“Straight Pride?” Ummm… What?
A news article today mentioned that there was some sort of march and rally called “Straight Pride” in Boston. It wasn’t published in The Onion, so it must be true, though some would still say it must be a joke. It’s not a joke, but the only seriousness about a “straight pride” event is the serious misunderstandings on the part of the participants in such an event.
Now, full disclosure, I am what people would consider “straight” in that I feel no sexual attraction for other men. Some would say I was born that way, others that I chose that, but regardless, I am on the heterosexual side of the sexuality spectrum. I’m okay with that. I am also okay with any other individual being whatever sexuality they are. But these “straight pride” people are not feeling okay with other people’s sexuality and are evidently confused about sexuality and social attitudes about sexuality. Also, the participants in the “straight pride” march don’t understand the meaning of “pride.”
What is this concept of “straight pride?” Obviously, it’s a reaction to and against the concept of “gay pride.” There are many gay pride parades, and these other people decided to hold a contrary “straight pride” parade. The idea of “straight pride” is not only unoriginal, it makes no sense, and for good and important reasons.
What does “pride” mean? The opposite of pride is shame. Both can be either healthy or unhealthy. It is good to feel ashamed if you hurt someone or otherwise do wrong, and it is good to feel pride if you help others or otherwise do good. They are unhealthy feelings when feeling proud or ashamed is misplaced — feeling ashamed when one has nothing to feel ashamed about or feeling pride when one has done nothing to warrant a sense of accomplishment.
There have been gay pride parades because people who could be considered “gay” have had to live with social attitudes that demand that gay people feel ashamed for being who they are. That demand is misplaced. Shame is properly connected with wrongdoing. Bigotry improperly connects difference with shame, with the misplaced attitude that simply by virtue of being different, someone else should be ashamed of…
