June 7, 2012
Socially Conscious T-Shirts Raise Funds for LGBT Rights
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 2 MIN.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Socially Conscious Shirts announced its partnership with Equality Pennsylvania to raise funds for Equality Pennsylvania's Educational Fund by selling LGBT-affirming T-Shirts. The shirts, created by Socially Conscious Shirts, read "Love is Love" and feature positive images of same-sex relationships.
The partnerships were the result of conversations between Socially Conscious Shirts Co-Founder, Joel Bridger, and Equality Pennsylvania's President Adrian Shanker. Shanker and Bridger met in April to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
"I am so excited to be able to partner with this excellent local company," said Shanker. "And I am even prouder that this partnership helps to expand the marriage equality message throughout the state!"
As part of the partnership, Socially Conscious Shirts will be accompanying Equality Pennsylvania to a number of Pennsylvania's pride festivals and will be selling shirts for $15, with $5 per shirt going to Equality Pennsylvania. Additionally, Socially Conscious Shirts will sell the tees in Philadelphia's Gayborhood during the month of June and shirts are also available online at www.SociallyConsciousShirts.com.
"These shirts sum-up our message and the thoughts of LGBT people and our allies everywhere" explained Equality Pennsylvania's Executive Director, Ted Martin.� "Not only are they really great looking, they will be seen by many people will continue to spread the message that our families deserve nothing less than equality."
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Money raised for Equality Pennsylvania will be used for outreach and educational activities throughout the state, including workshop presentations, participation in regional conferences, and speaking at colleges, faith communities, businesses, and labor unions about the need for expanded LGBT civil rights.
Socially Conscious Shirts was founded in October 2011, with its first fundraiser focused on raising funds and aWEARness for Occupy Philly.� In the month of October alone, Socially Conscious Shirts raised over $1,000 for Occupy Philly through t-shirt sales.
Co-owners Joel Bridger and Maria Allison highly anticipate that this partnership with Equality Pennsylvania will be the first of many partnerships with socially conscious organizations to raise awareness and funds for their causes.
A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.