Straight pride is a slogan that arose in the late 1980s and early 1990s that has primarily

been used by social conservatives as a political stance and strategy.[1] The term is described
as a response to gay pride[2][3][4] adopted by various LGBTQ groups in the early 1970s, or to
the accommodations provided to gay pride initiatives.
Straight pride backlash incidents have generated controversy and media attention. School
policies and court decisions regarding freedom of expression have drawn particular attention,
spotlighting individuals protesting school expressions against harassment of LGBTQ
adolescents.[4][5][6]

Contents

• 1Background
o 1.1Stonewall riots spark gay pride
o 1.2Straight pride as an appeal to ridicule
o 1.3Straight pride events
• 2Individual events
o 2.1Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada (2005)
o 2.2Budapest, Hungary (2010)
o 2.3São Paulo, Brazil (2011)
o 2.4Helsinki, Finland (2011)
o 2.5Seattle, Washington State, U.S. (2015)
o 2.6Chipman, New Brunswick, Canada (2018)
o 2.7San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S. (2019)
o 2.8Boston Massachusetts, U.S. (2019)
• 3High school shirt incidents
o 3.1Balancing freedom of expression vs. protection of students
• 4See also
• 5References
• 6External links

Background[edit]
Stonewall riots spark gay pride[edit]
LGBTQ history traces back to ancient civilizations, but gay pride is usually associated with
the modern LGBTQ rights movement that was sparked by the 1969 Stonewall riots in New
York City. Newspaper coverage of the events was minor, since, in the 1960s, huge marches
and mass rioting had become commonplace and the Stonewall riots were relatively small. It
was the commemorative march one year later that drew 5,000 marchers up New York
City's Sixth Avenue, that got nationwide publicity and led to modern-day LGBTQ pride
marches. A new period of liberalism in the late 1960s began a new era of more social
acceptance for homosexuality which lasted until the late 1970s. In the 1970s, the popularity
of disco music and its culture in many ways made society more accepting of gays and
lesbians. Late in 1979, a new religious revival ushered in the conservatism that would reign
in the United States during the 1980s, becoming another obstacle for the progress of the
LGBTQ movement.
Straight pride as an appeal to ridicule[edit]
The concept of LGBTQ pride originates as a movement which seeks to challenge the
negative images of LGBTQ people[7] by being openly identified with a
culturally stigmatized group; as such, it creates a discomfort.[2]
In this context, the terms straight pride and heterosexual pride exist as an argument
criticizing gay pride as unnecessary, stating by contrast with heterosexuality that
heterosexuals "don't talk about straight pride",[2] don't have "straight pride rallies",[3] and would
be seen as ridiculous if they were to "band together and have a heterosexual pride [...]
parade".[8]
This appeal to ridicule argument expresses the idea that showing pride for a homosexual
orientation is equally absurd. Analysts of LGBTQ rights state as a counter-argument that
mainstream culture offers many approved social venues (weddings, baptism, family reunions
and so on) for heterosexuals to express and celebrate their sexual orientation in public, while
homosexuals usually feel isolated and pride parades offer them support and an opportunity
for socializing.[3]
Straight pride events[edit]
"Heterosexual pride" parades exist as a response to societal acceptance of LGBTQ visibility,
and originated in campuses in the 1990s as a backlash tactic.[1][4]
Incidents where the slogan or concept of "Straight pride" caused controversy have occurred
since the late 1980s. In 1988, for example, Vermont Republican John Burger asked the
state's Governor to establish a "Straight Pride Day".[9] In 1990, rallies in support of Straight
Pride were held: at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMASS), organized by the
group Young Americans for Freedom; and nearby Mount Holyoke College.[10] The UMass
event was promoted as "Burn a Fag in Effigy" rally.[11] Conservative organizations at UMASS-
Amherst held another such event the next year, attended by about fifty people and protested
by a crowd estimated to be ten times larger.[12]
Events which draw media attention are "Straight pride parades"[13][14][15] or "Straight Pride
days",[9][16][17][18] often organized in response to similar events organized by LGBTQ
groups.[19] Other events, typically occurring in United States high schools where First
Amendment concerns arise,[20] have revolved around people desiring to wear "Straight Pride"
t-shirts.[21][22][23][24][25]
At a 2010 Tea Party Express rally in Lansing, the state capital of Michigan, a vendor was
selling T-shirts printed with the slogan "Straight Pride".[26] Some state and national gay
advocacy groups denounced the shirts, claiming that they echoed the use by racist groups of
a "white pride" slogan. Some of the opposition arose from reports that the shirt seller was a
sponsor of the event with a cut of sales funding the Tea Party Express, although those
reports may not have been accurate.[26][27]
Support for straight pride events is often based on religious objections to
homosexuality.[12][28] Groups such as the White Aryan Resistance and Ku Klux Klan have also
tried to oppose "gay pride" by stressing straight pride.[29]

Individual events[edit]
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada (2005)[edit]
In May 2005, the northern Canadian city of Yellowknife announced that it would mark both a
gay and straight pride day.[16] After the mayor proclaimed June 10, 2005 as Gay Pride Day,
Councillor Alan Woytuik proposed that there be a Heterosexual Day. The mayor agreed and
set it for June 9. Woytuik defended the proposal for Heterosexual Day by stating that
"recognizing the contributions of heterosexuals is just as legitimate as recognizing the
contributions of gay and lesbian communities." The group seeking the Gay Pride Day
designation was dismayed, asking if Black History Month would be partnered with White
Heritage Month and whether days marking heart disease and strokes should be paired with
days celebrating good health.[16] Woytuik's request for Heterosexual Day was widely reported
on. Shocked by the attention, he withdrew his request for the proclamation and apologized.
He referred to his request as a simple one seeking to treat everyone the same which was
blown out of proportion. The city subsequently rescinded its proclamation of Heterosexual
Day.[30]
Budapest, Hungary (2010)[edit]
In 2010, a heterosexual pride march was held in Budapest. Following the route of an earlier
gay pride parade, one hundred people participated including two politicians. The march's
stated goal was to prevent future use of public spaces by homosexuals for gatherings.[15]
São Paulo, Brazil (2011)[edit]
In August, 2011, the city council of São Paulo, Brazil, voted to designate the third Sunday in
December as Heterosexual Pride Day ("Dia do orgulho hétero" in Portuguese).[17] Debate in
Brazil was intense over the controversy.[31][32] Evangelical supporter Carlos Apolinário, that
previously tried to ban São Paulo Gay Pride Parade,[31] told reporters that his idea "not anti-
gay, but a protest against the privileges the gay community enjoys." The Brazilian Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Association criticized this claim, arguing "it could provoke
homophobic violence."[33]
Helsinki, Finland (2011)[edit]
Contrary to most straight prides, the Helsinki gay pride march organizers themselves
arranged a group called "Ylpeät Heterot" ("Proud Heterosexuals") as a part of the gay pride
march for those heterosexuals who want to show their support for the march.[34]
Seattle, Washington State, U.S. (2015)[edit]
Local artist Anthony Rebello arranged a heterosexual pride parade in the Capitol Hill
neighborhood of Seattle in July 2015, in which he was the only person to march. The event
stirred up concern among the residents after finding a post written on his personal blog[35] and
a picture of him posing with a gun surfaced on social media and local news.[36][37]
Chipman, New Brunswick, Canada (2018)[edit]
In October 2018, resident Glenn Bishop put up a straight pride flag, which was taken down a
short while later by LGBT people. Hoisting the straight flag was likened to "putting up a
swastika" by local Margaret Clark. The flag drew further protests.[38]
San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S. (2019)[edit]
Don Grundmann, a Bay Area chiropractor, founded the National Straight Pride Coalition
(NSPC) in Spring of 2019 for “protecting traditional gender roles, Christianity,
heterosexuality, Western Civilization, babies, and the contributions of whites to Western
Civilization from the malevolence of the homosexual movement.”[39] Grundmann had
previously founded Citizens Against Perversion and American Warrior Ministry.[39] The
NSPC’s first event was planned to be at Modesto, California's Mancini Bowl, the Graceada
Park amphitheater, but the permit was denied for safety and compatibility issues, and
because their insurance was voided.[40] After failing again to get the needed insurance for a
public venue because of the nature of their event,[41] they moved the rally to a private space
but were shut down by the owners when they were alerted the event was live streaming and
more counter-protesters would likely arrive.[39] The owners were unaware of the nature of the
event or group and have disavowed their involvement.[39] After the rally was kicked out of the
private venue, they moved to the parking lot of the area’s Planned Parenthood, which was
closed.[42] “Grundmann had predicted some 500 attendees, but reports put the number closer
to 20.”[42] Counter-protestors outnumbered participants ten-to-one.[42]
Boston Massachusetts, U.S. (2019)[edit]

Boston Straight Pride Parade attendees on August 31, 2019. An attendee holds a sign depicting two
hands making the 'OK' gesture.
The group Super Happy Fun America (SHFA) organized an August 31 "Straight Pride
Parade"[43] that attracted several hundred participants and thousands of
protesters.[44] Counter-protesters vastly outnumbered attendees of the parade.[45][46] SHFA
called the event "a response to the 'identity politics' of the left."[43] Emerson
College's president M. Lee Pelton warned about the event, as the parade route, starting
at Copley Square and ending at Boston City Hall, borders the college campus. He said the
event represents "fear and ignorance, humanity's most potent cocktail, masquerading as
freedom of speech"[43] in response to which SHFA organizer Samson Racioppi asked for a
retraction and apology.[43] The SHFA group was created in 2017 by Kyle Chapman, who
founded the hate group Fraternal Order of the Alt-Knights a week after the
Charlottesville Unite the Right riot.[47] Staff include president John Hugo, former Republican
Congressional candidate; and vice president Mark Sahady, "a member of the right-
wing group Resist Marxism, who has organized several right-wing demonstrations in the
past."[43] SHFA announced the event in June 2019. Racioppi, Sahady, and Hugo contacted
the police in early July 2019 when envelopes filled with glitter were mailed to them.[48] One of
the event's attendees, Marky Hutt, previously founded a group for gay Trump supporters; he
said the organizers of the Straight Pride event had invited him to attend, and he was present
at the event with his same-gender fiancé.[44]
Amateur video showing police arresting a counter-protester at the August 2019 parade
Thirty-four counter-protesters were arrested at the event. Boston city councilor Michelle
Wu suggested that police tactics and choice of equipment raised tensions between police
and counter-protesters.[49]

High school shirt incidents[edit]

"All students benefit from the respectful and thoughtful exchange of ideas and sharing of beliefs and
practices. Schools, in particular, are environments that can provide education of both the substance of
diversity and the responsible manner with which such diversity is approached and expressed"[50]
Judge Donovan Frank closing Chambers v Babbitt (2001)

In 2001, Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minnesota, a suburb of Saint Paul, Minnesota,
created homophobia-free areas called "safe zones" designated by an inverted pink
triangle and intended for gay students.[22] Student Elliot Chambers reacted by wearing a
makeshift sweatshirt with the slogan "Straight Pride" and the image of male and female stick
figures holding hands. In light of previous anti-gay incidents, the school's principal ordered
Chambers to remove the shirt, and a court case ensued.[5] A court upheld Chambers'
complaint that his First Amendment rights had been violated, and that the principal's decision
was unjustified.[5] Although praising the principal's intentions, the judge explained that views
of both sides of the debate should be allowed and that such issues should be resolved within
the school's community, not within the court system.[5] Under the Tinker case, the court stated
that the substantial disruptions claimed by the school must be shown to have some
connection to Chambers' sweatshirt message of "Straight Pride".[51]
In 2010, in response to suicides amongst gay adolescents, an Ally Week was held at St.
Charles North High School in St. Charles, Illinois. On the first day of this Ally Week, though,
three students arrived wearing "Straight Pride" t-shirts. The back of these t-shirts displayed
"Leviticus 20:13", a verse stating that men who perform homosexual acts should be put to
death. While the school did not force the students to remove their t-shirts, it did persuade
them to remove the Bible quotation. The following day two different students arrived wearing
"Straight Pride" t-shirts minus the Bible quotations and were consequently asked to remove
their shirts.[6][52] In an opinion piece on the St. Charles incident, Eric Zorn (a staff writer for
the Chicago Tribune) opined that "the expression 'Straight Pride' can only be read as a
gratuitous and contemptuous response to the suggestion that gay people not be
marginalized."[4]
Balancing freedom of expression vs. protection of students[edit]
In school environments, straight pride expressions and events have been reviewed within a
framework of balancing freedom of expression with protection of other students. In some
situations, schools take actions against students who are open about or encourage hiding
homosexuality, or limit clothing that has references to sexual orientation. Such may prompt
lawsuits.[53] In the Minnesota Chambers v. Babbitt case, "The court noted that maintaining a
school community of tolerance includes tolerance of such viewpoints as expressed by
'Straight Pride' as well as tolerance of homosexuality."[53] Conversely, it is advocated[by
whom?]
that students (including openly gay students) who are valued and respected are "more
likely to learn and achieve than students who are not",[53] requiring[by whom?] a balance in the
school's approach to straight pride expressions.
 See also[edit]

• Human sexuality portal

• Homophobia
• Gay Shame, a reaction against the mercantilism and depoliticization of gay pride
• LGBT rights opposition
• White pride

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b "Making colleges and universities safe for gay and lesbian students: Report
and recommendations of the Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth" (PDF).
Massachusetts. Governor's Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth., p.20. "A relatively
recent tactic used in the backlash opposing les/bi/gay/trans campus visibility is the so-called
"heterosexual pride" strategy".
2. ^ Jump up to:a b c Eliason, Michele J.; Schope, Robert (2007). "Shifting Sands or Solid
Foundation? Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Identity Formation". In Meyer, I.H.;
Northridge, M.E. (eds.). The Health of Sexual Minorities. pp. 3–26. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-
31334-4_1. "Not surprisingly, individuals in the pride stage are most criticized not only by
heterosexual persons but also many LGBT individuals, who are uncomfortable forcing the
majority to share the discomfort. Heterosexual individuals may express bewilderment at the
term “gay pride,” arguing that they do not talk about “straight pride”".
3. ^ Jump up to:a b c Eliason, Michele. Who cares?: institutional barriers to health care for
lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons, p.55 (1996)
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Zorn, Eric (November 14, 2010). "When pride turns shameful". Chicago
Tribune.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Ayres, Ian; Brown, Jennifer Gerarda (2005). Straightforward: how to
mobilize heterosexual support for gay rights (Google eBook). Princeton, NJ: Princeton
University Press. pp. 41–43. ISBN 978-0-691-12134-5.
6. ^ Jump up to:a b Fuller, James (11 November 2010). "'Straight Pride' shirts become free
speech fight at St. Charles North". Daily Herald. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
7. ^ "Kameny, Frank". glbtq.com. "Kameny [...] coined the slogan 'Gay is Good'."
8. ^ Howard P. Kainz (1999). Politically Incorrect Dialogues: Topics Not Discussed in Polite
Circles. ISBN 978-9042006867., p.39. One of the two fictional philosophers in the dialogs
states: "If, for example, heterosexuals were to band together and have a 'heterosexual pride'
(or '"straight" pride') parade, it would be recognized immediately as dumb and ridiculous."
9. ^ Jump up to:a b (30 July 1988). Vermont, USA Today ("John Burger of state Republican
Assembly wants Gov. Kunin to designate Nov. 8 "Straight Pride Day" ")
10. ^ (6 May 1990). Rallies Opposing Gay Students Disrupt Campuses, The New York Times
11. ^ Hadden, Briton; Luce, Henry Robinson (April 7, 1991). "Time". Time Incorporated – via
Google Books.
12. ^ Jump up to:a b "Campus Life: Massachusetts; Angry Gay Groups Drown Out Rally By
Conservatives". The New York Times. 10 March 1991. Retrieved 23 March2012.
13. ^ (8 July 1999). London hosts straight and gay pride parades, Kitchener Record ("The city's
gay pride parade on Sunday has a rival -- a straight pride parade organized at the same time
and on practically the same route.")
14. ^ (17 June 2002). Oakland Today - Marchers take part in straight pride parade, Detroit Free
Press ("About 100 people marched through downtown Ferndale on Sunday morning in a
Straight Pride Parade")
15. ^ Jump up to:a b MTI (2010-09-06). "Anti-gay parade held in Budapest". caboodle.hu.
Retrieved 2012-03-28.
16. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Yellowknife to mark gay and straight pride". CBCnews Canada. May 25,
2005. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
17. ^ Jump up to:a b Ring, Trudy (August 4, 2011). "Brazilian City Seeks Heterosexual Pride
Day". The Advocate. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
18. ^ (17 October 1997). Straight Pride Day fails at ETSU campus, The Oak Ridger
19. ^ (2 June 1992). Gay topics go public, USA Today ("On college campuses, where gay
student groups are no longer unusual, 'you see increased incidences of straight pride rallies
in retaliation against gay pride'.")
20. ^ (3 October 2004). They Dress To Express, Newsweek
21. ^ Case Mary Anne. A Lot to Ask: Review Essay of Martha Nussbaum's from Disgust to
Humanity: Sexual Orientation and Constitutional Law, 19 Colum. J. Gender & L. 89, 118
(2010) (discussing "T-shirt wars" that "condemn and denigrate other students on the basis of
their sexual orientation)
22. ^ Jump up to:a b Fenton, Ben (18 January 2002). "Student wins right to show 'straight
pride'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
23. ^ (8 September 2003). Telling it (too much) like it is, Fort Morgan Times
24. ^ (8 June 1998). Gay pride display removed, Lodi News Sentinel (Associated Press story)
25. ^