Netflix logo in Pride/rainbow colors
The organizer’s of the so-called ‘Straight Pride Parade’ scheduled for August 31 in Boston, Massachusetts, received a cease-and-desist letter from streaming giant Netflix informing them to remove their logo from the organizer’s website as a “prospective sponsor.”
The organizers, operating under the name ‘Super Happy Fun America,’ included Netflix along with dozens of other major corporations on their website.
Journalist Ford Fischer was first to tweet the letter written by Netflix to the organization informing them they were infringing on trademark and other intellectual property.
“You are using the Netflix logo to promote your event, which despite its name is about hate–-not pride,” read the letter from Netflix’s legal team. “That’s gross and deeply hurtful, but it’s also deceptive misinformation and infringes our legal rights. Netflix has nothing to do with your organization or event. Indeed, it’s telling that you feel the need to lie to gain legitimacy.”
Saying that the streaming giant is “unafraid of bullies,” Netflix closed with, “Our legal department is here, it’s queer, and it’s telling you to steer clear.”
BOOM! Suh-nap!
‘Straight Pride Parade’ organizers posted on their website that they had reached out to Netflix “with an offer to sponsor” their event “based on their reputation as a progressive and forward-looking company.”
The organizers added they believed that Netflix “would jump at the opportunity to become involved” in what they describe as a “young civil rights movement.”
“Sadly, we have learned that Netflix is a heterophobic company steeped in hatred and bigotry,” continued Super Happy Fun America. “They not only rejected our offer but threatened us with litigation if we did not stop using their name and logo, which is perfectly legal for editorial or informational purposes.”
“Obviously, Netflix has no qualms about using their position of power to threaten marginalized groups who are exercising their 1st Amendment rights,” added the organizers. “It appears that their legal department is staffed by gay supremacists who are so accustomed to privilege that our goal of equality for straights feels like oppression to them.”
“In fact, it is Netflix that is acting like a bully,” they wrote in conclusion. “We have every right to inform the public about our attempts to gain sponsors for our parade and their hate will not stop us.”
Speaking of hate, The Independent has previously reported that the ‘Straight Pride Parade’ organizers have been “heavily linked with far-right movements and nationalist protests.”
Netflix isn’t the only company calling the ‘Straight Pride’ folks out.
Bank of America has also reached out informing Super Happy Fun America to “remove Bank of America name and logo from all of your organization’s print and online materials.”
(image via journalist Ford Fischer)
