Taylor Bennett, an indie rapper who is openly bisexual, is teaming up with Urban Outfitters and their Urban Outfitters Pride Collection!
According to Billboard, the collaboration was created to support LGBTQ+ advocacy group, Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). GLSEN's mission is to ensure safe and affirming schools for LGBTQ+ students.
The collaboration makes sense in another way as well, since the Chicago native has been a fan of the retailer since they opened up in Chicago years ago; he says the store is where he bought his first ever pair of Vans. “Me, my brother and Vic Mensa would go down there,” Bennett said. “They were the first place we could actually get skinny jeans from — 510s, 511s and slim fits.”
The collection launches today in all North American Urban Outfitters stores, and includes 7 pieces: one long-sleeve tee, three short-sleeve graphic tees, a tapestry and two baseball hats. UO's in-house designers added messages such as "Love is Love" to some of the pieces. In true "putting your money where your mouth is" form, 100 percent of all merchandise profits will be donated to GLSEN.
Their collaboration is a two-way street as Urban Outfitters sponsored his Bennett's music video for the song "Roof Gone," from his album, Restoration of an American Idol.
The video, which Bennett promises to be "one of the craziest videos," will have an exclusive release on the Urban Outfitters' YouTube channel in mid-June.
Bennett officially came out as bisexual in 2017, right before his 21st birthday, and has immersed himself in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Additionally, he'll be performing at the North State Street location of Urban Outfitters for the Chicago Pride celebration on Friday, June 23. “I’m excited to hopefully capture some new fans from the community and bring some of my fans to the community to help, too,” he said.
While Bennett definitely recognizes the strides toward progressiveness we've made, he's still committed to reminding his fans who struggle with their sexual identities to rise above those who don't accept them.
"I think we’re now starting to see a bigger wave of people wanting to stand together as a group and say ‘This is what I believe.’ We’re at the point now where you can do your thing and you can be accepted," Bennett said. "If someone doesn’t want to accept you, then — pardon my language — f*ck ‘em. You’ve got to be yourself 24/7. You don’t want to live a lie, and with the platform that I have, I want my fans to always know me. How can you support someone when you don't know them?”
Well said, Taylor, well said.
