How American Apparel Helped Me Realize I Was Gay

by Chase Burns“Emo’s dead. Everything’s all gay now.”ANNA BRYXKHANOVA / GETTY
American Apparel is dead. I heard it give a final, breathy moan as a sales associate told me, "You can take home the mannequins if you want. They're free." (I felt almost disrespectful when I responded, "No. I'm only here for the jelly shoes.") The company was acquired by Gildan Activewear in January for $88 million, and all of its stores must close by the end of April. Boxes of discounted panti