Meghan McCain, why are you wearing a "SILENCE=DEATH" shirt?

[targetpractice]

This may be old news, but I saw this and was kinda offended...



Why is she wearing this? Is she clueless? Why is the triangle rightside-up? Does anyone know?

I saw the shot on Keith Olbermann tonight, and googled to find a photo... I found this article...

http://out.com/detail.asp?id=25589

I'm reading the article now, but so far I"m not impressed...

[Newsjock]

1. That's the classic ACT UP imagery

... to answer the question about the triangle.
http://www.queerculturalcenter.org/Pages/GranFury/GFIntr.html

The graphic perhaps most closely associated with ACT UP would be the visually simple emblem of the words "SILENCE = DEATH" underneath a pink triangle on a black background. This creation was originally printed up by six gay men calling themselves the Silence = Death Project who were present at the formation of ACT UP and lent the organization their graphic design for placards to be used in demonstrations in April,1987. Thereafter, the graphic found its way onto posters, buttons and T-shirts becoming an invaluable source of fund raising for the organizations.

[targetpractice]

2. Yup... I was there... But, OMG my memory has failed me!

Thanks for setting me straight (so to speak)!

I had forgotten that ACT UP purposefully inverted the upside-down triangle symbol worn by gay Nazi concentration camp prisoners. ACT-UP inverted the triangle as an assertion of gay pride.

I wore my ACT UP t-shirt with pride until it fell apart... I'm embarrassed that I forgot such a detail.

So... Kudos to Meghan!

[donheld]

3. Educate yourself

http://www.actupny.org/

[targetpractice]

4. Thanks, sweetheart...

I just admitted above that I had a dyslexic moment...

I remember the triangle as upside-down because of its origin in Nazi concentration camps... I had forgotten that ACT-UP flipped it in order to take ownership of the symbol.

Mea culpa.

[Q3JR4]

5. Thank you for this.

I didn't know ACTUP was still around, nor did I know they had specific symbolism that represented them.

Q3JR4.
You learn something new every day. :)

[targetpractice]

7. I don't think they are still around...

I miss ACT UP and Queer Nation...

But, the ACT UP t-shirt inspired me to become a graphic designer... I believe the SILENCE=DEATH logo is one of the most powerful symbols of the last century.

Kids have it so easy today... When I was young we had to walk 2 miles in the snow to the nearest gay bar... IN HEELS!

[targetpractice]

6. BTW... I don't think you intended to come across as an asshole...

But, you certainly did.

If I was a gay or questioning youth today who was seeking to learn more about myself or gay history... I would have been horrified to reach out in an anonymous forum and receive your snarky response.

I came out decades ago, but I do remember what it was like to take baby steps and ask questions when I was trying to figure things out...

If I had asked a simple question (at that time) and received a response like yours... I would have recoiled from the gay community with prejudice... Fortunately, I encountered more a more welcoming and understanding crowd.

Maybe you were simply offering a brief reply, but think and check your attitude, my friend.

[DURHAM D]

8. What a lovely tempered comment...

:hug:

Peace to you.

[targetpractice]

9. I apologize for the reply above....

I was in an overly sensitive state of mind last night.

[donheld]

10. Educate yourself is snarky?

Get a thicker skin

[Sub Atomic]

11. Why do you feel the express need to be an asshole?

Why are you posting in this forum?

[donheld]

12. How am I being an asshole and why should I not post here?