San Francisco — March 14, 2012 — H8SUX.com, a gay activist and T-shirt website, launched today and released its first viral video campaign targeting school kids with an offer of a free "OK4U2BGAY" T-shirt. The free pro-gay shirt will be shipped to any teen who simply makes a special YouTube video pledge to speak out against homophobia at school and support gay marriage. Inspired by the hit show "Glee," the organization released a slickly-produced musical commercial showcasing a same-sex teen kiss and kids dancing in front of hot-pink school lockers while singing a catchy pro-gay song.
Organizers say the teen-targeted campaign is in response to who they call, "ballot box bullies" - politicians who directly inspire a climate for schoolyard bullies to torment LGBT kids. They cite initiatives to ban gay marriage in North Carolina and Minnesota, "Don't Say Gay" Bills in Utah and Tennessee, and Rick Santorum's promise to "force-divorce" thousands of legally married gay and lesbian couples as motivation for their pro-gay message to kids.
"We are recruiting kids to the cause of promoting the acceptance of homosexuality in schools," said Luke Montgomery, director of the H8SUX.com video. "In a world full of bullies, suicide and hate, thousands of school kids wearing a pro-gay message in classrooms can be lifesaving and great. Kids are born gay, lesbian, bi and trans - and when I came out at 15, I was brutally beaten and left unconscious and bloody in a ditch. In 2012, kids should not be bullied and attacked just for being who they are. This free T-shirt will be a pro-gay billboard plastered on the chests of thousands of kids in classrooms across the nation. Our agenda is simple: to tell kids that it's "OK4U2BGAY." H8SUX.com is all about giving kids, gay and straight, the power to speak out against hate - and get a cool free T-shirt while doing it. Everyone says 'it gets better' - this makes it better."
Featuring T-shirts with slogans such as "Legalize Love" and "Bullies Suck," the H8SUX.com website is also making an appeal to adults using a model like the successful "One for One" charitable efforts of the TOMS shoe company. For every hoodie, tank to or tee sold on H8SUX.com, the organization will give a teen an "OK4U2BGAY" tee for free.
Video Sound Byte: "It's OK to be gay. It's great if you're straight. But I ain't down with
this homo-hate!"
The H8SUX.com campaign also plans a national "Pink School Bus Tour" of T-shirt & wristband giveaways at schools in "homophobia hot-spots." Using funds received through branded product sales, including T-shirts, bumper stickers, and wristbands, the company will continue to produce creative video campaigns targeting kids designed to be spread by teens and adults alike on YouTube, Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter.
To view the full assortment of campaign gear for sale, please visit www.H8SUX.com . The company will be holding frequent T-shirt and wristband giveaways via Facebook and Twitter to grow the online movement of teens and to promote acceptance of homosexuality in classrooms across the nation.
Helpful links
H8SUX.com
Embed Video: http://vimeo.com/37712278
Twitter: @H8SUXFreeTs
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/h8sux
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/H8SUXFreeTs
