Gay PRIDE Flag spat in 450 words or less

The Gay PRIDE flag is no stranger to controversy; homophobic people hate it because it acknowledges gay people exist. Puerto Ricans have a PRIDE flag, Australia and the US have one combined with its national flag and rainbow. Religions have chipped in with a Jewish PRIDE have a Star of David and there is one for Gay Muslims too with their crescent moon and star. Today, a PRIDE so called controversy exists and it has been started in Philadelphia where black and brown stripes were added to the gay PRIDE flag. Where’s the white one? “Well, you have enough film and TV roles, opportunity in this country, you can go a whole lifetime not seeing another race (or having really limited contact with them) in some places you live and you’re pissed off about a stripe?!” This screen capture shows one response that was a YUGE mic drop!

See, black LGBTs started Stonewall and as the movement got bigger and bigger white men and women dominated it. Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson were largely forgotten. The Philly flag is a symbol telling me: We see you, and you are welcome. I am sure I will see it becoming a LGBTPOC or QPOC symbol flown in PRIDES all over the country.

When I posted the different flags that were altered to show PRIDE, I thought people in the group would say “Yay! Inclusivity” Not surprisingly, the most backlash the post received was against the black and brown one. Why? White supremacy. In fact, some of the comments I got on the flag were so racist I’m like: Great, this group is supposed to be gay geeks and here we have a lot of mostly white gaycists saying that the black and brown stripes are racist. They are acting as if including one group suddenly says another is unwelcome. It is true that the rainbow flag was to represent everyone in the LGBT community, but it is not realistic that everyone FEELS represented by such a symbol. Adding the stripe does nothing to detract from that, just like Bears, asexual, bisexuals, transgender people, having flags don’t either.  

In fact, it only proved something I’ve known for years: The LGBT community is no more tolerant than the ones they despise when the rubber meets the road. White fragility was CERTAINLY on display. I am though proud of all those who defended the flag. You all are awesome! And I dedicate this blog post to you!