I was wondering why no one is speaking up about this, but then realised I'll have to be the one.
Alastor in a straitjacket
I love Alastor but the image of Alastor in a straitjacket reinforces the harmful stigma that equates mental illness with being dangerous and evil.
The straitjacket is not even a hannibal lector reference without the mask, its just a straitjacket.
The straitjacket is a very triggering image for many people implying that those with mental illness are 'supposed' to be restrained.
The straitjacket is a negative symbol and icon for mental illness.
A few examples: It was removed from sims 4 as a instability icon
A Gucci straitjacket fashion show was famously protested in 2019.
In the UK and Australia government agencies have previously stepped in and removed straitjacket Halloween costumes from shelves.
This is actually distressful. Will there be a ton of Alastor cosplayers in straitjackets at public conventions, and will Amir the mental health advocate be posing with them??
I tentatively raised this in two discords. One person told me they did not know the historical context of the straitjacket at all until I explained it.
In another discord with 1000+ people, I receive 0 public responses and 7 dm's from distressed people.
They all said the same thing that they are afraid to speak out because the stigma is so strong.
(I have this person's permission to quote them) One of them confided that the straitjacket is very triggering image for them because of their mothers condition, which they keep secret because of the stigma. The stigma stereotype that is being reinforced by images like: a literal devil in a straitjacket.
Another said their 'heart sank when they saw it' š
Everyone is afraid of cosplay happening.
Everyone said they were relieved to see someone else say something about it.
The fanart isnt even being tagged as nc (which is where it belongs, niche interest for adults not marketed to teens in a major high street store.)
I'm really disappointed in the HH fanbase, because we've somehow created an environment where people feel they cant speak up about ableism and mental disability and stigma and suffer in silence.
I was excited to hear they changed something about the t-shirt and facepalmed when it was all about the shipping crap.
Our fanbase is one where the fans will launch a thousand ships if Husk has the wrong stripe on his hat but total radiosilence over ableist imagery and enforcing stigmas that hurt the vulnerable and it's starting to embarass me.
Even if there is no call for Hot Topic to change the t-shirt its painful to see no conversations surrounding it, with all the noise has been about the shipping instead of what matters.
Anyway I'm making this post for the upset people who dm'd me, and hoping to create at least one search result for 'straitjacket Alastor' that represents a different viewpoint. If you are also affected by this please reach out too.
gamechangershow
amandla
turnnoffyourmind
titsay
