Fitch the Homeless is a Terrible Idea
If you haven’t heard, some people are suggesting that in response to the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch explaining that he won’t make clothes for uncool people (aka fat women) we should start giving A&F clothes to the homeless. No really. People are really suggesting that.
Um
“Hey, A&F look at who is wearing your clothes now! Homeless people! Aka the worst of the worst! Aka the non-coolest people ever! Got you now!”
1. Homeless people ARE PEOPLE and should be treated LIKE PEOPLE not props.
2. YOU ARE STILL GIVING MONEY TO THE COMPANY. Yeah, like maybe indirectly indirectly if you are buying your clothes from Goodwill or donating things you already have. But how about we just stop supporting this fucked up company all together.
3. Just read this tweet, people. Just read it.
Okay, I can forgive one white dude for thinking this is a good idea (I GUESS) but SO MANY social justice advocates keep reposting the idea like it’s some genius form of social protest. IT’S NOT. It’s exploiting and dehumanizing and HOW EVEN ONE PERSON READ THIS AND THINK “yeah, that’s a swell idea” IS BEYOND ME.
Okay I am about to leave McDonald’s and head back to our motorhome, so before I go, I’m making one final plea: PLEASE reblog the shit out of this. Even if you can’t contribute, and trust me I KNOW how difficult times are right now, PLEASE help me out with a signal boost. Don’t donate any money unless you can absolutely afford to, but if you can donate please feel free to send me an address (anon is fine) so my kids can send you a lovely card.
For those of you who don’t know the situation, my kids, myself, and my kids’ dad have been homeless for 2 months. We are currently living in a broken-down motorhome with no electricity and no plumbing. We use our truck to tow the motorhome to parking lot to parking lot when we get told to move on. The truck broke down Saturday, and without the truck, our motorhome is at risk of being impounded. Which would mean we’d be back to sleeping on the streets. All the truck needs is a new power-steering belt, installation, and a tow to a body shop that does belt installations.
I have been in remission from lupus and cancer since October, but since we’ve been homeless, I’ve been having arthritis flares. Getting the truck working is essential not only for the sake of our motorhome, but also so that I don’t have to walk to work. John and I own our own business, where we work 60 hours a week each. John also has a second job and is looking for a third. I have been looking for a second job fox six months and have an interview tomorrow. We don’t get any food stamps, childcare assistance, or housing assistance (duh on that last one).
Donations will be used to get our truck running, and if anything is left over, to get the electricity and plumbing in our motorhome sorted out. This would make a huge difference for my family— It’s not easy going 2 months without electricity or running water. Any help is appreciated, and if you can’t help, I completely understand but PLEASE help out with a reblog. Thank you so much!!!
Homeless shelter ends ban on transgender women
washingtonblade.comA judge in Washington, D.C. last week ordered that New Hope Ministries, which operates the John L. Young Shelter for Women, end its policy barring transgender women from seeking services at the shelter.
The decision comes after trans woman Lakiesha Washington was denied access to the homeless shelter and filed a restraining order as part of a lawsuit accusing the shelter of violating D.C.’s Human Rights Act. In addition to lifting the ban, shelter staff will also be trained in trans sensitivity, and plans are in the works to improve bathroom access and comfort for trans residents.
D.C. Trans Coalition member Andy Bowen, who filed a separate complaint against the John Young Shelter with the D.C. Office of Human Rights charging anti-transgender discrimination, told the Blade that she has dropped her complaint based on the latest actions by New Hope Ministries.
“D.C. has great nondiscrimination laws, but good laws do not equal adequate enforcement,” Bowen said in a statement. “This case showed the need for more vigilant enforcement, and if D.C. Trans Coalition has anything to do with it, enforcement’s gonna happen.”
Progress comes one step at a time, and this is an important one.
