Hamish Powell x Stonewall
Hamish Powell: Artist, florist, poet
Flowers have always been a language for me, and pansies were the quiet friends cheering me on from mum's winter flower beds. To then grow up and be called a pansy out of spite, and not sweetness, was always a bit confusing to me. What joy to be a pansy!! Wearing this shirt, saying PANSY! on your chest and with your chest, is to reclaim our softness as a badge of pride. This collaboration with Stonewall is about celebrating queerness in full bloom, unapologetically visible and joyfully defiant." – Hamish Powell
Hamish Powell has joined forces with Stonewall to launch the Pansy! T-shirt — a bold reclamation of a word once used to diminish queer people. Spelled out in pansy flowers grown in his own garden, it’s both a celebration and a protest: joyful, defiant, and unafraid.
Every shirt supports Stonewall’s fight for LGBTQ+ rights, helping to build a world where all queer lives are visible, valued, and free to grow.
Pansy: reclaiming and reshaping
The queer meaning of pansies has evolved over time. Historically, the pansy was associated with humanist and free thought movements, but in the 20th century, it became a derogatory term for gay men. This association was solidified during the “pansy craze” of the 1920s and 1930s, when drag balls and gay bars became popular in NYC.
However, the term has been reclaimed by some in the queer community as a symbol of pride and resistance against homophobia. Today, pansies are often seen as a symbol of beauty and delicacy, reflecting a broader queer identity.
At Stonewall, we understand the profound impact language can have, and the generational trauma that can linger in the words we use. Much like the reclamation of the word “queer,” taking ownership of language that was once used to harm can be an act of empowerment and a way to reshape the narrative. While Stonewall does not endorse the use of derogatory language, Hamish’s story of beauty, power and pride speaks directly to our mission of creating safe spaces where LGBTQ+ people can express themselves freely and authentically.