This weekend, thousands rejoiced and celebrated gay pride events held in the cosmopolitan cities of London and New York. LGBT pride events as they're perhaps more appropriately named take place across many cities every year, and in turn they produce the painfully offensive and irritating question from many; "why isn't there a 'straight pride'?"
On the surface, it almost seems an equitable question. We have gay or LGBT pride movements so why not a heterosexual one? After all, those movements' sole aim is to establish equality for all regardless of sexual orientation. But when you spend more than half a second considering why no such events take place it becomes glaringly obvious why the question itself is just a little bit stupid.
Quite simply put, there isn't 'straight pride' because nobody has ever tried to quash the mass pride of heterosexuals. The LGBT community has suffered and still suffers discrimination and persecution from all walks of life for the sole reason of being a part of that community.A straight female holding hands with her partner as she walks down the street would be unlikely to draw any attention. A lesbian woman doing the same with her girlfriend is far more likely to be met with negativity or abuse. Heterosexuality is outlawed in a total of zero countries, homosexuality is still illegal in 81. And even now is punishable by death in seven of them.
Death.
People are still legally killed for being gay in 2014.
Of course, things aren't as barbaric and oppressive here. In most parts of the UK and indeed many parts of the US, homosexuality is legal and the right to change legal gender is allowed too, but these changes only came in to place as recently as 30 years ago, and same-sex marriage was only approbated last year. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean that homophobia is a myth in the Western world. Let's not forget that two of the three highest polling political parties in the UK possess a significant proportion of members who still oppose the strive for sexual orientation equality.
LGBT youth are still prone to discrimination in the UK, some will be ostracised by their friends and family for the simple crime of being who they are; the same can thankfully not be said for straight people. This year, a BBC Newsbeat survey found that 42% of LGBT though have sought help for depression and anxiety and 52% have reported self-harm at some point in their lives, considerably higher rates than found in heterosexual youths. Stonewall found that in 2012, 55% of LGBT workers experienced bullying in the workplace and 99% ceaselessly heard homophobic phrases. In fact, in the last week alone, nohomophobes.com have tallied 290,754 tweets referencing such homophobic phrases as 'faggot', 'dyke' and 'so gay' - this is just on Twitter, just of English speakers and just one week's worth of data.
Still wondering when 'straight pride' day is? It's every day. It's being able to kiss your partner in public without fear of being heckled, segregated or vilified. What would a 'straight pride' event even consist of? Shared memories of that time when everyone of the like was free to love who they wanted? Or maybe a fond reflection on the hard-work heterosexuals have put in to win the basic rights they were never traditionally afforded? Maybe, it's that 'pride' is the wrong word - or perhaps the concept itself is misinterpreted. LGBT pride is not about boasting about sexuality, it's not about showing off or self worship. It is to commemorate the progress made towards triumphing over the legal and societal oppression of the minority, a time to celebrate and feel safe in an all-encompassing environment (including heterosexuals) to be your whole self, for just one or two days a year.
It doesn't make you homophobic to have ever wondered why 'straight pride' doesn't exist. But when you look at why LGBT pride events are held and indeed needed, it should answer the question. It's not about revoking the equal right of straight people to celebrate their sexuality. In truth, heterosexuals should be thankful that 'straight pride' isn't required. After all, LGBT pride events are not state-run initiatives, so if you still think an event to bask in the adversity-free existence of the majority as some oddly coveted equivalent to the celebration of a minority's push for victory over injustice should occur, then organise it yourself.