A clash of values or intolerance by those who demand tolerance of others?

[Mwalimu-G]

LGBT-owned kilt maker denounces kilt-clad Proud Boys
Published3 days ago
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IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES
The LGBT-owned kilt producer pulled the yellow kilts from shelves in response to Proud Boys

A Virginia kilt company is "disgusted" that their yellow kilts were worn by the far-right Proud Boys.
Members of the group were seen sporting the bright garments at a pro-Trump rally this weekend in Washington DC.
The Proud Boys are an all-male group of self-proclaimed "Western chauvinists" with a history of street violence.
Verillas - the LGBT-owned brand - says the "nightmare scenario" has forced them to pull the kilts from the shelves.
Extremist groups in the US often adopt or appropriate items of clothing as quasi-uniforms that indicate their allegiance and make them recognisable to others.

• Who are Proud Boys and antifa?
• Proud Boys becomes LGBT trend on social media
• Meet the people at America's political extremes

Over the weekend, videos on social media showcased a row of Proud Boys in bright yellow Verillas kilts mooning the crowd gathered around them, with "[expletive] antifa" written on their bare bottoms.
Antifa is a group of mostly far-left activists who have repeatedly clashed with the Proud Boys.
Verillas owner Allister Greenbrier - a bisexual entrepreneur of Scottish descent - expressed shock and dismay that his brand was associated with the group.
"I was appalled, angry and frustrated because they are the opposite of everything our brand stands for," he told the BBC, noting that the men had initially claimed to be a metal band looking for kilts.
"I was quite angry. I had to calm down a bit, but we decided we really didn't want their money."
In a message on Twitter, Verillas announced a donation of $1,000 (£745) - a sum exceeding the Proud Boys' purchase - to the anti-racism organisation National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

View original tweet on Twitter
Aside from pulling the offending garment off its racks, the company is also offering free colour exchanges for anybody who had previously purchased its yellow kilts.
Mr Greenbrier says his brand is going to attach charitable donations to their product lines moving forward.
"I can't control who buys my product, but if they're buying our product, they're putting their money towards a good cause and I think they won't be too happy when they find out they accidentally bought from a company that's really fighting for the opposite of what they believe in," he says.
"We want to turn hate into love," Mr Greenbrier added.
"The loud outpouring of support we've gotten has really turned around a nightmare scenario and shown that a lot of people support the same message we believe in."
It is not the first time the Proud Boys have caused trouble for a clothing brand.
Earlier this year, British clothing company Fred Perry halted US sales of its polo shirts after the clothing item became a regular part of the Proud Boys' "uniform".

 

[emali]

Proud Boys are an all-male group of self-proclaimed

na wavaa skirts? walks like a duck quacks like a duck.. must be a bent fella

 

[Quiet Storm]

LGBT-owned kilt maker denounces kilt-clad Proud Boys
Published3 days ago
Share

IMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES
The LGBT-owned kilt producer pulled the yellow kilts from shelves in response to Proud Boys

A Virginia kilt company is "disgusted" that their yellow kilts were worn by the far-right Proud Boys.
Members of the group were seen sporting the bright garments at a pro-Trump rally this weekend in Washington DC.
The Proud Boys are an all-male group of self-proclaimed "Western chauvinists" with a history of street violence.
Verillas - the LGBT-owned brand - says the "nightmare scenario" has forced them to pull the kilts from the shelves.
Extremist groups in the US often adopt or appropriate items of clothing as quasi-uniforms that indicate their allegiance and make them recognisable to others.

• Who are Proud Boys and antifa?
• Proud Boys becomes LGBT trend on social media
• Meet the people at America's political extremes

Over the weekend, videos on social media showcased a row of Proud Boys in bright yellow Verillas kilts mooning the crowd gathered around them, with "[expletive] antifa" written on their bare bottoms.
Antifa is a group of mostly far-left activists who have repeatedly clashed with the Proud Boys.
Verillas owner Allister Greenbrier - a bisexual entrepreneur of Scottish descent - expressed shock and dismay that his brand was associated with the group.
"I was appalled, angry and frustrated because they are the opposite of everything our brand stands for," he told the BBC, noting that the men had initially claimed to be a metal band looking for kilts.
"I was quite angry. I had to calm down a bit, but we decided we really didn't want their money."
In a message on Twitter, Verillas announced a donation of $1,000 (£745) - a sum exceeding the Proud Boys' purchase - to the anti-racism organisation National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

View original tweet on Twitter
Aside from pulling the offending garment off its racks, the company is also offering free colour exchanges for anybody who had previously purchased its yellow kilts.
Mr Greenbrier says his brand is going to attach charitable donations to their product lines moving forward.
"I can't control who buys my product, but if they're buying our product, they're putting their money towards a good cause and I think they won't be too happy when they find out they accidentally bought from a company that's really fighting for the opposite of what they believe in," he says.
"We want to turn hate into love," Mr Greenbrier added.
"The loud outpouring of support we've gotten has really turned around a nightmare scenario and shown that a lot of people support the same message we believe in."
It is not the first time the Proud Boys have caused trouble for a clothing brand.
Earlier this year, British clothing company Fred Perry halted US sales of its polo shirts after the clothing item became a regular part of the Proud Boys' "uniform".

Its not about intolerance , its about brand identity and the value of that brand.
If Verillas is identified with the far right and racism then it will lose legit customers, so they have to protect their brand and market share.......it's just smart business,

 

[Mwalimu-G]

na wavaa skirts? walks like a duck quacks like a duck.. must be a bent fella

Mixed up matapakas shoring up their low self esteem by arrogating themselves a hate-driven mission.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

If Verillas is identified with the far right and racism then it will lose legit customers,

Did Verillas have to identify themselves as LGBTQnonsense+? By expressing strong feelings are they not discriminating the boys who also have rights to be what they want to be?
Anyway, I understand fiashara ni fiashara and rights be damned...

 

[Quiet Storm]

Did Verillas have to identify themselves as LGBTQnonsense+? By expressing strong feelings are they not discriminating the boys who also have rights to be what they want to be?
Anyway, I understand fiashara ni fiashara and rights be damned...

Remember, the owner is lgbt and the extreme right is usually anti lgbt.

It's like if you, a black man, had a maasai shuka business and some right wing racists decided to use some of your shukas as their uniform meaning all other people who're anti racist would no longer buy your products, would you support their rights to their uniform of choice or your right to earn a living?

 

[Mwalimu-G]

Remember, the owner is lgbt and the extreme right is usually anti lgbt.

It's like if you, a black man, had a maasai shuka business and some right wing racists decided to use some of your shukas as their uniform meaning all other people who're anti racist would no longer buy your products, would you support their rights to their uniform of choice or your right to earn a living?

Good point but did we even have to know that the owner is gay? Or he just created a controversy for the free publicity?

 

[upepo]

Good point but did we even have to know that the owner is gay? Or he just created a controversy for the free publicity?

You should be blaming the BBC, who have made it official policy that a quarter of their productions must prominently feature LGBT characters in some form. It is even worse in radio and TV productions, where they sneak in LGBT participants without notifying the audience, only to create confusion when, for instance, a male character makes reference to his husband.

 

[Mwalimu-G]

You should be blaming the BBC, who have made it official policy that a quarter of their productions must prominently feature LGBT characters in some form. It is even worse in radio and TV productions, where they sneak in LGBT characters without notifying the audience, only to create confusion when, for instance, a male character makes reference to his husband.

A case of the medium being the message?