Old Navy Shows Gay Pride

Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” campaign has inspired retailer Old Navy to introduce a new line of Gay Pride T-shirts just in time for June’s festivities. The new shirts – designed for men, women and babies – will be available at select stores throughout June. The best part is that 10 percent of proceeds from the sale of each shirt is being donated to the “It Gets Better” project.

It couldn’t come at a better time.

According to Bullypolice.org, Pennsylvania is home to the fourth-highest number of bullying cases in the U.S. The National Education Policy Center estimates that more than 85 percent of LGBT students report being harassed because of sexual orientation or gender identity.

And while other designers like Marc Jacobs, Kenneth Cole and American Apparel (with the help of the HRC) have also created limited-edition shirts with gay themes over the years, MoxieBird.com says Old Navy (which is owned by the Gap) is the first major chain to do so with proceeds going to a supportive LGBT campaign.

James P. Testerman, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, told the Patriot-News that he anticipates little objection from the state’s 500 school districts over students wearing the new shirts. “I think anything that draws attention to trying to reduce bullying in schools is a good thing,” he says. “As long as it’s part of student expression that does not interrupt the educational environment, there shouldn’t be any problem.”

If your local Old Navy store doesn’t carry the shirts, you can order them online starting this Wednesday.