The Warwick Rowers club from Warwick University in Britain chose to use their good looks and fit bodies to advocate in support of gay rights in a provocative calendar design. The team got together and took their clothes off for a series of photographs that would be used to support gay sexuality in sports.
The calendar, known as The Naked Rowers, was first put together back in 2009. Since then the Warwick Rowers club has gotten together annually and taken their clothes off in support of an organization called Sport Allies that fights against homophobic attitudes in sports. The playful back and white images capture the team posing nude in scenic settings like along a dock, in fields and in the lake.
Naked LGBT Calendars
The Warwick Rowers Calendar Design Bares it All in Support of Gay Rights
Trend Themes
1. LGBT+ Advocacy Through Naked Calendars - Opportunity for athletic clubs or nonprofits to create their own naked calendar to raise money and increase awareness for LGBT+ rights.
2. Using Provocative Imagery for Social Causes - Opportunity to explore using risque imagery for other important social issues to generate buzz, attention and support.
3. Shifting Societal Perception of Masculinity - Opportunity to challenge conventional gender norms and redefine masculinity through this unconventional representation of attractive, athletic males.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion and Event Photography Industry - Opportunity for photographers to utilize nudity and provocative imagery to support social causes, like LGBT+ rights.
2. Nonprofit and Advocacy Industry - Opportunity for advocacy groups to use unique and unconventional approaches, like naked calendars, to stimulate conversation and generate funds for social causes.
3. Athletic and Sport Industry - Opportunity for sports organizations to recognize the broader issues of sexuality in sports and support advocacy organizations that combat homophobia and discrimination.