else.' Dee Harper, a transgender producer based in California describes the t-shirt as "lackluster" and has simplified the display of them as "performative." "The shirt is oddly insulting because most people aren't protecting the dolls physically, i.e., being on the forefront of us being in danger from assault, housing insecurity, and making sure we are getting safely from point A to point B — monetarily, and even formally with employment," she says. "Oftentimes I wonder if this protection is only accessible to white and light-skinned trans women?" she asks. "If they are the only ones who can pass through executive rooms, be on runways, or the face of all things trans. Who's protecting the dolls who live in hotel rooms for survival?" Harper leaves off with an important question: "Is it their oppressors who pay for their access and livelihood, or are their cis counterparts who call them fab?" Transgender people are over four times more likely than cisgender individuals to experience violent victimization—including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated assault—according to a study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Households with transgender members also face higher rates of poverty and crime. This is the violence Ives alludes to when calling for the protection of transgender women. Transgender musician, Deevious claims that the shirt and the slogan, due to its virality have just become an "accessory." She continues, "Like most people especially gay men treat trans women like accessories for social capital or even to get into a party or rave for free." She compares it to the dichotomy that existed in the mainstream media in the early 2000s of how gay men were an "accessory to cis women." "Now our protection and safety is just an accessory but they can't do anything to help us," Deevious says. While the intention behind the message "Protect the Dolls" may be well-meaning—and even a reminder that, amid political attacks and legislative erasure, a marginalized group is being overlooked—it ultimately falls short. But in the face of rising trans-targeted assaults, discriminatory legislation, and social exclusion, the effectiveness of a T-shirt and a one-time donation as meaningful protection remains deeply limited. Without sustained allyship or broader calls to action, such symbolic gestures fall short of truly shielding transgender women from their everyday oppressors.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas students say K-12 DEI ban and other anti-LGBTQ+ bills threaten their safety, voice and mental health
For mental health support for LGBTQ youth, call the Trevor Project's 24/7 toll-free support line at 866-488-7386. For trans peer support, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860. You can also reach a trained crisis counselor through the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. When Marshall Romero came out as a trans male in 2021, he didn't think his identity would become a political issue. But in the years since, the 16-year-old sophomore at Alief Early College High School in Houston said he has watched the Republican Party increasingly target LGBTQ+ people, and he became more politically active in response. 'In today's world, simply existing as a trans person has become an act of resistance,' Romero said while speaking about LGBTQ+ rights during a rally at the Texas Capitol earlier this month. 'And in a society that politicizes my existence, just living authentically becomes an act of defiance.' Romero said his school has been a welcoming space so far, but he worries that could change under state legislation under consideration that targets LGBTQ+ Texans like him. Senate Bill 12, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would prohibit schools from factoring diversity, equity and inclusion when hiring new personnel, or developing policies or programs that reference race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation. The bill would effectively extend a ban on DEI initiatives in public universities and colleges, which the Legislature approved two years ago, to K-12 schools. The measure would also ban student clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity and place tight restrictions on how teachers can approach topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 13, by Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, would give school boards and parents more control over what books can be put in school libraries, as well as ban books that have 'indecent content or profane content.' Anti-censorship advocates say it could lead to the removal of books featuring gender and sexuality content from school libraries. Other bills moving in the House and Senate would punish schools and staffers who support a student's social transition. LGBTQ+ students and their allies worry the proposed DEI ban on public schools and the other bills threaten their mental health and sense of safety in schools. They are concerned the legislation could silence supportive teachers, dismantle safe spaces, lead to overenforcement and prevent honest conversations about identity under the pressure of compliance with state and federal laws. 'I wouldn't be surprised if a teacher that has a [pride] flag in their classroom would be asked to take it down, or people would not feel comfortable expressing themselves in an academic environment,' Romero said. State leaders have increasingly targeted LGBTQ+ Texans through legislation in recent years. In 2023, lawmakers passed a wave of new laws affecting the community. They included prohibiting gender-affirming care for transgender minors and barring trans athletes from participating in certain college sports teams. Some school districts began imposing restrictions that affected LGBTQ+ students even before the bills became law. Cameron Samuels, executive director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, a youth-led movement that advocates for students' rights, said they experienced some of those constraints firsthand when they were a student at Seven Lakes High School in Katy ISD a few years ago. They could not access Trevor Project, a crisis line for LGBTQ+ youth, along with other websites related to gender and sexuality, because the school had blocked them. 'This sent a clear message to students like me that I was alternative from the norm, that I was inherently sexual, and it was a lifestyle choice that I was making,' said Samuels, who is now 21. 'That being part of the LGBTQ community was something that should be shameful and not normal, not appropriate.' Samuels warned that the potential impact of the bills currently moving through the Legislature could extend beyond LGBTQ+ youth. 'We are going to grow up without a foundational knowledge of an inclusive sex education curriculum,' they said. 'We're going to grow up feeling that race and racism are topics that we don't touch, and we only allow racism to grow. We grow up not being able to question authority, to dissent, which is crucial to a healthy democracy. We won't have the outlets for advocating not only for ourselves, but for others, when the predominant narrative is that the government is right, that oppression is the way it has to be.' Supporters of the K-12 DEI ban say it's needed to prevent what they see as a propagation of 'woke' ideologies in schools. Sherry Sylvester with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a leading conservative think tank, argued that DEI efforts have not actually delivered meaningful diversity and instead promote a specific worldview, impacting young people's perspectives and well-being. 'DEI has nothing to do with diversity. DEI is about ideology,' she said. 'One of the things that we have seen with the proliferation of the ideology, particularly around so-called transgender students, is that it caused a psychological effect where there's a lot of contagion, where it's become a fad because of so much exposure.' Speaking about books on gender and sexuality, Sylvester said that the biggest problem is that what is written in some of them 'simply isn't true.' 'The idea that there is more than two genders is a falsehood and there's no science to back it down,' Sylvester said. Organizations like the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association have long recognized that gender — how a person defines their internal and social identity — is a spectrum. Some biologists and geneticists say viewing sex — which refers to biological characteristics — in binary terms excludes people who are born intersex and have both male and female physical traits. Sumya Paruchuri, a senior at The Woodlands High School in Conroe ISD, said some of the anti-LGBTQ+ bills lawmakers and their supporters are advocating for are misleading and harmful. 'They keep trying to push this narrative that teachers or schools or whatever are forcing queer ideology on students,' Paruchuri said. 'But students can really just step away from those books or discussions or whatever if they're that opposed to it. No one's being forced to engage in it." Paruchuri added that LGBTQ+ students are already vulnerable, and additional pressure from the state only worsens their mental health. 'They already have higher depression, suicide rates, and just putting more on them is so pointless and counterproductive when there are so many other things that [lawmakers] could be doing to actually help students,' they said. Ash Hall, a policy and advocacy strategist for LGBTQIA+ rights at the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, also said that the proposed DEI ban in K-12 schools could harm students' mental health by taking away spaces where they can connect and find community with one another. 'Without DEI, you're going to see more students who might think that they are alone,' Hall said. Hall said the rates of bullying and harassment toward LGBTQ+ students — the key causes of anxiety and depression among them — will likely go up without the DEI policies, leading to more discrimination. According to a national survey the Trevor Project conducted last year on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth, those who lived in communities they considered very accepting attempted suicide at less than half the rate of those in communities they said were very unaccepting. More than half of transgender and nonbinary youth said their school was gender-affirming, and those students reported lower suicide attempt rates. Still, 90% of LGBTQ+ young people said their overall well-being has been negatively affected by politics, the survey found. Activists say legislation targeting LGBTQ+ youth sends the harmful message that sexuality is something to be ashamed of. Laura Durant, founder of Love Every Dragon, an organization that supports Texas LGBTQ+ students in Southlake, said a 15-year-old student approached her after a recent discussion about some of the Texas bills under consideration and asked, 'Why do they hate us?' 'LGBTQ+ kids are constantly receiving the message that there's something wrong with them,' Durant said. 'I think that's the biggest problem I have with these bills, they're trying to enact laws to prohibit freedom of expression. That is the most anti-American thing I've ever heard.' Durant is especially worried about the proposed DEI ban on K-12 schools, which she said could make students from LGBTQ+ families, like those with 'two moms or two dads,' feel silenced in the classroom. 'Those kids will have no voice,' she added. 'It's like their family doesn't exist, or their family doesn't meet the standards of what our local government deems moral or right.' Concerns about the school libraries bill center on representation. Critics fear LGBTQ+ students will no longer see themselves reflected in school materials. Elisha Rurka, president of Dignity For All Texas Students, noted there's no need to ban LGBTQ+ books because students are already aware that people might have different sexual preferences and gender identities, even if those topics are being limited in school libraries and classrooms. 'There's always been a process to challenge a book. But it was so rare because parents trusted the librarians,' Rurka said. 'There isn't a lot of harmful content. But now the mere existence of a queer character is seen as a threat.' Rurka also warned that the effect of SB 12 and SB 13 could lead to widespread self-censorship among school staff, well beyond what the laws directly require. 'The laws do enough damage by themselves, but the teachers, the administrators, their jobs are hard enough already. It's a lot easier to just err on the side of caution,' Rurka said. 'Removing even the representation of the LGBTQ experience…doesn't even fit with what our current country's laws and values are supposed to be.' Students are already noticing some of those effects. Ayaan Moledina, a high school student at St. Stephen's Episcopal School, fears the current climate is making some people feel they have permission to openly discriminate against LGBTQ+ communities. 'Because if the president of the United States can spread that hate and attack LGBTQ students, why can't they?' Moledina said. 'In the wake of Trump's election and in the wake of anti-DEI legislation, that haze has increased exponentially.' On his first day back in the office, President Trump signed an executive order requiring the federal government to define sex strictly as male or female, leaving transgender, non-binary and intersex people without the possibility to update their sex in their passports. Another executive order mandated that educational institutions receiving federal funding ban trans women from competing on women's sports teams. Among his peers, he said, people have gotten used to saying they're 'living in 2025 in Texas in the United States of America and the government is coming after students with different identities.' 'I think that's really painful and really sad to see that that is the reality and that students aren't shocked to see that they are becoming numb, they're becoming immune to this type of hate and attacks,' Moledina said. Disclosure: Texas Public Policy Foundation has been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Did Trump's plans to shut down key suicide hotline prompt Canada's toll-free American number? What we know
Several social media users claimed that President Donald Trump's plan to shut down the 988 Suicide Prevention and Crisis Lifeline's specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth has prompted Canada to broadcast a toll-free hotline for Americans. This comes as CNN cited an internal document to report that the Trump administration is suspending the key suicide hotline in a cost-cutting effort. 'As Trump shuts down the suicide hotline, Canada has broadcasted their national hotline which now has a toll-free American version: 1-877-330-6366,' one person said on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. Their post soon went viral with over 150 likes and 130 retweets. 'I love Canadians more and more as this mess continues. Elbows up,' one person wrote in the comment section. 'One more reason to be grateful for #Canada !' another one added. However, the claim is not entirely true. There is no official evidence that President Trump or his administration has shut down the national suicide hotline in the United States. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, established as a federal initiative and signed into law by Trump in 2020, remains operational 24/7, providing free and confidential support. Earlier this week, CNN cited a document to report that the Trump administration was considering defunding specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth. Slamming Trump and his officials, California Governor Gavin Newsom told Politico: 'Suicide is the second leading cause of death among LGBTQ youth. Cutting off kids' access to help is indefensible. While the Trump administration walks away from its responsibility, California will continue to expand access to life-saving resources, because the life of every child — straight, gay, trans — is worth fighting for.' Canada's National Hotline with a Toll-Free American Version (1-877-330-6366) The number 1-877-330-6366 is associated with Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit offering crisis support primarily for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals in Canada. It is not a Canadian national suicide hotline but a specialized service. Trans Lifeline also operates a US number (1-877-565-8860).
