Re: the gentlemen
As I stated in my initial comment, I do not believe it was ever the artist's intent to single out and ridicule the transgender community. However, as said comment seems to have sparked a rather contentious debate, I feel the need to explain why I feel the design is potentially very hurtful or insulting to some.
While there seem to be countless ways to 'read' this design, one thing seems relatively clear, and that is that the fourth figure is portrayed as neither 100% male nor 100% female, but somewhere in between.
Among the many interpretations given, two conclusions that could be drawn include that the fourth figure is a transgendered female who is unable to completely "pass" and escape her masculinity, or that the fourth figure is a transgendered male who, in spite of attempts to physical transition, is still being regarded as female.
While some of my own friends might find humour in the design, others may take it as a painful slap in the face. Even if it wasn't what the artist intended, the design *could* be seen as a slight. Personally, I can't support a shirt that runs the risk of alienating and insulting any group of people, particularly people I am close to.
As for the suggestion that this could be worn as a "pride" shirt, I feel that the point must be made that a notable difference between the "T" and "LGB" communities is that a large number of transgender individuals opt to live as "stealth", and are therefore not as out, open, and proud as their LGB brothers and sisters. The last thing many want is to draw any attention to the fact that they are transgender, due to the fact that the community as a whole remains largely misunderstood and disparaged in today's society.
