Thread by @sacha_coward

Why don't you, a cisgender heterosexual person get a flag?
Why don't you get a pride month?

Let's imagine you are asking this truly in good faith and break it down. 1/

The concept of 'pride' amongst LGBTQ+ people originated around 1970.

The word 'pride' was chosen as it is is the opposite of 'shame'.

Shame being the emotion generally felt by and attributed to queer people, both internally and societally. 2/

The rainbow flag, in all variations, represents a rallying cry against shame, discrimination and invisibility. It was also a way for people to recognise each other, come together, establish a community and a network. It was originally designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978. 3/

So why don't you get one?

Well. As a straight person have you ever been made to feel ashamed for being straight? I'm not asking have you ever felt shame, we all have, but have you ever been shamed for your inclination to be attracted to the opposite sex? 4/

Next question.

Have you ever been shamed for being the same gender as that assigned at birth. Again, I'm not asking about 'shame' in general, but for the fact that you are the same gender as is on your birth certificate? 5/

Ok now let's talk about safety.

Have you ever felt unsafe because of the gender of the person you are attracted to, or for being the same gender as that assigned at your birth?

Not fear in general, and not for other things, but for those specific reasons? 6/

You can be proud of so many things as a cis-het person: Your life, your accomplishments, the hardships you've survived... But if you've never been challenged by your sexuality or for being cisgender, then what would 'straight pride' even mean? 7/

Should we have a 'wealthy pride' parade, or an 'able body pride parade', or a 'non physical deformity' pride parade?

What would flags or history months mean for these things, that are not deemed shameful, and seen as 'good' or 'normal' or 'correct'? 8/

Also, without a flag or a parade, have you ever struggled to find other cisgender heterosexual people?

Have you ever thought 'I'm the only cisgender heterosexual person that I know and I'm completely alone'?

I can guarantee most queer young people have felt the equivalent. 9/

Finally, have you struggled to find stories of people that had the same sexuality and gender expression as you?

Has it even occured that this could be a thing?

If you go to a library, would it be a challenge to find something written by a straight cisgender person? 10/

Let me be clear.
You're not bad for not experiencing these things differently. Indeed, in many many ways I am probably more privileged than you. You have experiences I could never fully imagine or understand.

Just not in this one particular arena. 11/

You don't get a flag, or a parade, not because you're not deserving, or you've done something wrong. But because in this particular arena, you are considered the baseline, the archetype, normal, good, fine. 12/

A straight flag, a cisgender parade, would not be about pride. (How can you be proud of being universally 'acceptable').

Instead it would be perceived as crowing over your own privilege within this one arena: Celebrating your comfort, your security, your normality. 13/

It would be perceived as cruel.

Pride is a ubiquitous human emotion. LGBTQ+ people don't own it.
Privilege is a ubiquitous human trait. LGBTQ+ people aren't free of it.

But in this one way society divides people up, you are on the side that is deemed 'better'. So, be kind. 14/

Finally, there are very fair critiques of Pride. Of how companies use it. Of how it can become a cynical marketing tactic. Of what exactly it should be in 2023.

LGBTQ+ people debate this furiously every year! /15

So, no flag for you.
No parade for you.
At least not for being straight or for being cisgender.

Be thankful that you will probably never require one. In the meantime be supportive if you can, join in if you like.

Or just close your eyes for a month...

Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ /16