How fashion is helping us to fight discrimination
BY RUBI GROCOTT, IMAGE BY GETTY IMAGES
With all of the inequality that is happening against the queer community at the moment, anger has become our new language. Behind all of the social media posts and shouting matches trying to get our voices heard, the fury is often directed towards governments. The governments that are currently working against us, to ensure that we do not have our rights. We need to stand up and let our voices be heard, and many people with platforms have ensured that.
Queer rage is bigger than ever, with exhibitions like Trans Rage, curated by Lea Leaff Pond and Sunny Hayward, taking up space. In this exhibition, the curators told Dazed: “The important thing for both of us is that we don’t see rage as a destructive entity – it’s not just about tearing things down.”
We’ve seen this rage channelled through fashion both on the red carpet and down the high street. Who can forget Laverne Cox’s iconic custom clutch at the Emmys that read Oct. 8. Title VII. Supreme Court? The clutch referred to the landmark Supreme Court case which inevitably ruled that discriminating against employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity is a form of sex discrimination.
In 2025, we’ve seen the protest t-shirts get the recognition they deserve. Conner Ives’ “Protect The Dolls” t-shirt has risen to fame this year with celebrities like Pedro Pascal, Tilda Swinton, Troye Sivan, Charli XCX and Addison Rae all donning the powerful message. The t-shirt acts as a clear form of trans allyship, and helps to pass on the message of solidarity. For those who aren’t able to attend protests, the simple act of wearing a t-shirt is a way to show support for the movement and help fight transphobia.
This queer rage can be found throughout history in fashion. Following the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, LGBTQIA+ began wearing patches and graphic t-shirts that directly confronted political issues. For example, the pink triangle – formerly used by the Nazis to identify queer people – was worn to symbolise resistance.
Queer rage is everywhere – you can even wear it now.
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