Wearing History: T-shirts from the Gay Rights Movement

By Steve Gdula and Dashka Slater

The T-shirt is a part of Americana and no more is this reflected than in the gay and lesbian community's struggle for civil rights. Through imagination, wit and a passion for equality, the activists... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555839959
• ISBN13: 9781555839956
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Alyson Pubns
• Length: 221 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.8" x 0.5" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful pictures

If there is one thing that every sexually liberated house needs it is a book about shirts from the gay revolution and this book is a testament not only to that revolution, but to photography, humour and genious. From Ronald Reagan to Coca-Cola the gay movement appropriated cultural symbols for its own means and wore them with pride. This is, of course, the essence: pride and this book does justice to that pride by bringing whitty commentary and wonderful photographs to an important theme. Seth J. Frantzman

A Great Read For Everyone

I highly recommend this book for persons of any orientation. Gdula leads us down a path few of us have traveled and awakens memories that maybe we didn't understand at the time. For example, somewhere in my vestigial memory I was aware of the term Stonewall Riots and I knew about Harvey Milk. Through this book I am reminded why they were/are important. And what I really liked is that I "got it" in an easy reading fashion. I was never bored and never felt like I was having something shoved down my throat. I got history I had once missed in a way I could understand. Bright and effortless this book gave me a new awareness of the meaning, the struggle and the fact that it very much still exists. I have always known that wearing a t-shirt (or any art on a piece of clothing) was making a statement. I used to have a cap that said "because I'm the mommy, that's why". I thought it was cute and delivered a quirky message. But reading "Wearing History" opened my eyes to this art form in a new way. It explains for me that sometimes there is no choice and its more than just fun. Sometimes you step out quietly with a traditional piece of clothing and say something really important. And sometimes someone gets it! And sometimes you flamboyantly state your cause and put it in someone's face because they have been otherwise ignoring the fact that you are trying to get their attention. So to all readers I say take the time to open your awareness. This is an uncomplicated read because it is so well written and organized in a way that removes all confusion. It helps you open your awareness and return easily to a piece of history you had forgotten. And you won't even know you have been in class!

Showing Who We Are

Goula, Steve. "Wearing History: T-Shirts from the Gay Rights Movement", Alyson, 2007. Showing Who We Are Amos Lassen One of the greatest inventions of the American people is the T-shirt. The easiest way to make a statement is to put a slogan on a shirt and wear it. The GLBT movement and its struggle for equality have utilized this idea to the fullest and "Wearing History" shows us just how. "Wearing History" is a fun filled little book that charts the history of our movement as seen in the t-shirts we wear and have worn. The book contains over fifty photographs of shirts and slogans that have help to shape our journey for equality. So much can be learned from just looking at the shirts as we have dressed with our morals, our politics, our economics, our status and our sexuality stamped across our chests and in many cases t-shirts have become our uniforms. If there is one sure way to get a reaction, it is to wear how we feel about something. An image or slogan that is provocative can rankle or soothe. It can gain us entrance or it ca cause us to be expelled. As a part of society we find those that agree with the statements we wear and take us in after they have identified us by our clothing. The t-shirt revolution actually began in 1977 when gay bashing was at an al time high and we had made little progress in the gay rights movement. It was then that a simple shirt that said "gay pride week `77" came into being and while saying very little actually made quite a bold statement. It was a political statement and a sign of brotherhood and became a part of our history. Since that time we have shirts that reflect every aspect about us. "Wearing History" is an overview of the years since '77 and the significant moments that occurred as we fought for acceptance. We get to see our visibility and openness by those people who dared to show the world who we are. Here is a great walk down memory lane. Our movement began small and we have now reached a point where most of us have a wardrobe of t-shirts and can usually find one to fit any occasion. Even though this is not a complete history, it's a great way to look at who we are and from where we have come.