A famous TikTok designer is melting hearts for his response to a customer who wanted to change an order after their friend came out as nonbinary.
With over 500,000 TikTok followers, Marcus Pork is known for his whimsical, hand-drawn t-shirt designs – including many celebrating LGBTQ+ people as well as those with disabilities – and also for his wry sense of humor.
Related:
Trans youth matter. Melanie Willingham-Jaggers needs us to fight harder for their future.
GLSEN’s executive director says hateful education laws are decimating queer students’ mental health. But they still have hope.
While he normally does not allow returns or exchanges on his products, he made an exception to help honor someone’s identity.
Stay connected to your community
Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter.
The customer had ordered a shirt for their friend that said, “Autistic girl summer,” but when the friend came out as nonbinary, they wrote to Pork asking if it would be at all possible for an updated design.
“I was incredibly proud of them but at the same time I felt really bad for buying the tshir[t] written ‘girl’ and not ‘person,'” the friend wrote to Pork, “so at the end I decided not to give it.”
The customer acknowledged Pork’s no return policy but said they were “trying my luck by asking if in this scenario is possible to find a solution.”
Pork posted a screenshot of the customer’s note, as well as his response.
“While I have a strict no return/exchange policy, I sometimes become a Soft Man,” he wrote, “especially in Emergency They/Them Situations– such as the one you find yourself in now.”
He then said he’d be happy to provide a replacement shirt honoring the friend’s identity and then asked if the customer would rather the shirt say “Autistic Person Summer” or if they would rather he customize it with the friend’s name.
The customer called Marcus an “angel” and said their friend, Camilla, would be delighted if the shirt said “Autistic Camilla’s Summer.”
Pork then said there was no need to return the other shirt. “You may either give it to an Autistic who is O K with being a Girl, or you may Burn it,” he said, adding that he would love a picture of Camilla wearing the new t-shirt to post since it would make him happy.
The friend said Camilla almost cried with joy upon receiving the custom shirt and was more than happy to send a photo. Pork posted the shot of the beaming Camilla on Instagram holding up their new t-shirt.
Commenters praised Pork for his kindness. “This is what allyship looks like,” one person wrote. Many nonbinary followers posted their gratitude as well, and several others expressed appreciation for Pork’s description of the “Emergency They/Them Situation.”
Pork regularly posts cheeky videos mocking those who have problems with LGBTQ+ people to advertise his items.
In one, he asks viewers, “Are you infected with lesbian? I hope so because I’ve designed some inclusive fashion for you.” He then shows off his design featuring two women that declares, “It’s Lesbian Time. Let’s have a crush on the gender and do nuzzling with the Homos.” He also sells the design for those who identify as queer, bisexual, or gay.
Don't forget to share: