Why straight pride matters so much.

 

People who are straight can marry their partner, wherever they live.

Enjoy a sex life without being persecuted.

Have never had to fight for very basic rights.

Never been denigrated on account of their sexual orientation.

Never lost public office when their sexuality become open knowledge.

Don’t have to worry about being rejected by parents, or friends, when they mention their sexuality for the first time.

Can hold their partner’s hand in public, without being harassed or assaulted.

Never been classed as mentally ill on account of who they fancy.

Never lacked role models in public life, or positive representations in culture.

Haven’t been denied housing – or access to health services – just because of their orientation.

Hell, not ever been fired from their jobs for being straight.

You can even start a family, without anyone giving the matter a second thought.

You can be a blood donor! You can help save lives!

And at no point in history have people ever struggled to be regarded – let alone treated – as human, simply for being straight.

 

It’s the way it’s been forever – the entire world over.

It’s great when you’re straight – yeah!

You can be born, and grow up, without being ostracized by anyone on account of it!

 

It’s very easy for straight people to take all of this for granted, without even thinking about what it might be like to have such basic rights denied.

So, for one day of the year, people who are straight get to celebrate enjoying all of these liberties, every single day, without any hindrance whatsoever. Just as they always have done – every day, every year.

What’s not to like about that?

 

In fact, I spoke to a straight acquaintance of mine, who was exactly the same as 95% of everyone who ever lived; and I asked them “are you proud to be free from any demeaning prejudice on account of your sexuality?”.

“I sure am!” they replied. “It took me years of no work at all to achieve – and now I take pride in a job well done”.

And that’s why Straight Pride matters so much.