The idea of “straight pride” as a way to celebrate and affirm heterosexual identity is based on nothing but bigotry and intolerance towards the LGBTQ community. Straight people have never been discriminated against for being heterosexual and they’ve never had any rights denied to them just for being straight.
The straight pride slogan arose in the 1980s and early 1990s and has primarily been used by social conservatives as a political stance and strategy, and as an attempt to undermine or diminish the experiences and struggles of LGBTQ+ people.
“Straight pride” has been used by various groups and individuals to express pride in their heterosexual identity, and in some cases, to promote the idea that heterosexuality is superior to other sexual orientations.
History & Origins
The concept of straight pride emerged in the 1990s, around the same time that the LGBTQ+ pride movement was gaining momentum. The first known instance of a straight pride parade took place in Boston in 2019, organized by a group called Super Happy Fun America. According to the organizers, the parade was intended to celebrate “the diverse history, culture, and contributions of the straight community.”
Supporters of straight pride argue that the LGBTQ+ community has been given preferential treatment by society and that the concept of straight pride is a way to push back against this perceived discrimination. They argue that it is unfair for the LGBTQ+ community to have parades and celebrations, while the straight community is not afforded the same opportunities.
What is wrong with straight pride?
A lot. The concept of straight pride has been met with widespread criticism and has been viewed by many as an attempt to diminish the experiences and struggles of LGBTQ+ people. Some of the main arguments made by those who oppose straight pride are:
- Heterosexuality is already the dominant and normative sexual orientation, so there is no need to celebrate it.
- Straight pride events and slogans can be seen as a form of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, as they suggest that non-heterosexual orientations are lesser or undesirable.
- Straight pride can be viewed as a reaction to and an attempt to undermine the LGBTQ+ rights movement, which seeks to promote acceptance and equality for LGBTQ+ people.
- Straight pride events and rhetoric have often been associated with hateful and bigoted attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people, and have been used as a way to express hostility and discrimination towards them.
- Some people argue that the idea of straight pride is based on a misunderstanding of the concept of pride, which is about celebrating and affirming marginalized identities, not dominant ones.
It’s worth noting that some people who use the term “straight pride” or support straight pride events do so in a genuine effort to celebrate and affirm their own identity, not understanding that they are essentially supporting a movement that undermines and diminishes the struggles of LGBTQ+ people – as well as making total fools of themselves! But mostly, people who want straight pride are just bigoted and intolerant. And we do not have to tolerate intolerance.
