Gay fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana drew ire from all directions last week with derogatory comments about LGBT families and in-vitro fertilization.
In a magazine interview, the pair both expressed sentiments suggesting that LGBT-headed families are unnatural, referring to children born of IVF as “synthetic.” The remarks themselves were a slap in the face to all LGBT people, especially LGBT families, as well as equality-respecting allies.
The reaction to the commentary was swift and severe: The story went viral on social media, the D&G creative director quit and celebs like Sir Elton John began promoting a boycott of the brand. The spirit behind the comments — that a mother-father pairing is the “best” way to raise a child — has surely been promulgated by innumerable people, organizations and even companies over the years, but that this came from two people within the LGBT community is perhaps what made it even more offensive.
There seems to be a presumption of understanding and respect among marginalized communities, born from a shared experience of being othered. LGBT people of all walks of life identify with a community that has long been discriminated against, which many have likely felt on an individual level as well — a commonality that has long transcended differences in politics, race, religion, age. But, comments like those from Dolce and Gabbana illustrate that we can’t take for granted that all LGBT people view their identity from the same lens.
Perhaps the designers’ views have been shaped by their distance from the “real world,” on account of fortune and fame. (Or perhaps they’re just informed and/or bigoted.) Whatever the case, that they have since fired back at critics for their rights to “free speech” is just as offensive as their initial comments.
Being in a public position gives you power — and that power should be used for good, to promote respect and productivity, rather than negativity. With fame and fortune should come a level of responsibility — to educate oneself, and in turn one’s followers, about the realities of social injustice.
But, Dolce and Gabbana have used their power to instead promote injustice. And, for that, we’re eager to help the LGBT community rid its closets of them.