You’ve probably heard it, if not said it yourself, but you’ll be certain to think twice about using a phrase like “that sweater is so gay” after hearing this story. A one-of-a-kind, first-ever, truly ‘gay sweater’ will be unveiled today during Toronto Fashion Week. What makes it gay? It is custom knit from the donated hair of more than 100 LGBT people committed to changing the way the word “gay” is used in society today.

Debuting just in time, ahead of this summer’s upcoming Pride Week celebrations in Toronto, New York, San Francisco and London, The Gay Sweater was created by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) to spark a rich dialogue on what makes something ‘gay’. Through #TheGaySweater project, they hope people will understand that it is incorrect and offensive to use language like ‘that’s so gay’ to negatively describe something.

A short film showcasing the inspiration behind this #TheGaySweater and the making of this unusual piece can be viewed here: thegaysweater.ccgsd-ccdgs.org

This is pretty cool!