Lavender Menace - Lesbian LGBTQIA+ Activist Tee

This shirt pays tribute to the iconic activism of radical lesbians and their appropriation of the term Lavender Menace. From wikipedia: The term "lavender menace" originated as a negative term for the association of lesbianism with the feminist movement, but it was later reclaimed as a positive term by lesbian feminists. The "lavender" aspect of the term stems back to the early 20th century in which lavender shades became popular in women's fashion, and the color took on meaning as a slang term for gay men.[4] The phrase "Lavender Menace" was reportedly first used in 1969 by Betty Friedan, president of The National Organization for Women (NOW), to describe the threat that she believed associations with lesbianism posed to NOW and the emerging women's movement. Friedan, and some other heterosexual feminists, worried that the association would hamstring feminists' ability to achieve serious political change. [5] Under her direction, NOW attempted to distance itself from lesbian causes – including omitting the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis from the list of sponsors of the First Congress to Unite Women in November 1969. Friedan's remarks and the decision to drop DOB from the sponsor list led lesbian feminist Rita Mae Brown to angrily resign her administrative job at NOW in February 1970.[6][7] In a New York Times Magazine article on March 15, 1970, straight radical feminist Susan Brownmiller quoted Friedan's remarks about the "lavender menace," which Brownmiller took as an allusion to Cold War era "Red Menace" rhetoric, and dismissed Friedan's worries as "A lavender herring, perhaps, but no clear and present danger."[7] Brownmiller later said that when she wrote the article, she had intended to use a humorous quip to distance herself from Friedan's homophobia.[7][8] However, some lesbian feminists, such as Michela Griffo, took her remarks as "a scathing put-down" and "evidence of Susan's homophobia or closet homosexuality—that is, that she was trying to distance herself from lesbians by insulting us."[8] They felt that the quip dismissed lesbians as an insignificant part of the movement, or lesbian issues as unnecessary distractions from the important issues. "The women's movement had coined the motto 'the personal is political,'" said Karla Jay, in the 2014 documentary She's Beautiful When She's Angry. "But when you were a lesbian and wanted to talk about lesbian relationships, as opposed to heterosexual relationships, they didn't want to hear about it."[9] Product features - Ethically made with 100% US cotton - No side seams for reduced fabric waste - Crew neckline for a timeless look - Tear-away label for a scratch-free experience Care instructions - Machine wash: warm (max 40C or 105F) - Non-chlorine: bleach as needed - Tumble dry: medium - Do not iron - Do not dryclean

EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY

Product information: Gildan 5000, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC

Warnings, Hazard: For adults, Made in Nicaragua

Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), Non-chlorine: bleach as needed, Tumble dry: low heat, Do not iron, Do not dryclean