LGBTI cloths...

[Gruffudd]

In primary school I found out that gay people in the 50's wore white socks - on that day I threw out any socks that were not white. These days it is the sandy coloured shoes, jeans, white tshirt, and daringly pink hat. I still remember the thrill of my first pride t-shirt, home made of course. Interesting how good it feels to wear something that feels a little gay. 

[Zeal]

Hi,

It's great that you're proud of who you are 🙂 I never knew that about the white socks! I don't follow any particular fashion trend...that I know of! This is the first time I've seen you on the forum, and it seems you have already posted a lot 😄 Then again, maybe I haven't been observant enough!

Best wishes,

SM

[Embracing_Tiger]

For me, the way that I present myself - clothes, haircut - is a way that I proclaim my identity. I remember in the years of first coming out, tight t-shirts made me feel gay. Wearing these made me feel different, in a good way. Even bright colours were against the norm, like a peacock amongst sparrows. I suppose it was a way to affirm my identity of being different and belonging to a "tribe" when I felt quite lonely.

In the immortal words of Rupaul: We're all born naked, and the rest is drag.

[justinok]

Yes on the tight t shirts haha. I remember when that used to be a uniquely gay thing, now there's this thing called 'metrosexual' so straight guys can bandwagon hop on all the gay trends. What's funny is that the term 'metrosexual' was actually coined by a gay writer.  Earrings in the right ear was one from when I was growing up too, but it's been rendered obsolete...now it's probably more about what you DON'T have pierced 😮 😮 😮

Some mates of mine have t-shirts with some pretty full on slogans on them, they're not the sort of thing you could wear to a church BBQ haha. I'm still not comfortable with being that out there myself. 

[Gruffudd]

The tight tshirt and ear ring in the right ear - that takes me back, my right ear is still double the thickness after rejecting the stud. Some of the more full on messages might be in the great tradition of reclaiming the words of abuse... I have found myself wearing the queer tshirt underneath at work in the great tradition of superman (another of the old tight t-shirts)

[Embracing_Tiger]

Sexual, gender and body diverse people used to be cutting edge in fashion and lifestyle. I think being different from the status quo encouraged us to push boundaries and that turned us into trend setters. 

But now it seems that in mainstream society, the LGBTIQA+ community is going back towards the heteronormative ideals. Media and advertising seem to mostly use white, middle/upper class, fashionable, (assumed) monogamous "married" men. In the furore of campaigning for same-sex marriage, a conservative approach to traditional ideals superseded our more deviant or subversive community. Why do some same-sex attracted men think that "straight acting" is a healthy self-image. Sure I would like marriage equality to be passed into law cause it is important for some people: I just want to right to refuse to marry. 

Wow, that went on a political trajectory - sorry about that. 

Stuff like tight t-shirsts and right ear piercings not only was a way to express identity, communicate to other same-sex attached men, but I think also a form of defiance to an unaccepting world. Today though, with growing acceptance of people of diverse sexuality, gender and bodies, we have a lesser need for either purpose. Gruffudd, keep rocking those queer t-shirts. 

[Gruffudd]

I guess the personal is still political. The "straight acting" thing is similar to trans people "passing" in some ways, I wouldn't want to stop people, but not everyone can or wants to act or pass, so I think it helps for those of us to push the boundaries a little. I have noticed that girls can wear boys cloths but boys don't have the same option without being told that they are trans or something else fairly negative.

I would love to see change in the media away from white straight people, the world is way more interesting then that. Lateline had an interview with a commentator from england who was trans, it was about trains, and that made me so happy - being trans was not the purpose of being on the television, she was there to talk seriously about trains.