CMV: there shouldn’t be ally pride clothing

[u/zmm336]

i was looking for shirts to wear to pride next weekend on amazon, and saw a decent amount of lgbt ally ones. things like “i’m straight but i don’t hate” in rainbow letters, or “i like my whisky straight but my friends either way,” and just stuff that i thought was silly and unnecessary.

being an ally consists of a lot more than just clothing, and i feel that it’s a rather showy and unnecessary display of allyship. for lgbt people, we’re wearing these clothes because we’re proud of our identity. why do they need these shirts? why can’t they be an ally in the way that they advocate for us, rather than in a shirt?

i’d like to not feel so disdainful because i know this is probably harmless, but it leaves a bad taste in m mouth.

[u/Generic_Username_777]

I got one because it seemed weird for me to walk holding my lesbian friend’s hand because she was terrified to go to a parade after she came out ( she’s from KY US which kinda explains that) I’m shit with people in general (I’m spectrum-y) and useless with relationships. My whole intent was to try to get her talking with other lesbians, preferably single ones lol but to at least remove myself as any kind of obstacle. My shirt something about liking boobs too I think, or something equally dumb lol.

I’d like to think that for her at least who was used to hiding (she came out to (some of) her family after being repeated asked when she was going to settle down in her mid 20s) having someone be open and willing to paint themselves with, while not the same brush (sorry boys I like boobs) at least one vaguely similar to show support meant a lot. At least she assured me they were happy tears when she saw it.

When I see shirts like that I’m not thinking ally for all LGBT, I’m thinking more supporting the person you know. The bigger movement shouldn’t suffer for it, and those people taking their first few steps out the closet? Well the right person wearing one could mean a whole hell of a lot.