For those of you who are unaware, last week, J. Crew released an ad featuring a picture of their creative director and her son, with neon pink nail polish on his toes. No big deal right? Well apparently several news networks including "NBC, ABC, CNN, and FOX" (Stewart) thought otherwise, saying that the ad promoted "gender bending" and transgender children. One Fox News commentator even wrote that her son, Beckett, would need "psychotherapy" later in life because of it.
This disgusting rhetoric about the "dangers" of letting boys celebrate the color pink needs to be challenged. In a culture where pink has become such an acceptable shirt color for men over the years, it is ridiculous that something as simple and innocent as a kid playing with his mom, has been so criticized by so many News stations. What's more, it is important to look deeper than the obvious offense here. What does all of this commotion really tell us? That somehow there is something wrong with anyone that does not conform to standard gender identities, gender roles, or sexual preferences.
That is why I am making this Facebook event, and Tumblr. With the National Day of Silence, which is aimed at raising awareness about the harassment, bullying, and name calling of LGBT individuals, tomorrow (at the time I'm writing this), this reaction is completely unacceptable. Setting the duration of the event for two weeks*, beginning on the National Day of Silence, let's all paint our nails (and/or toenails) pink to show support for Beckett, and spread awareness for how wrong this reaction is.

For more info on the coverage, check out these this article on the issue, and this piece by Jon Stewart and the Daily Show, also about the reaction:

http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/04/12/Pink_Nail_Polish_Causes_Panic/

**Trigger Warning for misogynist language at the very ed of the clip**
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-april-13-2011/toemageddon-2011---this-little-piggy-went-to-hell?xrs=share_fb

* I would make it only one week, but many of the people I invited are going on spring break this week, and this will be more effective when we're on campus and interact with more people.