We Need to Talk About "Straight Pride"

Because “Hetero Awesome Fest” is nothing to be proud of

The Idaho State Capitol serves as the backdrop for “Hetero Awesome Fest.” Photo: Matt Kirouac-York

I saw a social media thread recently, discussing the importance of Pride Month, and the homophobes who decry it.

“Dear Straight People,” it began. “If you’ve ever held your partner’s hand in public without fear of being verbally harassed or physically attacked, you might not need a Pride Month.”

I’m ashamed to admit that, at times, I’ve been afraid to hold Nathan’s hand.

“If marrying the one you love wasn’t ever once against the law, you might not need a Pride Month.”

I fear that, under our current administration, my right to marry is in jeopardy.

“If you’ve ever been called a slur by passerby simply for existing as your authentic self, and through that experience made to feel inferior, you might not need a Pride Month.”

Like that time I was in Mesta Park in Oklahoma City, and a lady rolled down her car window to call me a stupid bitch…just for walking.

“If you’ve never considered s*icide because of who you love, you might not need a Pride Month.”

Like too many others, I’ve been made to feel better off dead.

The list goes on and on, but none of it should ever need to even be said. Straight people don’t need a Pride, and the ones who whine about it are just homophobic, selfish, narrow-minded, and bad. Queer people need Pride. We deserve to be Proud of ourselves, our resilience, and our courage. We get one month, and it’s still fraught with corporate sponsorship hoopla and rainbow capitalism. For straight people, whose mere existence isn’t a source of contention, and whose basic civil rights aren’t constantly on the chopping block, every day of every month is “Straight Pride.”