June is a very important month for those in the LGBTQ+ community due to the fact that it is Pride Month. Pride month is basically a celebration of being who you are for the community. Often LGBTQ people are scared to be who they are and this month is to help them show that they aren't alone. But lately on the social media site, Twitter, I have seen numerous tweets by heterosexual people, complaining about the fact that they don't have their own pride month. This article is to those people and to show them a few reasons as to why they should be happy that they don't need a Pride month.
1. You aren't killed for being "straight"
People all around the world and even in the United States are killed. For the sole reason of loving a person that happens to be their same sex.
2. Your sexuality is considered "normal"
Our society is fixated on the normalcy of heterosexuality which is very harmful to the LGBT community.
3. You don't have to come out
Coming out is something that a gay person has to do every time they meet a new person and this is for the sole reason that our sexuality isn't considered the norm.
4. You don't second guess holding your partner's hand in public
When out in public, holding your partner's hand can often be a very scary thing and heterosexual people often take it as such a small thing.
5. You also don't second guess showing PDA in general with your partner
We can't even hold our partner's hand in public without being scared, let alone kiss our partner without being scared for our's and our partner's safety.
6. You aren't told that you're going through a "phase"
My sexuality is not just a phase. In 30 years I'm not going to just be straight. I'm always going to be gay.
7. Your marriage is just a marriage, not a "straight" marriage
Gay marriage is the same thing as straight marriage, it's loving each other and making a vow to be with each other. Then why is straight marriage just called marriage and gay marriage is gay marriage?
8. You can't be fired from a job for being straight
Before April of 1017 in 28 states a person could literally be fired solely for being gay.
9. You can't be denied services because of your sexuality![]()
In 2016, the Mississippi governor signed into law a law that allowed discrimination toward LGBT people if it conflicted with their religious beliefs. Even though a person is still a person no matter their sexuality.
10. There is no straight conversion therapy
Gay conversion therapy is an incredible harmful process that basically attempts to force a gay person into becoming straight. (Here's an account of a survivor.)
11. Straight men are allowed to give blood whenever they want
Before 2015, gay men were not allowed to donate blood, though even now gay men are not allowed to donate blood unless they have not had a sexual encounter with another man within 12 months.
12. The fact that there's straight sex ed in schools
Many straight people don't even know that gay men need to use a condom during sexual intercourse. LGBTQ+ people have to learn about sex themselves which can often be unsafe for them.
13. Your sexuality isn't erased
14. You aren't ever scared to be yourself around people
Okay, I'll admit people have anxiety and are scared to open up with people and everything. But the key difference is the fact that they can still be open with people about their sexuality. In numerous situations, gay people could often be harmed if they come out to certain people.
15. You don't need to defend who you are because of your sexuality![]()
You as a straight person don't need to say things like, "I'm straight but like I don't 'act straight.'" This is a line that I have heard numerous gay men say because they don't want to be treated differently.
*I know that this article does not talk much about trans people and I did not want to erase them since the trans community is such a major part of the LGBT community. But I did not want to talk about another community's struggles and problems since I have never faced them myself as a cisgendered male.*
