Vancouver activist's shirt design was copied inaccurately

A Vancouver activist is relieved that an online store removed a t-shirt that copied his design but is upset it happened at all. Jesse Lipscombe, who created the Rainbros clothing collection to support the LGBTQIA2S+ community, discovered in March that an online retailer named Fanatacity had replicated his shirt design exactly. The issue was not just the design. Lipscombe was particularly concerned that Fanatacity claimed profits from their shirts would go to a "Rainbros Foundation" that does not seem to exist. Lipscombe uses his Rainbros shirts to create safe spaces for people of different sexual orientations and gender identities, especially amid rising anti-trans hate speech. The shirts allow allies, particularly straight men, to visibly show their support in public. Lipscombe compared it to the Block Parent program, which helps children identify safe homes. He wants to encourage a sense of community where everyone feels secure. Fanatacity's ad claimed that profits supported the supposed Rainbros Foundation, which promotes LGBTQIA+ acceptance. However, there is no such foundation, according to Lipscombe. After he raised awareness about the issue, the shirts were quickly taken down from the website. Lipscombe appreciated the support he received from the public. He believes this incident highlights the need for continued advocacy for safe spaces, especially in challenging times for the LGBTQIA+ community.