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Urban Outfitters Responds to Same-Sex Marriage T-Shirts Controversy
Last week, Urban Outfitters had pulled "I Support Same-Sex Marriage" t-shirts off its shelves (both online and in California stores) further fueling the rumors that the trendy young adult clothier is anti-gay. After all Richard Hayne, the founder and CEO of Urban Outfitters, is a right-wing Republican known for supporting senators who oppose gay marriage. But in response to the rumors, an Urban Outfitters spokesman told New York Magazine on Wednesday that the shirts were actually pulled because they weren't selling well and that "the head merchant is open to finding other products that support gay marriage and carry the same message but will be more popular with our customers." The spokesman also pointed out that, hey, the CEO of parent company Urban Outfitters Inc., Glen Senk, is openly gay and has been in a 30-year relationship. So there. H'yeah. Earlier this year the company was in another t-shirt controversy, coming under fire for "supporting terrorism" by selling a "pro-violence" Palestinian T-shirt. They pulled those shirts, too.
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