Designer Kenneth Cole is known not only for his fashion and footwear, but also for his awareness-raising marketing campaigns (see our June 2009 cover story). He’s at it again with his latest T-shirt, which reads: “Those against same-sex marriage aren’t thinking straight. (Or are they?)”

A recent study by economists at Emory University in Atlanta shows that bans on same-sex marriage in the United States may be linked to an increase in new HIV infections.

Bans foster intolerance and drive more gay people to risky sexual behaviors. Researchers estimate that the ban on marriage raises the domestic HIV rate by four cases per 100,000 people.

Kudos to Cole for promoting same-sex marriage and HIV prevention.

$35, sold at Kenneth Cole stores and online at kennethcole.com; proceeds benefit the Human Rights Campaign.