I Support Support Shirts

THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED, AT THE VERY BOTTOM.

My friend Tara Littman, the President of Support Shirts, is a designer whose work was picked up by Urban Outfitters a few months ago for sale in some of their stores and on their website. The style Urban chose was the work of her and her boyfriend Travis, a shirt that proclaims “I Support Same Sex Marriage.” Lots of my friends (mostly straight) own and wear these shirts. It’s a bold and blunt statement, so I was thrilled when she told me that Urban was going to sell them. When I asked how things were going, she told me that Urban had pulled them after only a week of sale, citing “bad press” that Tara and I soon found to be nonexistent. I told her I would like to help out, so I interviewed her about this and the subsequent lies that Urban Outfitters told to try and cover themselves, including to groups of customers looking for the freshly-pulled shirts. Please continue reading…

Tara did not view the design as that of a bullying nature, but rather as an “obvious statement [simply] in support of same sex marriage.” Nothing more offensive or pushy than a shirt that says “I support Barack Obama” or “I support John McCain.” Tara and Travis “worked very closely with buyers from Urban Outfitters to create a custom color combination that suited their collection” and “after several months of back and forth discussions over colors and orders, we got the green light.”

But a week after the shirts had shipped to Urban to sell on the web and in the key market of California – where a law allowing same sex marriages had just passed when their discussions with Urban began – Tara, upon e-mailing the buyer for a sales report, was told that “they had been pulled from all of the stores and the web because of ‘too much bad press.’” Just a week before Proposition 8 was approved, her support shirt was removed from what she thought was “one of the most liberal, open minded stores.” At first she was disheartened at the thought of so much negative reaction to such a simple design proclaiming only the wearers’ personal positive disposition on a very timely and much-discussed issue. But after doing some research to find all this supposed “bad press,” all that came up at the time of the pull was one blog entry, which appeared on a small site devoted solely to combat gay marriage in the time of Proposition 8. Nothing more.

What Tara did find in her research, however, were “a bunch of articles on the president and founder of Urban Outfitters [Richard Hayne], his conservative views, and his contributions to [ousted homophobic politician] Rick Santorum.” Articles covering Hayne’s contributions to multiple conservative politicians and his personal conservatism dated back as early as 2003. This is not a crime by any means, but Tara did not feel that it was sufficient grounds to renege on an agreement. She told me “this is not a shirt with ice cream cones or puppies, it is a political shirt. With quite a few pro-Obama shirts in their store and even some anti-McCain products, this clearly isn’t a company that has a problem being politically aligned, so why?” She wonders if it is “just the homosexual community under attack here.”

Her frustration was further fueled by an e-mail she received regarding a group of California residents who went into an Urban Outfitters in Los Angeles to purchase the shirts. They wanted to wear them to a Proposition 8 rally following the election. The e-mail said that when they asked about the shirts, a sales rep told them that they were no longer carrying them “due to a dispute with the company,” a charge that Tara claims is simply a lie… and one that she believes is being perpetuated as a way of putting the blame for the absence of the shirts unfairly onto her company’s shoulders. The only dispute between Urban Outfitters and Support Shirts is this one, now, created by Urban’s remarkably flawed handling of the situation with this one harmless design.

“With the news of the approval of Prop 8 in California it has become clear that these shirts deserve a place,” Tara says. “People need to hear this story and those who do support same sex marriage need to be proud of it and not be afraid to wear it on their sleeve. Our country needs these shirts more than ever, and I’m sorry that Urban Outfitters is too conservative or too scared to give this worthy cause a voice.”

Support Shirts is not giving up, though. The “I Support Same Sex Marriage” shirt will soon be available on their website along with their other designs. Tara, Travis, and Support Shirts are hoping that more retail outlets will step forward and show their support in this time for historic statements. Companies like Urban Outfitters – who have built a questionable reputation of being the mainstream, accessible retailer for hip and emerging ideas in fashion – do a great disservice to their customers, and to the massive queer population of America and its millions of straight supporters, by discontinuing the sale of this product and subsequently lying about the circumstances.

I urge you to contact Urban Outfitters by e-mail, phone, or mail if you are concerned by this story. You can also purchase one of the “I Support Same Sex Marriage” shirts direct from Support Shirts.

*****

UPDATE: Urban Outfitters responded to New York Magazine’s article on this story with the following statement:

“The T-shirt was pulled because it was not selling. This is a common practice because sales space is so valuable, especially in this challenging economic climate. The move was in no way indicative of a political agenda or our personal beliefs. In retrospect we wish that we had held onto it as a show of support. We wouldn’t bring back the same T-shirt because it didn’t sell well. But the head merchant is open to finding other products that support gay marriage and carry the same message but will be more popular with our customers.”

Not true. They told Tara the reason was “too much bad press.” Either they were lying to her then or they are lying to NY Mag now. Not to mention the fact that, according to several Urban Outfitters employees, when the store has an item that does not sell well, they move it to a sale rack or onto the website rather than pull it altogether. And the poor sales forecast was supposed to have occurred in one week of them hitting the shelves in the first place? Hard to believe.

Urban Outfitters representatives also lied to customers trying to buy the shirt when they said that the shirts were pulled because of “a dispute with the company” (see above). In addition, Urban Outfitters representative Krissy Atkinson responded to an e-mail that a supporter of Tara’s sent in. Atkinson’s response to the supporter’s outrage included the lines:

“We do not have any political agenda – we react to the wants of our customer. That particular tee shirt did not sell well in our stores, which is why we no longer carry it.”

This is an echo of the brand new “it didn’t sell well, so we pulled it” fabrication. But for a store that has “no political agenda” they sure have been making lots of money off of pro-Obama and anti-McCain items this season. Support shirts in favor of one presidential candidate and against another seem to me to be about the most political type of item you can possibly sell. Why does Urban Outfitters continue to lie about this situation?

49 Comments to I Support Support Shirts

by SKIRT

On December 5, 2008 at 8:52 am

I guess he dislikes gays more than he likes making money….
Besides, that store is overpriced and soon going the way of Hot Topic.
by Christine

On December 5, 2008 at 9:47 am

If he dislikes the gay community more than he likes making money, then he should probably check his real motives. This all seems kind of ridiculous. And I agree on the statement that UO seemed to be one of the most open minded stores out there. The store is expensive, but the clothes in general do tend to be high quality items than you can’t find very often else where. It’s definitely no Hot Topic, full of cliche “emo” and “goth”clothing, though very pricey for the stuff it sells.
I dunno, this world makes me sad.
by Erik

On December 5, 2008 at 9:57 am

I was planning on spending a few hundred dollars at Urban Outfitters this holiday season. Even though finding certain items elsewhere will be difficult, I refuse to give them any of my money after reading this story. I hope they make amends!
by Erik

On December 5, 2008 at 10:01 am

OH! One more thing. It’s not as if those shirts that were pulled said something like “I LOVE GETTING FISTED!” or “FELCH THE PISS-CUM OUT OF MY HOLE!”. A lot of married couples don’t even have sex. So I’ve heard.
by alyssa bauman

On December 5, 2008 at 10:01 am

This really pisses me off. I guess I will never get over the fact that in this day and age when people are dying in meaningless wars and losing their homes and livelihoods, that people would actually be so small minded. Although it is the same people causing all this other strife in the world who are still so small minded. Never did like Urban Outfitters, tho; at least now i have a rant for them. I WOULD GLADLY SELL THESE SHIRTS AT MY BUSINESS VENUES.
keep on keeping on and don’t le the a-holes get you down. they’re gonna get a good karma kick in the butt one of these days. one love, alyssa
by kristen

On December 5, 2008 at 10:04 am

As if I couldn’t dislike Urban anymore. This is crap and I’ll definitely be sending them an email.
by Tori Roze

On December 5, 2008 at 10:09 am

I will wear one of these shirts on stage, period.
by Kat

On December 5, 2008 at 10:12 am

I just love how people are willing to stick their necks out for some things but are too cowardly to do it on things that really matter. I’ve never shopped at Urban Outfitters, feeling that they themselves are too narrow and cliche, and now, it wouldn’t matter if they were paying ME to shop there… I still wouldn’t. This message deserves to be heard, it’s just the same as the African American rights movement in the 60’s, and the women’s lib movement that started in the 20’s…Equal rights no matter what creed, color, sex, age, or sexual orientation! Marriage should be a union between two people who love each other and are commited to each other; it shouldn’t have anything to do with their sexuality! Pardon the rant…
by Philip Neumann

On December 5, 2008 at 10:28 am

the owner of urban outfitters has HUGE track record of supporting anti-gay ballot measures, and generally just funding the christian right. i found this out about 8 years ago and have never shopped there since. i figured more gay people knew about it, but i suppose not. i tend to casually slip it into a conversation if i’m shopping and pass by one of their stores it’s a shame because a lot of hipster gay men and women, and their straight friends, will shop there and often work there, yet they have no idea of what the owner is doing with his profits. he’s incredibly dispicable considering how he panders to liberal customers, only to support counter views.
by Mandylion

On December 5, 2008 at 10:53 am

I just sent them a nasty e-mail. I doubt any of my gay friends are going to be eager to spend any money with them anytime soon. I’m also returing a purchase I just made from their website, I love the dresses, but I can’t support hipocrisy. I think if we all bitch enough, we can do something about it.
by Alyssa // Love Brigade

On December 5, 2008 at 11:04 am

1. that’s bs.

2. send some shirts our way, let’s put them in the love brigade + friends store and online!
by avery

On December 5, 2008 at 11:06 am

…wow! i ordered my shirt before the pull! …when i checked back on it later (on the site) i had just assumed that they had been sold out! but now knowing that they were “Pulled”, i wish i hadn’t puchased it from UO and got it direct insted
…i will repost this and i will not be buying from UO anymore, and i will be writing them an e-mail to tell them what they did was (in the wordz of Jen Anderson) “Uncool”
by SKIRT

On December 5, 2008 at 11:07 am

Here’s a question: Is your friend contractually bound to only produce these shirts for UO, or does she have the legal right to take the design to their competition, say Collette or an edgier, most progressive store?
by Jon

On December 5, 2008 at 11:15 am

I think yall are making too big of a deal out of this. They have a right not to sell the shirt. And if they don’t want to believe in gay marriage they have that right too. You have a right to believe in it. Its not like they hurting any of yall. I will continue to shop there and so will my friends.
by lovebunny

On December 5, 2008 at 11:29 am

sure jon, they have the right to not sell the shirt – but they chose to sell the shirt, contracted for the shirts, and then refused to honor their agreement. because they got scared. that’s why i won’t shop there. and that’s what i told them in my email… the thousands of dollars i spend on my wardrobe every year will be spent elsewhere.
by me!

On December 5, 2008 at 11:32 am

i actually consider myself a liberal republican…. i know it may not make too much sense but to me it does! anyways, my point is that someone who lives in california & it being a pretty liberal state, was abosultely shocked when prop 8 passed…. you are born gay & of course, have no choice in the matter…. same goes for when you are born a man or woman, black or white…. so why the hell wouldn’t gays have the same rights as EVERYONE else?!!?

and on another note, im actually more offended by all the pro obama/anti mccain than i am with a shirt that probably shouldn’t be an issue cuz everyone should have the same right to be married if they like! knowing that urban outfitters is THAT conservative is pretty damn shocking when most of their clientle & merchandise isn’t!

so i say if that shirt can’t be sold, then there should be no more access to “yes we did” or anything pro obama or anti mccain…. just going to their site, i saw at LEAST 4 obama shirts! how can they be THAT close minded & stupid at the same time???

it just goes back to what ive been saying for awhile…. most people don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground….

best of luck!

me =)
by Sara

On December 5, 2008 at 11:52 am

For some reason, when I went to email the company, it didn’t say my email was sent. I think they know we’re on to them! Thats alright. I’ll just attack by phone. If interested, this is what I wrote:

To whom it may concern:

I have worked in the fashion industry for years. I have also been raised in a family of politicians my entire life. My background knowledge plays a huge role on my decision making for my personal and business decisions. Any professional of my expertise are an asset to any decent company. This is why I have come to address your marketing mistake of pulling the Same Sex Marriage t-shirts by Tara Littman. Whether it be holding a sign, verbally stating, or wearing a t-shirt, everyone in this country has freedom of speech. Though many abuse it for arrogance and ignorance, this is an issue for the greater good. This entire country, even its fashion, has dramatically changed in just one hundred years. This is an ever-changing world, and you are an ever-changing company. You are selling trendy clothing, correct? Why not keep up with the political trend then? Proposition 8 has been approved in California, why not return these shirts back to the shelves where they belong? Or is the real problem that your company isn’t based out of California where their culture is thriving with diversity? If you’d like to go ahead and discriminate against same sex marriage, then doesn’t that give me the right to believe that your company is owned by a bunch of southern conservative Christian homophobics? Indeed it does. Wake up. I know everyone in this world loves making money, but its more valid in your lifetime to make a statement. Why is that drugs and alcohol are on tons of t-shirts and no one seems to have a problem pulling those? Its become acceptable to society to clearly where a t-shirt with a huge print of a marijuana leaf on it. And these shirts are not only sold in California where its legalized, but on the east coast where if you’re caught with possession of such a drug, you’re locked up for a minimum of 3-5 years. What about alcohol? The third leading cause of death in the country. Whether it be from drunk driving or drinking yourself to death, its still killing isn’t it? Alcohol sells millions of dollars in merchandise a year. Including t-shirts. Same sex marriage is harmless. No one is getting hurt nor hurting anyone else. A marriage is between two people and those two people only. So put those shirts back on the shelves. You’re only bringing negative press your way for pulling such a positive movement away from your patrons.
by ELISE

On December 5, 2008 at 2:20 pm

I had no idea UO was so hypocritical. I can’t afford to shop there anyway, but I won’t even be stopping by the one next to my favorite bar in the city and buying Hello Kitty crap there anymore.
by m

On December 5, 2008 at 3:15 pm

The shirt was obviously pulled because it’s ugly, not because of its message. If the shirt was better designed, I am almost positive we would not be having this conversation right now. Everything has to get filtered through dozens of people and it sounds like at the last minute someone finally opened their mouth and commented on the trite design. I feel bad that all of you sent hate mail to UO without considering this notion.
by Debra

On December 5, 2008 at 3:40 pm

In reply to that person who said that the shirt was pulled because it was ugly is a fool. Urban outfitters approved the shirt. If it was ugly they would not of purchased it for their store. And you must be blind because the shirt design is awesome just like the rest of their shirts. Oh and by the way I am not gay. There are many straight people who support this.
by jeff

On December 5, 2008 at 3:42 pm

“m” – the reason UO gave was “bad press” jackass
by rj

On December 5, 2008 at 3:56 pm

I emailed brad earlier when I first read this posting and stated:

although I think it sucks that your friend was wronged by this company, I don’t feel sympathy at all, Someone trying to capitalize on my rights is gross to me, and I don’t feel that way about just your friends shirt but anyone doing it for that matter.

to which brad replied:

“Someone has to make “support same sex marriage” shirts. And someone has to make “Obama” shirts and shirts for all kinds of causes. And since it costs to make, it costs to buy. Tara has been making these shirts for years and Urban just now decided they wanted to sell them… she did it before it was popular or (as much) in the news. Plus, it’s just one shirt in a line of her cause-supporting shirts. I would much rather her make some money off a shirt advertising pro-same sex marriage than either a shirt with something pointless on it or, worse, not having those shirts exist at all.”

and here is my rebuttal, although I think there is a valid point that there should be a “support same sex marriage” shirt, I feel that no one should capitalize on this, I feel that a gay organization should make them and the proceeds goes towards the fight against prop 8 or to help out people within our community. I don’t feel one person should gain off of what I am fighting for as a gay man.
by ERic

On December 5, 2008 at 6:34 pm

This shit isn’t about Prop 8 any more. It’s about people coming together and doing the right thing! It’s about all of us standing together and fighting for human equality! I, as a GAY man, am honored that Tara and Support Shirts took the time and energy to fight for me and my rights! I am going to rock the hell out of that amazing shirt and hope that everyone else does the same! And Tara I hope that you make a fortune off of them, and keep fighting for any cause that you feel compassion for! Because people like you and all of my amazing friends and my family, who have my back no matter what, give me hope for the future! Much love and respect!
by Nix

On December 5, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Ugh, that’s such bullshit and it really disappoints me. People are still just too prejudiced. It’s 2008 for fuck’s sake, let’s move on from the immaturity and fight for what’s right. I SUPPORT GAY MARRIAGE.
by Kaelee

On December 6, 2008 at 1:50 am

Woah woah woah woah. I personally work at Urban and although the president might be conservative which is news to me because he was just at our store on Wednesday and has been at our store like three times in the last three months and all of our employees as well as managers, gay and straight, said he was a very cool guy. Also bad press is the company getting complaints about the shirt not corporate having a problem with it. We have shirts pulled all the time because they get too many complaints. I don’t think that the shirt being pulled is anything to do with corporate but because of the customers.
by Nohemi

On December 6, 2008 at 7:28 am

I recently bought one of these shirts! Not only because of my brother but because of many of my friends!
by SFIS

On December 6, 2008 at 3:13 pm

Another example of the disgusting ethics of Urban Outfitters.

They have a long history of destroying the careers of young designers with their questionable business practices.
Instead of supporting designers, they squeeze them dry, propagate their designs and spit them out.
The store is filled with carbon copies of true designer’s work. Most likely they will be selling a copy of this t-shirt within the next year.

They may not support gay rights but they certainly have no problem using them for their ideas. Urban Outfitters may not look exactly like Hot Topic but they are no better.

Another reason to educate yourself about where you spend your money.
by iona

On December 8, 2008 at 1:04 pm

Thanks for letting us know. I will not shop at Urban Outfitters and I will let them know why in a letter. I have 2 friends who raised a “crack” baby and now that kid is on honor rolls consistently – but in FLA and some states they would not have been able to have adopted their son.
by CF

On December 8, 2008 at 1:45 pm

as someone who worked at an Urban Outfitters for three years (something i’m not exactly proud of…) i will say two things– first, a substantial part of their staff is gay, and should look for employment elsewhere. why work for a company who so obviously doesn’t stand for your rights? that would send a strong message to the company. second, sales reps at Urban are not told what is going on at a corporate level, so i wouldn’t be surprised if the sales rep at the LA store had no idea what he/she was talking about and was just repeating a rumor.
by Todd

On December 8, 2008 at 5:57 pm

what she thought was “one of the most liberal, open minded stores.”

I don’t know where she got that from. Hayne is a notably right-wing Republican who donates money to Republican politicians, not least Rick Santorum, a now failed Senator whose views on homosexuality are both bizarre and old-fashioned. Next time, do your homework, sweetie.
by ruby

On December 9, 2008 at 2:02 am

i think there was more bad press than this post claims. i was involved in the prop 8 campaign, and i saw this on a couple of blogs. lots of people made phone calls and emailed and complained. it was probably a combo of the conservative owner and the complaints. even if it was just her blog…i think you underestimate how many people were reading it at the time.

just look what one person can do.
by joey kitsune.

On December 9, 2008 at 7:36 pm

i hope urban goes out of business. there are plenty of better hipster stores out in the world, believe me. it just makes me furious as to how the owner of a clothing store chain with such a high queer clientele base, would be so stupid to risk his business with such a selfish motive. if you think about it… it is OUR money that went into supporting prop 8. mark my words, richard hayne: I WILL NEVER SHOP AT YOUR STORES AGAIN.
by michael

On December 10, 2008 at 10:39 am

What I have come to understand, especially after reading these comments, is that the focus is not and really should not be only about these tee shirts. The REAL and GREATER issue is awareness. If all the information that was provided about this situation, bias or not, is true then we really do have a responsibility to react to this. If the situation was a misunderstanding then lets use this as a position to bring to light (since we are all ready here) the things that we do know and feel are truly happening and truly WORK and do what we can to fix it! What matters is that something happened, small or other wise, true or not true, and its working to bring more attention to the fact that there is an intolerance in this country and things are not balanced. so read as much as you can, learn the issues, and use what ever power you possess. And for me my power is to not shop and contribute to a company that doesn’t care about me, the costumer.
by RJP3

On December 10, 2008 at 3:14 pm

This should be the death nell – last nail in the coffin – final solution – for anyone in the know – Urban Outfitter is an a-hole who milks hipsters for their money then gives it to anti-gay and conservative causes and politicians – and LAUGHS about it as his planned design. Yeah I once shopped there…. but how uncool to be seen there now!
by Dennis

On December 10, 2008 at 3:51 pm

I just sent….

Too bad you pulled the “I support gay marriage” t-shirt. No more of my money for you. Always remember…”if you do something well, people will tell one other person; do something badly and that same person will tell TEN!”

WHAMO!!!
by moden

On December 10, 2008 at 8:02 pm

email service@urbanoutfitters.com asking them to carry this shirt again if you want to see it back on the shelf…
by pickles

On December 10, 2008 at 9:48 pm

Just sent them a letter too. I checked and according to my AMEX I spent $1760 there last year between Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. Done. Assholes like their big cheese don’t deserve my money. They have had a shitty rep for a long time, but I still sneak in for a few work-related purchases a year. Now I’m officially done. WHat an idiot that he would claim ‘bad press’ when this will do MORE damage.

(Ps.. if it won’t let you send, it’s because you’ve got more than 1000 words or letters in your message (in Firefox it told me why, Safari it just kept resetting). Shorten your message if it won’t send.)
by Chuy

On December 10, 2008 at 10:45 pm

Where can I get this shirt????
by rick

On December 11, 2008 at 9:12 am

i suggest a nice comment on their myspace page too…..
by Dennis N.

On December 12, 2008 at 9:24 am

Ew…Slimy.
by Satan

On December 12, 2008 at 2:19 pm

Who cares, do they really want their T-shirt sold in this cheaply made crap store? Their clothes are terrible and so CHEAP
(not in price)! I cant express this enough. It’s a good issue to get out there because now these kids who buy clothes at UO can realize that they there are unknowingly supporting HATE and maybe make a better decision about that by shopping somewhere else that isn’t so conservative mainstream. Reminds me of Forever 21, I didn’t realize the company was majorly JESZO! I will not shop there anymore either.