The Gay Sweater
Artifact
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
Look
Can you see different shades of hair knitted into the sweater? What do you think they represent? How about the colours of the sweater’s buttons? Do you think the various colours are significant?
Think
Why do you think people wanted to donate their hair to the CCGSD to create the Gay Sweater?
Do
Make a list of some myths and stereotypes about romantic and sexual orientations. In another column, suggest how we can actively challenge these stereotypes, using real-world examples.
Details
Date 2015
Materials - Human hair
- Cotton
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This sweater is knitted entirely from hair donated by members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and was created by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) in 2015.
- The sweater was used by the CCGSD in anti-bullying workshops, in order to teach students about the negative impact of using homophobic expressions such as, “That’s so gay.”
- It weighs 1.8 kilograms (roughly 4 pounds), and features rainbow buttons (also made from dyed hair!).
This sweater was knitted entirely from hair donated by more than 100 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and was created by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) in 2015. Staff and volunteers at the CCGSD developed the idea of the sweater for use in school programs, in order to challenge the homophobic language that is often used to bully or shame.
The sweater was assembled by a team of volunteer spinners and knitters, and was unveiled at Toronto Fashion Week in March 2015. It was subsequently used in more than 1,000 anti-bullying school programs across the country (primarily in Ontario and Quebec) to encourage students to talk about what it means to call something “gay.”
The sweater weighs 1.8 kilograms (roughly 4 pounds), and features rainbow buttons (also made from dyed hair!).
This object has been described as itchy, heavy and messy (it sheds). It also challenges those who see/touch/wear it to think differently about how and why they call things or behaviours “gay.”
The Gay Sweater is a creation of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) — an organization that promotes diversity, safety and acceptance for gender and sexual minorities. A key focus for the CCGSD is anti-bullying and anti-discrimination education.
Staff and volunteers at the CCGSD developed the idea of the sweater for use in school education programs, as a way of challenging the homophobic language often used to bully or shame. The sweater itself was made from the donated hair of more than 100 2SLGBTQIA+ adults, and was assembled by a team of volunteer spinners and knitters.
The CCGSD unveiled the sweater at Toronto Fashion Week in March 2015. It was subsequently used in more than 1,000 anti-bullying school programs across the country (primarily in Ontario and Quebec), encouraging students to talk about what it means to call something “gay.”
The sweater weighs 1.8 kilograms (roughly 4 pounds), and features rainbow buttons (also made from dyed hair!).
- This sweater is knitted entirely from hair donated by members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and was created by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) in 2015.
- The sweater was used by the CCGSD in anti-bullying workshops, in order to teach students about the negative impact of using homophobic expressions such as, “That’s so gay.”
- It weighs 1.8 kilograms (roughly 4 pounds), and features rainbow buttons (also made from dyed hair!).
This sweater was knitted entirely from hair donated by more than 100 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and was created by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) in 2015. Staff and volunteers at the CCGSD developed the idea of the sweater for use in school programs, in order to challenge the homophobic language that is often used to bully or shame.
The sweater was assembled by a team of volunteer spinners and knitters, and was unveiled at Toronto Fashion Week in March 2015. It was subsequently used in more than 1,000 anti-bullying school programs across the country (primarily in Ontario and Quebec) to encourage students to talk about what it means to call something “gay.”
The sweater weighs 1.8 kilograms (roughly 4 pounds), and features rainbow buttons (also made from dyed hair!).
This object has been described as itchy, heavy and messy (it sheds). It also challenges those who see/touch/wear it to think differently about how and why they call things or behaviours “gay.”
The Gay Sweater is a creation of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) — an organization that promotes diversity, safety and acceptance for gender and sexual minorities. A key focus for the CCGSD is anti-bullying and anti-discrimination education.
Staff and volunteers at the CCGSD developed the idea of the sweater for use in school education programs, as a way of challenging the homophobic language often used to bully or shame. The sweater itself was made from the donated hair of more than 100 2SLGBTQIA+ adults, and was assembled by a team of volunteer spinners and knitters.
The CCGSD unveiled the sweater at Toronto Fashion Week in March 2015. It was subsequently used in more than 1,000 anti-bullying school programs across the country (primarily in Ontario and Quebec), encouraging students to talk about what it means to call something “gay.”
The sweater weighs 1.8 kilograms (roughly 4 pounds), and features rainbow buttons (also made from dyed hair!).
Summary
- This sweater is knitted entirely from hair donated by members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and was created by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) in 2015.
- The sweater was used by the CCGSD in anti-bullying workshops, in order to teach students about the negative impact of using homophobic expressions such as, “That’s so gay.”
- It weighs 1.8 kilograms (roughly 4 pounds), and features rainbow buttons (also made from dyed hair!).
Essential
This sweater was knitted entirely from hair donated by more than 100 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and was created by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) in 2015. Staff and volunteers at the CCGSD developed the idea of the sweater for use in school programs, in order to challenge the homophobic language that is often used to bully or shame.
The sweater was assembled by a team of volunteer spinners and knitters, and was unveiled at Toronto Fashion Week in March 2015. It was subsequently used in more than 1,000 anti-bullying school programs across the country (primarily in Ontario and Quebec) to encourage students to talk about what it means to call something “gay.”
The sweater weighs 1.8 kilograms (roughly 4 pounds), and features rainbow buttons (also made from dyed hair!).
In-Depth
This object has been described as itchy, heavy and messy (it sheds). It also challenges those who see/touch/wear it to think differently about how and why they call things or behaviours “gay.”
The Gay Sweater is a creation of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) — an organization that promotes diversity, safety and acceptance for gender and sexual minorities. A key focus for the CCGSD is anti-bullying and anti-discrimination education.
Staff and volunteers at the CCGSD developed the idea of the sweater for use in school education programs, as a way of challenging the homophobic language often used to bully or shame. The sweater itself was made from the donated hair of more than 100 2SLGBTQIA+ adults, and was assembled by a team of volunteer spinners and knitters.
The CCGSD unveiled the sweater at Toronto Fashion Week in March 2015. It was subsequently used in more than 1,000 anti-bullying school programs across the country (primarily in Ontario and Quebec), encouraging students to talk about what it means to call something “gay.”
The sweater weighs 1.8 kilograms (roughly 4 pounds), and features rainbow buttons (also made from dyed hair!).