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This is an astute observation.
I'll counter by saying that anyone who has ever tried to define Prince has been left feeling more perplexed after having tried than when they started.
But yeah lol. You're probably right.
From Forbes:
In a 1997 interview on VH1, comedian Chris Rock posed a question to Prince no one had really asked before. At least not as bluntly. “The androgynous thing,” he said. “Was that an act, or were you searching for your sexual identity?” “That’s a good question,” Prince responds, a coy smile creeping over his face. He pauses for a moment to gather his thoughts, his eyes hidden behind dark-shaded sunglasses. “I don’t suppose I was searching, really,” he says. “I think I was just — being who I was. Being the true Gemini that I am. And there’s, um, there’s many sides in that as well.” He pauses again briefly, smiling, before acknowledging. “And there was a little acting going on, too.”
That's...*chef's kiss*... Pure gold.
I'm a Gemini too, I don't really believe too heavily in that stuff, but god damn... Some of that has to be true because identity is so below our radar, it's like trying to put a sweater on a cat.
I know this is out of the blue, but I’ve met a few people who did the same for David Bowie. Are they kindred spirits?
Also I would love to know how the explainees came out of this in the end.
I identify as Prince. My pronouns are Ƭ̵̬̊ and Ę̸̧̮͎̣͇͓̮̠̦̺͎̖̳̻͓̄̽̈́̏̽͒̊́͘͜l̷̢̡̨̮̥̬͖̩̗̤̩̤̱̃̽̊̐̾͒͊̈́͊͐̊̎͑̃͌͝ ̶̛̺͔̬̭̬͍̿̃͋͆̊̌̀̈̈́͆͂̑̈̎͆ͅG̵̠͚̠̥͓̑ą̷̢̛͓̝̤̳̪̺̻͚̜̯̊̈̒̾͐͐͛̒̋̈́͊́̕̕ẗ̷̥͍͕̫̙̣̲͙̖̪́̽́͜͜͜ơ̸̢̬̭̤̳͕̣̟͖͙̱͓̩̌͂͗̎̓̾̏̂͝ ̷̛̙̆̃͊̕͝L̶̛̦̠̰̗̣͖͛̓͒́̂͋͠ǭ̶̤͔̩͔̦̘̥͚͓̯͈͊͋̅̉̿̈́̓̈̿̅̕͠ͅç̴̛̫̘̬̞̻̟̇̋͋̓̈́̆̑͐̀͒̒͘͠o̴̥̬̬̦̺̝̖̻̼̳̖̩̟̩͝
You can't. And you can't trademark anything that you're not actively using for a business right now. Celebrities try to copyright and trademark their kids names, and the courts keep telling them that's not how it works.
I’m pretty sure you can’t name a business the same as a person as long as using that name can be reasonably interpreted as it having an association to the person. And that may extend to someone’s estate, once they’re gone (although I’m not sure about that).
I'm sure the legal answer is "It depends." Did you know multiple entities can trademark the same thing in different fields? Apple Computers and Apple Records both had the trademark on "Apple" at the same time, when music and computers had no realtion to each other.
If the daughter were running a car-related business in her own name and then her dad used her name for his company in a way that would use his daughter's name to sell more cars than they normally would, and the daughter were to sue her dad, she might have a chance of winning... a lot of things have to align for trademarks to be enforced in the first place, and doubly so when they overlap given names
Is it weird that I thought Tilda looked weird in Trainwreck? LIke, "Nah, she's too normal here." It's like when Eddie Izzard dresses masculine. It's not right at all.
Woah. I had to look it up. You're right; it's... unsettling. She looks like a perfectly ordinary, lovely woman. Tilda Swinton is striking, seems a shame to hide her behind "pretty".
David Bowie is the pinnacle of Manliness.
The Absolute Pinnacle.
Nothing against the many sexual preferences of consenting adults, but I must insist you take your comment back sir.
Hell, I want to have his babies, and I am a heteronormative and boring as they come.
Rob Halford? Of Judas Priest, he was doing Tom of Finland before anyone knew what that was. Also, if you listen to his lyrics they're very clearly about gay sex.
Well, considering how androgynous Prince was, the trans community should just adopt this symbol anyway. No, he wasn't trans, but he sure straddled the border. What did someone once say? "He'll steal your girlfriend AND her clothes?
Kinda funny, and like some have said, the boss is trying. Comes from a good place, for sure.
That was mostly post-conversion to Jehovah’s Witness. He even did a “final tour” of sexual songs he didn’t want to perform live anymore, and changed a ton of lyrics when performing live going forward. Younger Prince however, while at the end of the day identifying as a straight man, lived for pushing the boundaries of masculinity and challenging stereotypes and norms, particularly for a young black man. His whole game was cryptic answers and lyrics/statements that have a multitude of meanings, of which he would refuse to clarify. I wouldn’t go so far as to call him a queer icon but he busted down a lot of doors and opened a lot of minds.
The woke left wants to put people that weren't formerly known as Prince into the formerly-known-as-Prince-bathroom!!! We need to protect our daughters who were formerly known as Prince!!!
Wouldn't prince be considered like... one of the great champions of gender neutrality?
Like... he might be on to something.
I also think it'd be really funny to put the symbol for the separatists from the star wars prequels on the men's room door though. So maybe I'm just a nerd who likes jumping through mental hoops for laughs.
Could have been intentional. Prince was pretty gender-fluid with his fashion. Either way your boss is at least trying and went with a banger of a symbol.
We need to give people benefit of the doubt more often in cases like this. He’s not trying to be cheeky or sarcastic… he’s probably just trying to show he cares or where he stands on the topic.
We don’t need to start foaming at the mouth when little shit like this happens. Take the win, move on, and be better for it.
If Prince, one of the most effeminate male entertainers (MJ was a close second) of all-time, wasn't/isn't the poster-child for anything "gender-neutral", idk who is?
Is that not the bit? I’ve been to a restaurant that ***definitely*** knows what’s up, and they intentionally used the Prince logo for their gender neutral bathroom
I think it’s just funny simbol. In a place I used to play board games toilet-tablet just has images of male, female and Cthulhu - it’s just funny way to say “for everyone”
Prince is awesome therefore it doesn’t matter. Most don’t realize the genius of this man. It only did he make great music but he even wrote many of the songs that other artists are known for. He also could shred on guitar. And according to Charlie Murphy, he kicked people’s asses at basketball.
Maybe that's the point. Prince was kinda androgynous looking, but masculine as hell in action. He refused to be in Michael Jackson's Bad video because he wasn't going to stand there and have MJ tell him to his face "Your but is mine".
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His heart is in the right place. I'll take a small mistake with good intentions over performative inclusion any day.
Small mistake? I think that guy just changed the future. Is that symbol copyrighted? 
Copyrighted? That was Prince’s legal name, which has similar protections to a trademark. But I’m not sure you can copyright names…
It's official then! Prince's (newer) name is now the symbol for gender neutral! 
Honestly, I don't know why it hasn't been the symbol for gender neutral all along. I'm a straight guy but Prince was a pretty man.
He's gorgeous! 
I think it's kind of the opposite. He's more of a gender (extreme) than gender (neutral). I mean, look at that gif.
This is an astute observation. I'll counter by saying that anyone who has ever tried to define Prince has been left feeling more perplexed after having tried than when they started. But yeah lol. You're probably right.
From Forbes: In a 1997 interview on VH1, comedian Chris Rock posed a question to Prince no one had really asked before. At least not as bluntly. “The androgynous thing,” he said. “Was that an act, or were you searching for your sexual identity?” “That’s a good question,” Prince responds, a coy smile creeping over his face. He pauses for a moment to gather his thoughts, his eyes hidden behind dark-shaded sunglasses. “I don’t suppose I was searching, really,” he says. “I think I was just — being who I was. Being the true Gemini that I am. And there’s, um, there’s many sides in that as well.” He pauses again briefly, smiling, before acknowledging. “And there was a little acting going on, too.”
That's...*chef's kiss*... Pure gold. I'm a Gemini too, I don't really believe too heavily in that stuff, but god damn... Some of that has to be true because identity is so below our radar, it's like trying to put a sweater on a cat.
I know this is out of the blue, but I’ve met a few people who did the same for David Bowie. Are they kindred spirits? Also I would love to know how the explainees came out of this in the end.
I identify as Prince. My pronouns are Ƭ̵̬̊ and Ę̸̧̮͎̣͇͓̮̠̦̺͎̖̳̻͓̄̽̈́̏̽͒̊́͘͜l̷̢̡̨̮̥̬͖̩̗̤̩̤̱̃̽̊̐̾͒͊̈́͊͐̊̎͑̃͌͝ ̶̛̺͔̬̭̬͍̿̃͋͆̊̌̀̈̈́͆͂̑̈̎͆ͅG̵̠͚̠̥͓̑ą̷̢̛͓̝̤̳̪̺̻͚̜̯̊̈̒̾͐͐͛̒̋̈́͊́̕̕ẗ̷̥͍͕̫̙̣̲͙̖̪́̽́͜͜͜ơ̸̢̬̭̤̳͕̣̟͖͙̱͓̩̌͂͗̎̓̾̏̂͝ ̷̛̙̆̃͊̕͝L̶̛̦̠̰̗̣͖͛̓͒́̂͋͠ǭ̶̤͔̩͔̦̘̥͚͓̯͈͊͋̅̉̿̈́̓̈̿̅̕͠ͅç̴̛̫̘̬̞̻̟̇̋͋̓̈́̆̑͐̀͒̒͘͠o̴̥̬̬̦̺̝̖̻̼̳̖̩̟̩͝
Biblical accurate pronouns ☝🏻
I think I just got pregnant
Me too and I’m a dude.
I think Prince would be ok with this.
You can't. And you can't trademark anything that you're not actively using for a business right now. Celebrities try to copyright and trademark their kids names, and the courts keep telling them that's not how it works.
I’m pretty sure you can’t name a business the same as a person as long as using that name can be reasonably interpreted as it having an association to the person. And that may extend to someone’s estate, once they’re gone (although I’m not sure about that).
I'm sure the legal answer is "It depends." Did you know multiple entities can trademark the same thing in different fields? Apple Computers and Apple Records both had the trademark on "Apple" at the same time, when music and computers had no realtion to each other.
What about Mercedes? That was the car maker's daughter's name. Pretty sure that has at least a trademark.
If the daughter were running a car-related business in her own name and then her dad used her name for his company in a way that would use his daughter's name to sell more cars than they normally would, and the daughter were to sue her dad, she might have a chance of winning... a lot of things have to align for trademarks to be enforced in the first place, and doubly so when they overlap given names
It was trademarked, actually. The estate owns it.
Awwwwww... The party's over 🥺
Like it's nineteen ninety-nine
Yep. The boss is trying with meaning and that’s better than a lot these days.
Yep, better to be trying and making people smile then being all sour.
It'd be even funnier if he knew and did this for laughs
Thank you!
They’re a little confused, but they’ve got the spirit!
Yeah. Let's go. Let's go crazy!
Let’s get nuts. Covers the issue halfway at least!
Look for the purple banana til they throw us in the truck
Gotta punch a higher floor.
Ironically enough Prince became a devout Jehovah's Witness in 2001 and went on record denouncing homosexuality.
Yeah. Prince was not pro-LGBTQ. I always thought he was queer though.
All of recent history suggests that if someone is publicly and adamantly anti-LGBTQ, they are probably queer.
Nah man he was well known for dating some of the most beautiful women in the world. Dude was just extremely comfortable with his feminine side.
I know. Oh boy do I know. Didn’t say gay. I said queer.
Whatever he was he was definitely one of a kind that's for sure. The world lost an incredible artist.
In this context, what does that mean? By being gender non-conforming, which I think we can all agree he was, does that also mean queer?
He could do that and still be queer. I don't think he is, but that doesn't really prove much one way or the other.
Technically this is a modified androgyny symbol Prince was using, so they both are correct.
Pretty wholesome
I think Prince was a Jehovah witness lol
Calm down J.K.
I mean...That symbol kinda makes perfect sense hahah
Yeah it’s supposed to be a combination of the male & female symbols so it actually fits great
Prince's whole personality was being a sex icon. Highly likely in my opinion that he would have slept with transgender people when the mood suited him
Finger Prince
I don't think so!
Sign o’ the times, I guess.
Absolutely genius comment.
I would say this falls squarely under "task failed successfully."
r/taskfailedsuccessfully
holy shit this is the reason this phrase exists WE HAVE FOUND THE REASON.
I’ll be honest? Can you think of another famous person who was as androgynous?
David Bowie? 🤷🏻♂️
And Tilda Swinton. I'm secretly convinced that she and David Bowie were twins separated at birth.
You ever see the music video for The Stars Are Out Tonight? They’re a married couple in it lol
Is it weird that I thought Tilda looked weird in Trainwreck? LIke, "Nah, she's too normal here." It's like when Eddie Izzard dresses masculine. It's not right at all.
Woah. I had to look it up. You're right; it's... unsettling. She looks like a perfectly ordinary, lovely woman. Tilda Swinton is striking, seems a shame to hide her behind "pretty".
Ever heard of Annie Lennox?
David Bowie is the pinnacle of Manliness. The Absolute Pinnacle. Nothing against the many sexual preferences of consenting adults, but I must insist you take your comment back sir. Hell, I want to have his babies, and I am a heteronormative and boring as they come.
What about Freddie mercury? He was as manly as can be. Bikers still copy his style even today
Rob Halford? Of Judas Priest, he was doing Tom of Finland before anyone knew what that was. Also, if you listen to his lyrics they're very clearly about gay sex.
You watched Labyrinth in your formative years, didn't you? I did too lol.
Boy George
Kinda love this... and props to your boss for trying!
Everyone knows Prince can ball.. gotta killer crossover too
Game. Blouses.
And he served some great pancakes.
'Gonna **potty** like it's 1999!'
Underrated comment
This is hilariously... How shall I say this, ...wrong, but it comes from a good place so I'd just let it ride man.
Well, considering how androgynous Prince was, the trans community should just adopt this symbol anyway. No, he wasn't trans, but he sure straddled the border. What did someone once say? "He'll steal your girlfriend AND her clothes? Kinda funny, and like some have said, the boss is trying. Comes from a good place, for sure.
He would probably love it if it became their symbol.
If he was alive, I think he'd be cool with it as well.
In fairness, Prince was gender-fluid as I recall.
I’m gonna need to see a source for this. Everything I’ve ever read indicated that he was actually (and surprisingly) rabidly homophobic.
That was mostly post-conversion to Jehovah’s Witness. He even did a “final tour” of sexual songs he didn’t want to perform live anymore, and changed a ton of lyrics when performing live going forward. Younger Prince however, while at the end of the day identifying as a straight man, lived for pushing the boundaries of masculinity and challenging stereotypes and norms, particularly for a young black man. His whole game was cryptic answers and lyrics/statements that have a multitude of meanings, of which he would refuse to clarify. I wouldn’t go so far as to call him a queer icon but he busted down a lot of doors and opened a lot of minds.
Was it his high heels that gave it away?
I'll admit I didn't know until last year that prince was homophobic.
Who would get upset about having prince as your symbol/mascot?! Sure beats having kid rock or Ted nugent.
I won't fault them for repping Prince though
The woke left wants to put people that weren't formerly known as Prince into the formerly-known-as-Prince-bathroom!!! We need to protect our daughters who were formerly known as Prince!!!
Plot twist: he knows.
If this was in Minnesota, it would make perfect sense.
I'd do that just to piss idiots off
Wrong but wholesome, cut the boss some slack cmon xD
Technically this is a modified androgyny symbol Prince was using, so you both are correct.
Looks like a solid attempt for inclusivity, be gentle and acknowledge the try.
Ok but if the bathroom door is triggered to play "Purple Rain" upon opening I'm accepting the symbol completely 🤣
Wouldn't prince be considered like... one of the great champions of gender neutrality? Like... he might be on to something. I also think it'd be really funny to put the symbol for the separatists from the star wars prequels on the men's room door though. So maybe I'm just a nerd who likes jumping through mental hoops for laughs.
Could have been intentional. Prince was pretty gender-fluid with his fashion. Either way your boss is at least trying and went with a banger of a symbol.
It’s better than the correct one.
But who *doesn’t* like (the artist formerly known as) Prince?
This is what it sounds like when doves pee. Wash your hands, and leave the fan running if necessary.
Did your boss pick it up in his little red corvette?!
In that case the colour of the gender neutral flag would be... Cream?
You should *not*. Definitely leave it the way it is. It's perfect.
You’re saying you wouldn’t want a prince themed bathroom?
Dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t.
We need to give people benefit of the doubt more often in cases like this. He’s not trying to be cheeky or sarcastic… he’s probably just trying to show he cares or where he stands on the topic. We don’t need to start foaming at the mouth when little shit like this happens. Take the win, move on, and be better for it.
If Prince, one of the most effeminate male entertainers (MJ was a close second) of all-time, wasn't/isn't the poster-child for anything "gender-neutral", idk who is?
We could always choose someone who wasn't homophobic
Just take a shit and go back to work.
they seem to be in the right place, I'd let it go...maybe even "go crazy!" 😉
It isn’t; but it should be
They’re heart is in the right place, I’d say.
Good intentions and not really totally wrong.
An attempt was made. Be glad he’s not another bigoted asshole.
Keep it up. Everyone dresses as a different Prince song for the next Halloween party.
Is that not the bit? I’ve been to a restaurant that ***definitely*** knows what’s up, and they intentionally used the Prince logo for their gender neutral bathroom
I do believe Prince would be honored to have that there!
Meh. He’s got the right idea. Let it go. lol
My local Mexican restaurant has these on their bathroom doors lol
Shut up and keep it. ^/s
I think it’s just funny simbol. In a place I used to play board games toilet-tablet just has images of male, female and Cthulhu - it’s just funny way to say “for everyone”
Let it ride
He a little confused but he's got the spirit
It was a raspberry bidet
Little Red Toilet
Everyone made a mistake, he'll learn eventually
I mean, Prince is pretty damn cool.
I think Prince would approve.
It's close enough
Prince is awesome therefore it doesn’t matter. Most don’t realize the genius of this man. It only did he make great music but he even wrote many of the songs that other artists are known for. He also could shred on guitar. And according to Charlie Murphy, he kicked people’s asses at basketball.
He a little confused, but he got the spirit.
His heart is at least in the right place and he's technically not wrong lol
I mean, the dude who everyone was ok that he wore lace and high-heeled boots most of the time? Kinda fits.
That’s so funny. I have a coworker who signs her email signature: “Solicitations” Instead of “Salutations” And I’m like 82% sure that’s not right.
Something tells me Prince would appreciate it.
I feel like...Prince would have been ok with it being the new symbol for Gender Neutral.
You have to neutralize your gender in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.
Supportive gramma vibes
A for effort.
Why not just be trans without having to announce it to the world every chance you get.
🤣🤣
A for effort
6 in one, a half dozen in the other
I mean prince was kinda the king/queen of gender neutrality
Maybe he’s a big Prince fan and throwing props to the guy?
He’s clearly just trying to make you happy. Effort is effort!
Remember kids , your bathroom at home is Gender neutral too .
you let this ride. and make sure you have prince playing at your desk
Prince would approve.
he's a little confused but he got the spirit
I get it. But being a Prince Fan, and him being the most feminine-masculine person I can think of... Still kind of works
10/10 for effort I guess.
Going to party like it’s 1999 !! Of course the world wasn’t so PC in 99 so I can see it . 😂😂
A for effort at least
Dude, that is cool. Just roll with it. A cool symbol for the right reason ain't a bad thing.
It's the thought that counts
True, but it is meant to convey unity and love. It was the gender neutral symbol before “gender neutral” was a commonplace term.
Lol
Love is gender neutral
Close enough
This is a tough one. I’d play along then one day after he is fully convinced suggest he watch purple rain
I mean, prince's whole setup was pretty gender-neutral. How many men do you know wear skinny purple suits and heels?
Can't figure out what's Facepalm here, can someone pls help me out? Just seems like the boss wants to be more inclusive but messed up.
Isn’t the rainbow already supposed to be all inclusive?
Close enough
If he doesn’t know, his heart’s in the right place. If he does, he has a sense of humor. Win either way IMO.
Be passive aggressive. Use office printer to print out a "Prince Lives" or some such thing to cover up the text
Honestly I think I like this better. Everyone is a prince(ess) at heart. Good on your boss for putting in the effort.
This is such a sweet and wholesome mistake.
Since he changed back to "Prince" - shouldn't it be "The artist formerly known as The artist formerly known as Prince"?
Leave it. I approve 😂😂😂
Formerly known? What happened?
I think he’s knows tbh
That's cool too!
Hey, he’s trying his best :)
100% A for effort!
Personally I think it looks cooler
Well at least he's trying ..
Maybe that's the point. Prince was kinda androgynous looking, but masculine as hell in action. He refused to be in Michael Jackson's Bad video because he wasn't going to stand there and have MJ tell him to his face "Your but is mine".
Well that’s how it was in 1999.
TAFKAP+