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Who needs Straight Pride?

Idaho bar pushes 'straight pride' month, ignores history of heterosexual privilege. Experts highlight straightness as the societal default, rarely questioned or challenged, unlike LGBTQ+ identities, which face stigmatization; underscoring the necessity of Pride celebrations.

Published June 13, 2024 at 5:07am by Kinsey Crowley

Heterosexual 'Pride' Pushes Back on LGBTQ+ Community

Boston parade, school flag lawsuit, Idaho bar deals: Heterosexuals push back on LGBTQ+ Pride.

The LGBTQ+ community's Pride Month celebrations are an annual commemoration of the Stonewall uprising, a pivotal moment in the fight for equal rights. Yet, in recent years, there has been a growing trend of heterosexual 'pride' events and promotions pushing back on this celebration of queer identity.

In 2019, Boston held a straight pride parade.
In 2023, a Denver father sued a school district for not flying a straight pride flag.
This year, an Idaho bar is offering deals for "Heterosexual Awesomeness Month."

Historical Marginalization

The need for dedicated celebrations like Pride, Black History Month, etc., arises from the historical marginalization of these communities. Imara Jones, a journalist and founder of TransLash Media, explains:

"People have been systemically written out of history and excluded and made invisible... One of the antidotes has been the idea that we will make people more visible and that there needs to be increased visibility to counteract that."

According to the UCLA Williams Institute, only 5.5% of US adults identify as LGBT, while heterosexuality remains the norm, often reflected in mainstream media.

Commemorating Stonewall, Celebrating Community

Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, when police raided NYC's Stonewall Inn, a gay bar. The ensuing protests shifted LGBTQ+ activism. While transgender people and women of color played pivotal roles in the riots, they were largely excluded from early Pride celebrations.

Today, Pride is about visibility, community, and celebrating LGBTQ+ love and joy. It's also a time to highlight policy and resource issues facing the community.

A Rise in Anti-LGBTQ+ Sentiment

Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, hate groups, and crimes are on the rise. In 2023, over 500 bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community were introduced, with 84 becoming law. This year, over 475 similar bills have been put forward. The Southern Poverty Law Center saw a 30% increase in anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups in 2023. FBI data shows a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, per the Human Rights Campaign.

Jones notes the role of intimidation and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in creating a hostile environment, with real-life consequences for the community.