Just as no one ever expected Wendy’s to be weirdly good at Twitter, few expected Gillette — a company that makes those macho gadgets known as razor blades — to be woke. Earlier this year, Gillette earned praise — and, predictably, far-right jeers — for a spot that shot down toxic masculinity. Now they’ve gone next level: Their latest shows a father tenderly teaching his transgender son how to shave.
https://twitter.com/MaskYouLiveIn/status/1132362516355354625
“I always knew I was different, I didn’t know that there was a term for the type of person that I was,” says the young man, who Gay Star News identified as one Samson Brown. “I went into my transition just wanting to be happy.”
Brown’s father then shows him how to shave. “Now, don’t be scared,” he tells his son. “Shaving is about being confident.”
‘I’m at the point in my manhood where I’m actually happy,” Samson later says. “It’s not just myself transitioning, it’s everybody around me transitioning.”
The ad dropped on Thursday, the day before the Trump administration revealed they would be rolling back Obama-era health care protections for transgender people.
Samson commented on the video. “Thank you so much Gillette,” he wrote,” for allowing me to share such an important moment in a man’s life with my father.”
Others were moved, too.
As a black trans man who works in advertising, this is… Everything.
This is the kind of work I dream of creating some day.***https://t.co/VTXa6Aw0N0
— tight p*ssy gyal (@itsjacksonbbz) May 25, 2019
As a black trans man who works in advertising, this is… Everything.
Well done to @Gillette and the creative team behind this.
This is the kind of work I dream of creating some day.https://t.co/UaoOEtCD9Z
— J K (@jacksoncreates) May 25, 2019
I’m. Fucking. CRYING. Sobbing. What the fuck. This is beautiful. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/FOPGz5oteo
— Gabrielle 💬 (@gabalexa) May 26, 2019
This is genuinely lovely. It’s an ad campaign, yes. But it’s thoughtful and earnest. Thankful for that
New Gillette ad features dad teaching his trans son to shave for the first time https://t.co/ptnOjvhQ4S
— Robin Nelson (robingnelson.bksy.social) (@robingnelson) May 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/OscarHokeah/status/1132402345902403585
Others tried to rationalize their tears with their anxieties around corporations trying to profit off of everything, even progressive ideals.
https://twitter.com/AkelaCooper/status/1132360375792312321
https://twitter.com/urbanhymnal/status/1132687571564343296
After a sickening, dangerous week for trans rights… for @Gillette to put its brand into backing acceptance of trans men as men like this… wow. I know it’s marketing, but wow. https://t.co/QqKHIjpMTU
— Natasha (@devnatash) May 25, 2019
Others reminded everyone of the White House’s stance on trans rights.
Why can a razor company understand the need to give my community dignity but not my gov't?
Gay Star News: New Gillette ad features dad teaching his trans son to shave for the first time.https://t.co/Pj3GSq9AZL— ellie krug (@elliekrug) May 25, 2019
This week, the Trump Admin. legalized discrimination against transgender patients and homeless people
Meanwhile, Gillette has released an ad of a father teaching his trans son how to shave for the first time.
Progress comes in the most unlikely places. https://t.co/OYG2vEhb2b
— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) May 26, 2019
Others found it bold for a corporation to take an honorable stand.
https://twitter.com/sherisaid/status/1132690717401337858
(Via Gar Star News)