Oh Hashtags. We as a group of social media driven individuals love to use hashtags. Groups of words that can be used to mean many things. We have hashtags for everyday things like "#mcm" which is "Man Crush Monday" or "#wcw" which is Woman Crush Wednesday. My personal favorite is the "#tb" otherwise known as the "Throwback."
We have hashtags for big events too. Recently here in New York, we had our Pride Parade and the hashtags that I saw were along the lines of #LoveisLove or #NYCPride. However, within the following days, a new hashtag has surfaced.
#HeterosexualPrideDay.
Please don't get me wrong here, I am all for accepting all sexualities because I do believe that love is love. I will not, however, tolerate this kind of hashtag at the end of the LGBTQ month.
Heterosexuality is not being attacked anytime soon. No one will think twice about me walking down the street with my boyfriend. It is the social norm to be in a heterosexual relationship. It is what is deemed "normal" and the "right way" to live.
I believe that this tweet from Blaine Stewart, a journalist for WTKR-TV, says it best
Why though? Why is it that they have to fight in order to have their love accepted? Marriage is just that, marriage. The people apart of this community have fought for so long to get the basic rights that the "normal heterosexual" people get to experience.
As a society, we are so wrapped up in the hetero-normative agenda that there are groups of people who have to fight for their human rights because they do not follow the agenda society wants them to.
Pride month was created because this community needs to be heard. They are being attacked, they are being killed! For what?! For loving who they want? For being who they are? What kind of society is that for them? We teach people to not be afraid to be who they are. We teach them to be confident and to not care what other people may think. We teach these ideals but we do not live by them.
Society says to "be yourself" but what they do not mention is "you have to follow the hetero-normative way of life." There is always a catch, societal "fine print" if you will. This "fine print" is what is hurting communities like the LGBTQ.
That is why we need a month to celebrate this community. Honestly, a month is not enough but it is a start.
Heterosexuality is not being attacked anytime soon. No one is out there killing people because they are straight. This hashtag is absurd! You know when Heterosexuality pride day is? Every single day of there year! Every single day a straight person wakes up and goes on with their lives. Even though gay marriage is legalized, people are still being attacked. Look at the Orlando shooting! However, the LGBTQ community can not just have their one month. It has to be taken away and the importance of it is diminished by the usage of that hashtag.
Yes, we should be accepting of all sexualities. Yes, people should be allowed to express their sexuality without fear of prosecution. On that note, it is NOT okay to continue to oppress a community during their time of celebration. It is okay to be straight, it is okay to be gay and it is okay to be unsure. It is NOT okay to take away from the importance of this month.
This month is not just about dressing up in colorful outfits and glitter. It is about educating, it is about remembering what they are fighting for and those who have died in the fight.
