Since it's pride season, we thought we'd ask–how do you feel about the gay pride flag? Though it's seen out and about often, very few individuals I've spoken with actually know the history behind the flag.
The original flag was designed in 1978 by Gilbert Baker of San Francisco, including eight colored stripes which represented sexuality, life, healing, sunlight, nature, magic/art, serenity/harmony and spirit. The hot pink stripe was removed later in 1978 due to fabric unavailability, and the indigo and turquoise stripes were changed to royal blue in 1979 because they became obscured when vertically hung from lampposts.
But what do colors have to do with it? Many gay men I know retreat at the thought of a rainbow flag, and I never quite understood their distaste. Does the flag's suggestion of Judy Garland's "Over The Rainbow" lead them to say, "I'm not one of those gays"? Are they turned off by this ill-conceived perception of gay pride being nothing more than dancing men in thongs and feather boas? Or is it something else?
A resident advisor at my college, who was openly gay and proud, refused to place a rainbow triangle on his door to alert his residents that his room was an LGBT safe space. Why? Because he was offended by the suggestion that he should identify with these symbols. I can understand not particularly identifying with these icons, but what is particularly "offensive" or off-putting about them?
– Dewitt
Not remotely interested in the pride flag… more interested in our actual rights
I have no issue with the flag personally, but since there isn’t a black flag, a white flag, a straight flag, etc… why must there be a gay flag?
I do not personally oppose the idea of having a flag, just merely a question.
As for the adviser I wonder if he feels the flag would bring some kind of trouble or confrontation.
I love the flag. I have many stickers, buttons, pins, etc of the rainbow colors and flag. But I am a lesbian, not a gay man.
There may be some subconscious connection with the rainbow and effeminate gays. More importantly, though, I think it speaks to political activism. I hate to admit it, but some of us don’t give all that much thought to political issues, including things like gay marriage and transgender rights. Displaying the flag might provoke discussions on things like this, when we honestly don’t care all that much.
There’s also the issue of privacy. While I don’t consider myself “in the closet,” the majority of people who know me don’t know I’m gay. I’m a private person. I don’t go around wearing my political or religious views on my sleeve, why should I do it with my sexuality? That’s just one of those things you’ll find out as you get to know me.
I think part of that, too, is the fear of being identified as “a gay,” rather than an interesting guy who happens to be gay. I can see how the rainbow flag could definitely exacerbate that.
I guess the real question is, should we feel obligated to all be out-and-proud, flag-waving, equality-promoting gays? Personally, I don’t think so. Thank God for the ones that do, but it’s just not for me.
My thoughts exactly fur.
I’m a person first, with goals, aspirations, interests. I don’t walk around telling everyone how much I like talk radio or explain to people my fascination with organic chemistry. Why should I fly a flag saying I am gay? I don’t find “pride” in my sexuality, It just a part of me, I like it, but its not what I would place 1st on my list of things about me I am proud of. I’m not saying pride is bad, but sexuality is not important in my book. (which is a good thing, same with race)
I care about what kind of person someone is a lot more than if they should be sterotyped into a group or not.
Love who you love, Live how you want. Because we only get one chance to make our life the way we want it.
all of you who are afraid to fly the flag because it will show who you are, have a big issue… i understand you dont like rubbing your gayness to people’s faces but damn everyone who knows you’re gay will judge you based on that…Plus think of the other gays who have been targeted even by their own family for being gay…so fly that flag and shut the haters up
This explains the current viewpoint:
http://www.awes.com/egcm/salutations/IfIHaftaSee.html
Point taken, quint, if a bit of cynicism noted. How exactly, though, would flying the flag “shut the haters up?”
Quin,why dont you shut the hell up and stop telling gay men to wave some flag as if there is some obligation to do it.Just because you dont wave some stupid clothe does not mean you have issues.This is the stereotypical bullshyt mentality that comes from many miserable homosexuals who act as if being attracted to the same sex must mean you must wave the flag,live a stereotypical gay life and fly some clothe.Stop villifying people who do not conform to your desires.
…The flag belongs to the community it unites us. Every gay man that is targeted, offended, or harrased for being gay hurts the whole community. a divided community is a weak community. So jay and the rest stop being so damn selfish and be part of the solution…
I agree totally with furfiend and Dave. I’ve always said that my sexuality is only the tiniest part of what I am. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a person’s private business and nobody else’s, save for people with whom the individual wants to share private details. I don’t tell other people how much money I make, or how I handle my personal hygiene, or what’s in my will, or what I pray about in church. Why should I tell them what goes on in my bedroom?
That being said, if you’re proud of your sexuality and want to share, be my guest. A lot of homosexuals feel the need to express pride in their sexuality, just as a lot of blacks want to express pride in their heritage. I think there’s no problem in pride in who and what you are, as long as you aren’t using that pride to alienate others who are different–discrimination works both ways, after all.
As for the flag, just not my taste. The rainbow, along with that horrible pink triangle, is intended to point out differences between homosexuals and heterosexuals. And some of those differences are stereotypes–we’re not all flaming and vibrant, we’re not all militant, we’re not all fascinated with Judy Garland. Let’s face it–a lot of gay men are rather dull and ordinary. I’d like to see a symbol with a bit more class that addresses our equality and unity, not our divisiveness.
I’m all for the whole “privacy” thing… except. Someday, hopefully, we’re all going to have equal rights in the areas that count (marriage, especially), and if we do, it’s going to be in SPITE of all the basically closeted, “oh, my sexuality is just this teeny tiny little part of me, no bigger than the tip of my pinky finger, really” types. They’re going to skate in on all the hard work done by the “out” folks who went before them, some of them to their graves because they were beaten to death or left on a fence to die.
No, you don’t have to announce to the world you’re gay. No, you don’t have to fly a rainbow flag. No, you don’t have to put a sticker on your car.
But if you ever, EVER, fudge on the appropriate pronoun when referring to someone you’re dating, interested in, or just think is hot (with the possible exception of a place where your safety or life might be in danger, in which case, what the fuck are you doing there?), then you’re a liar.
You’re not being “private” about your sexuality, any more than a straight man is “flaunting” his heterosexuality when he mentions a girl he’s dating. You’re just lying to people about who you are, because you’re just not ready to come out. And that’s your choice, and I’m not going to force you out… but I’m not going to leave you secure in your delusion that you’re just “private” about your sex life.
So Boro… nobody is saying you should tell people what goes on in your bedroom. Telling them you’re gay doesn’t do that – they don’t know whether you even HAVE sex, much less with who, or who does what to whom. Telling people you’re gay is telling people WHO YOU ARE.
And as for the idea that the rainbow symbol is divisive: How ironic, because it’s intended as a symbol of diversity, with the colors of the spectrum coming together to make a beautiful whole. Only some closet case would see it as “divisive”.