Every June is Pride Month—this isn’t anything new. Yet, I always brace myself for the butthurt cisgender men who come out of the woodwork to comment on Pride-themed corporate Facebook posts (or Pride support from, heaven forbid, their football teams). The question always posed is “where is my straight pride?” and to that I say, “Have you ever questioned why people celebrate in the first place?”
Contrary to some beliefs, Pride is not a time of year when drag queens brainwash your kids via storytime. Nor is it a time where we walk around suggestively nude, where our parades turn your kids gay. In reality, Pride is the celebration of queer identity and expression without penalty (or the hope of no penalty). Pride is an acknowledgment that we haven’t had the same rights that straight-identifying people have always enjoyed. Pride celebrates the fundamental riots and advocates that have paved a path to revolution. Pride celebrates the first documented drag queens, of 1880.
Colonization has played the pivotal role in destroying two-spirit individuals and any relationship that was not in favor or in line with business such as land transfers or having children.
The Stonewall Riots began in June 1969 and same-sex relationships were only partially decriminalized in Canada the same year.
In 1978, legislation was put in place for the first time that would prohibit discrimination on sexual orientation for housing and work, although secured housing was and, truly, still is less of an issue for straight individuals or couples.
Same-sex marriage wasn’t recognized until 2005 in Canada, and conversion therapy was only criminalized in 2022.
These dates were not that long ago.
So, no, I don’t believe there is a reason for straight pride. I am a visibly queer individual who regularly gets instructed by men and even women to Find Jesus—or else I’m called slurs. In no universe should this be allowed to happen and have no repercussions. Why do these interactions need to happen? Why do hateful things need to be shouted at someone you don’t know?
The issue is not within our community; the issue lies in the lack of or squashed education that we need to have in schools. You are not born a homophobic or transphobic individual; you’re raised this way. I hope every day my kids will not be bullied for having a queer parent and I’m worried about the bullying they might experience as they grow.
Our celebrations for a month are not to rub who we are in your face; we’re just trying to make you realize we’re not a threat. We’re just here to celebrate the rights we need to fight to keep every day.
While the number of cisgender men in the comments continues to grow, I do notice the change of those who have found their voice to protect others and take charge in making the world open to a whole rainbow of beauty. The world is just a better place when we are accepting.