Everyone knows that I’m all about cool T-shirts, but recently it’s come to my attention that what I once thought was a cool T-shirt is probably not so cool anymore.  The above pic is of a T-shirt I bought in 2000 in Nuernberg, Germany while studying abroad.  It cost 5 Deutsch Mark (approximately $2.50 in today’s standards).  I thought to myself at the time, “hey, this is a cool European T-shirt and it’s cheap which makes it even more cool.”  To me it represented a uni-sex bathroom symbol, which I, being the 20 year old student back in the day, thought was really neat.

I’ve worn this shirt dozens of times over the past 15 years and I’m sure there are many pics in my collection of me in this T-shirt.  Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m gonna’ be able to wear the shirt anymore, thanks to a lot of homophobic bigots in my country.  I wore this shirt recently while rock climbing with some younger friends of mine (25ish) and they just kinda’ stared at me and asked me, “bro, what do you mean with that T-shirt? Are you trying to make a statement about marriage equality?”  It kinda’ shocked me that someone could think I’m homophobic just because of a simple T-shirt, but the reality is that that CAN happen.  When I was confronted by these questions, I stated, “It’s a unisex bathroom symbol.  I totally support marriage equality and have gay friends, etc.”

However,  I think we kind of have to come to terms that certain symbols can be interpreted as bigotry.  The Swastika used to be a holy symbol for Hinduism and Buddhism and then some stupid idiot from Austria with one testicle and a fucked up moustache ruined that for everyone around the 1930s (look it up).  Also anyone who carries the confederate flag (which i believe has always been a racist symbol) has to be prepared to be labeled a racist.  Likewise, if I continue to wear above pictured T-shirt, I will have to be prepared to be labeled as someone who believes marriage should only be between a man and woman. (And of course I don’t believe that!)

Hence, I’m no longer going to wear this T-shirt, which has been one my favorite shirts to wear for a long time.  In fact, the next time I go camping, I may even burn it.  Sometimes, we have to change our patterns of behavior as a reaction to the times we live in (and apparently this applies to our fashion choices).  However, there is no need to fear.  There are plenty of other cool T-shirts out there that represent being cool and supporting equality of ALL beings.