VCU ‘Design Rebels’ launch LGBT coffee sleeves
Richmonders will soon be able to hold members of the local LGBT community in the palm of their hands…literally.
A group of VCU students have created 1,000 coffee sleeves with depictions of local LGBT individuals to distribute this morning at coffee shops around town in an effort to support equality.
“Our goal is to promote acceptance and tolerance in the community,” said Megan Maloney, one of several students involved. “To really just show that everyone is people.” The project arose from a VCU undergraduate course titled Design Rebels, meant to study and create socially conscious graphic design.
The group initiated the project by interviewing four local LGBT individuals. The group then placed a quotation from each interviewed person, along with a monochrome image of them, on a coffee sleeve. The project team chose a sleeve as its medium because they’re subtle and “wasn’t too in your face,” Maloney said. “We wanted it to be something that people didn’t notice on the first glance.” The coffee sleeves will be dispersed Rev It Up in The Fan and Crossroads in Forest Hill on Tuesday from 7:00 – 9:00 AM.
“We’re not trying to do a political thing, just really trying to connect on a human level,” Maloney said. The faux ingredient box on each sleeve titled Human (see image below) will be checked off to underscore the humanness of LGBT community members. “We’re all human, and that’s the whole point of the project we’re doing.”
The group hopes to continue the project beyond Tuesday, funding another production of 1,000 sleeves for further distribution next week. People can make a tax-deductible donation to the project through the group’s community partner, The James House, to continue supporting the project’s life.
The group is also working on a documentary video that will showcase the project’s work.
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Nathan Cushing
Nathan Cushing is a writer, journalist, and RVANews Editor.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
“We’re not trying to do a political thing, just really trying to connect on a human level,” Maloney said
Ok, well, if they aren’t trying to do a political thing, then why focus only the LGBT community? Why not include those with disabilities? Why not include those that are poor? Why? Well, because the group is trying to push an agenda or “do a political thing”.
Having an agenda isn’t bad. Having an agenda under the guise of not having an agenda is just silly.
Yeah you’re right why not include all these issues, why just the LGBT community..o wait its a 2 inch coffee sleeve …smh
“Human-ness” is a weird angle to take. I am pretty sure this art project won’t change anyone’s perspective on the human-ness of the LGBT community. I am also pretty sure the conservatives are not going to counter with distribution of “sexual immorality” java jackets. So basically, we are right back where we started, with progressives demanding some sort of non-descript “human affirmation/tolerance/inclusion/acceptance,” and conservatives affirming/tolerating/including/accepting the humanity of other humans without affirming/tolerating/including/accepting the “lifestyles” of those humans (aka “love the sinner not the sin”). So there you go.
Well, I for one think this is an awesome, creative way to spread a message of equality! Bravo!!
How innovative and interesting! LOVE IT! Kudos to you and your team for creating something that demonstrates equality, spreading the message of love and sparking the debate that needs to be started as well as moving the wheels of creativity in other “underrepresented” communities to create something equally if not more expressive and innovative. AWESOMENESS ABOUNDS!
I think this is great! In regards to why LGBT and not other myriad of prominent social issues is clear. It is a very important issue among many. I think the project would have been diluted by including too many other social inequalities. Great job!
As an ambisexual subterrestrial magma monster, I take offense at equality for all “humans.”
This has good intentions but I think it’s a little bizarre. In general, I feel like this promotion of people based solely on their sexual preference ends up making them into something less than what they are. Aren’t we more than our sexuality? I’ve never once introduced myself to someone as a heterosexual or talked about my sex life to someone I’m not REALLY close to. It has no context in general, everyday conversations. But if you do state your sexual preference to someone, how can you expect them NOT to sexualize you? It’s like telling someone NOT to think of a pink elephant.
Chris,
The reason why the focus on LGBT only as opposed to every marginalized group seems pretty easy… legally they aren’t guaranteed equal rights as everyone else in the country, even those with physical disabilities… unless of course you’re also a person in a wheelchair who is LGBT…
Dear Jeff,
A large percentage of local (perhaps national) citizens assume heterosexuality when presented with a new person to interact with. This assumption creates a dichotomy where almost every male-female interaction could be furthered into a future sexual event. It can create imaginary power dynamics and hierarchy. Outing one’s self as a homosexual assuages this imaginary dynamic. It says “Hey, I want to interact with you as a human. Not a sexual being. Not as an inferior/superior who desires your approval, affection, desire, etc.” Unfortunately, stating that you aren’t desirous of sex results in “sexualization”, thought I’m not entirely aware of the intended definition from that commenter. It’s deep shit, man. Psychology. Anthropology. And sociology. Things exist that you don’t know exist unless you look for them. Like amoeba.
Dear others,
We all have opinions and agendas. Liking or not liking aspects of society, being passionate about it, and representin when its time is our right as sentient beings. Thankfully, our language and opposable thumbs make us highly capable of expressing the plight of oppression (or the overwhelming joy of passion).
Just think what it would be like if we could express ourselves by being able to telepathically impart our experiences on one another.
Anyways, the idea that a group of activists should represent all oppressed peoples/creatures is absurd. Situationally, that would make those Sarah McLaughlin Humane Society commercials combine with the starving children ones. And nobody could handle that. Think about it y’all.
Very impressive student work! Great discussion starter be it on a blog or at a coffee shop.
Andy, I can only speak for myself as one, straight guy. Obviously a gay woman, gay man, or even other straight men would have different experiences. In retrospect, I have been in situations where I thought it was necessary to state my heterosexuality to people that thought there was potentially more at stake than a friendly conversation but in general situations, I wouldn’t think it necessary. I do also understand however how liberating it can be for someone to finally be comfortable enough with themselves to state their homosexuality in public or to strangers. I just don’t think the person hearing it should be judged if they are surprised, taken aback, or happen to visualize what homosexual sex might look like when it’s brought up. It’s just human nature after all.
Chris et al,
It is a fact that individuals with disabilities are the most discrimated against and overlooked population despite legal protections.
That said – this is a student/class project. They had to do/pick something.
i think the message should be that defining oneself by ones sexuality is limiting at best
Disappointing. This is the type of thing that gets made when a group of people do not understand their privilege or place. It’s naive to negate or ignore a person’s differences under the guise of “We’re all humans.” Shame on whoever the teacher was for this class.