Dolce & Gabbana: Off-Trend?

We are fortunate enough to be living in a somewhat liberal age and society. People for the most part are allowed to develop their own lifestyles and express themselves freely without a great deal of censorship or restraint. But sometimes this can create problems, not everyone is as free-spirited as you would hope.

A week or so ago legendary Italian fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana's controversial comments opposing in vitro fertilisation, surrogacy and same sex parenting lit up a tense worldwide debate. Dolce's choice of words in particular caused huge offence, after he stated "I'm not convinced by what I call chemical children, synthetic babies."

(Photo via Swide.com)

Clearly Dolce & Gabbana have upset a lot of people, considering they are both openly gay men themselves it's being seen as an act of betrayal. Obviously, I don't support their views, but I support the fact that they have the right to comment. It's important people realise everyone is entitled to their own opinion, be it good or bad. How an individual expresses it is equally as important. You can get your point across without doing it in a hurtful, nasty way.

I believe a person's identity is not determined by his/her parents, it's who you are not where you came from. A father is not a man who donates sperm and a mother is not a woman who donates her eggs, a parent is the person who raises you, loves you unconditionally and is there for you when it matters. Genes are irrelevant. I respect that certain people in this world feel genetic heritage is a fundamental right and nature will always dictate that every human being came from a father and a mother. But I really think society it to blame here for wronging donor children and placing this unneeded emphasis on biological importance, family is not to be defined by blood, it is defined by love.

(Photo via Indiatoday.intoday.in)

My only real criticism is that I found Dolce's comment on 'synthetic' babies particularly patronizing. Each child is a blessing, God or nature still has a helping hand in everything brought into this earth, it's ignorant to think otherwise. Technology and science is still not the sole source or provider. All babies have a heart and soul, we're not talking about material items or commodities, these are real life human beings, to label them as anything less than that is disgusting. The reality is IVF is a miracle that has allowed loving people throughout the world both gay and straight to fulfil their dream of having children and becoming parents, to dismiss assisted reproduction and its endless benefits is crazy. The gift of life is special and is always going to continue to be a gift regardless of the circumstances.

Celebrities such as Elton John and Madonna are now campaigning for a global boycott of the fashion-house. But what's the purpose of this? They themselves have tarnished their own brand a great deal. The damage is already done. We all have different viewpoints and every right to be different in those views. The entire concept of free-speech is to be open and not so intolerant of different opinions. Trying to destroy or ruin a brand just for the sake of it just doesn't seem right.

I've never been able to afford their clothing up to now so it's no great loss on my part, I just hope this recent war of words opens up people's minds a bit more and allows them to see past their own values.