Gay Shame SF and LAGAI-Queer Insurrection sponsored an "HRC sweatshop play land" for kids of all ages at 19th and Castro Streets during the Castro Street Fair in San Francisco on Sunday, October 7th. The playland asked "how can the Human Rights Campaign claim to be for the rights of humans, while cheering on corporate culture and selling goods manufactured in sweatshops?" Organizers said that, "Contrary to popular belief, capitalism has nothing to do with respect for human life. One of the basic ideas of capitalism is that profits come before everything else." Kids of all ages learned to play on the sewing machine, the button press, and the sequin runner. A paint fume bouncy tent and a lab rat chemical dunk also were part of the play land. Photos Report

Gay Shame and LAGAI say that "The ultra straight-washed HRC urges us to Buy for equality by giving... multinational corporations a 'green light' for their commitment to 'equality.'" Coors has faced a boycott since the 1970's as a result of the Coors family's donations to "causes" such as the Heritage Foundation, which is a far-right anti-gay, anti-woman organization. Other companies that (were) exposed include Nike, which is well-known for uses of sweatshops in manufacturing; Clear Channel, home of homophobic DJ Michael Savage; Shell Oil, BP, and Chevron; and Merck, which through patented AIDS medication makes access to Efavirenz unafordable for many HIV+ people in countries such as Brazil, Thailand, and the United States.

LAGAI -- Queer Insurrection and Gay Shame ask, "What about queer people working in sweatshops, or working class/ poor people around the world and in the US that have their lives and health ripped to pieces to manufacture the HRC’s vision of equality?"

Gay Shame SF | LAGAI-Queer Insurrection | HRC, formerly the Human Rights Campaign Fund