We’re barely five days into Pride Month and already pockets of right-wing bigots are calling for their own ‘Straight Pride,’ completely missing or disregarding the actual reason LGBTQ Pride parades are held in the first place.
A group of activists in Boston, Massachusetts – consisting of Mark Sahady of right-wing group Resist Marxism, and pro-Trump supporters John Hugo and Chris Bartley – have applied for a permit to hold the city’s first ‘Straight Pride’ parade at the end of August.
Organisers want to use the same route that Boston Pride follows, and have even named their “mascot” for the event.
“Straight people are an oppressed majority,” their website claims. “We will fight for the right of straights everywhere to express pride in themselves without fear of judgement and hate.”
They have also demanded “the same parade route as the Boston Pride Parade [and] the same accommodations given for the LGBTQ+ parade.” This includes street closures and permission to have parade floats.
What’s more, they’ve named Brad Pitt as their “mascot,” saying that “he is a hero to straight men all around the world.”
It goes without saying that Brad Pitt has absolutely nothing to do with this group, and they do not have his approval for him to be named their “mascot” at all.
If this all wasn’t enough of an eye roll already, they have also designed ‘Straight Pride’ flags and logos, which feature the male and female symbols.
Rainbow Crossing in Boston via Flickr
And if the authorities reject their application? Sahady wrote in a Facebook post that he has threatened legal action if they do.
“It looks like the Boston Straight Pride Parade will happen. We filed a discrimination complaint and it appears the City of Boston understands they would lose in litigation,” he wrote.
“The city is now working with us on the parade. We will have the streets closed and be allowed floats and vehicles.
“The tentative date is 8/31 but will be finalised in the next few weeks. If you would like to come as an individual, march as a group, or bring a float or vehicle, then get in touch.
“This is our chance to have a patriotic parade in Boston as we celebrate straight pride.”
However, while the city of Boston have confirmed that they have been contacted about the event, they clarified that they have not yet given it the go ahead.
“The group planning to host Boston’s ‘Straight Pride’ parade has been in contact with the City of Boston, but has not yet received the necessary permits to host a parade,” Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh said in a statement.
“As with all groups seeking to host events in the City of Boston, groups must go through the City of Boston permit process to host events in the City of Boston.”
Far right groups attempting to organise a ‘Straight Pride’ has become somewhat of an annual thing.
In previous years, however, the events have had laughably low turnouts, with one event not even managing to get 10 people to attend.
Related: Amazon bans sale of ‘Straight Pride’ badges after causing outrage
