April 6th, 2020 -- New York, NY
New York-based genderless streetwear brand PRIVATE POLICY is launching the #LOVEALI campaign to provide support for the Ali Forney Center (AFC) in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The AFC is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive services and shelter provider for homeless LGBTQ youth. Private Policy, a 2019 CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, has designed an exclusive, US-made, t-shirt with all proceeds going to the AFC. The shirts will be pre-sold to expedite the money going towards both the organization and the factory for production. The shirts retail for $80 and will be available for purchase through a GoFundMe site and on Private Policy’s website, starting on April 6th, 2020.
Private Policy is joined in raising funds for the AFC through the t-shirt collaboration with long-time AFC supporter Billy Porter, Tan France, Bowen Yang, artist and activist Chella Man. The supporters will each sign a shirt to be mailed at random to those who donated/purchased a t-shirt. With production scheduled, the t-shirts are slated to be sent out in mid-May. 
As businesses make the difficult decisions to close operations, AFC has to keep its doors open. AFC cannot turn its back on those in need. The drop-in center and shelters are their homes, providing needed shelter and services. The center is the only homeless shelter specifically for LGBTQ youth in New York City and houses 1,400 youth annually. AFC anticipates those numbers to increase given the COVID-19 situation in New York.
In such a time of fear, AFC is standing firm and keeping its doors open. They are taking every step possible to protect their youth and staff to limit exposure by suspending outside groups and volunteers from visiting its Harlem drop-in center and shelter sites. AFC is reorganizing its programs so those staying at the Center do not need to travel between sites for services and establish quarantine zones in all of the sites for those who have been exposed first hand to COVID-19, or become sick.
Private Policy designers Siying Qu and Haoran Li say, “Raising awareness for social issues and causes in need is part of our brand’s DNA. With the increasing number of people losing work, homelessness is on the rise and we knew that we needed to do something for our communities. We want to assist the Ali Forney Center in raising money to help keep their services going for the LGBTQ youth during a time they need the most!”
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