Model Aaron Philip on Why Fashion Isn't Just for the Able-Bodied

Personhood should be recognized over anything else, and that should be profitable in fashion. It's inaccurate to think people are all just white, tall, able-bodied, skinny, beautiful, cisgender models and that clothes should only be tailored to those sizes and body types. The world is moving in a direction where everyone wants to be seen for who they are without having to compromise.

By that, I mean the runway and brand campaigns should be more authentically gender-variant, where clothing offerings transcend the binary of what male or female traditionally is, and more accessible to a wide range of folks. I'm a Black woman in a wheelchair, who is trans, and I want to be respected for that. Why should I be different from any other girl who wants to be successful? Why shouldn't I have the potential everyone else has? We want elevators and ramps, honey, because accessibility benefits everyone!

This is one of our 50 Radical Ideas, featured in Out's June/July 2019 issue celebrating Stonewall 50. The three covers feature the enduring legacy of activist Sylvia Rivera, the complicated candidacy of presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, and the triumphant star power of actress Mj Rodriguez. To read more, grab your own copy of the issue on Kindle, Nook, Zinio or (newly) Apple News+ today. Preview more of the issue here and click here to subscribe.