[Craig]

Recently in Minnesota, a student was asked to remove his "Straight Pride" T-Shirt because some of the gay/lesbian students were uncomfortable with it. I certainly think heterosexuals and gays should be able to have pride in their sexual orientations, but then decided to look at the site where he got the shirt: www.straightpride.com. He is suing the school for abridging his freedom of speech. However, the site seems to be more focused on being anti-gay than on celebrating heterosexuality. I would like people to look at the site, look at the links and comment on it and this issue.

User Detail :  

Name : Craig, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Age : 36, City : Minneapolis, State : MN Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Mike20426]

I think everyone deserves to be proud of who they are, and your sexual orientation is part of what makes you you. However, I would agree that the web site is absurd and anti-gay. It presents the scenario that homosexuals are the more accepted group, with all the power, respect and authority. It states, 'We are not here to represent hate towards anyone.' I hope that's the truth. However, their many statements such as 'the Homosexual Agenda' are very ignorant and inappropriate. It's the emphasis on homosexuality that separates their homophobia from actual straight pride. This is the same situation with racism and racialism.

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Name : Mike20426, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 18, City : Atlanta, State : GA Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Carolyn32367]

I agree that the site is anti-gay.

User Detail :  

Name : Carolyn32367, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, City : Sydney, State : NA Country : Australia, 

[Ben S.]

Craig, I wonder if the incident even happened, or whether the whole thing is some sort of stunt to promote the site. The two fit together so neatly one has to wonder. Personally, I think gay pride is a dud concept. Gay people should be proud of rights won and other achievements. But being gay ? Many gay people are fond of pointing out that sexual preference is not a choice, that it is naturally determined. So given one has no say in it, why be proud ? In my case it is not as if I actually did something to become gay. I'm content to be gay, but pride implies it took an effort on my part. The shallowness of the 'pride' agenda can be seen in my home country, Australia, where gay [and gay leather!] pride organisations lacked focus, had no serious aims and were often mismanaged, in two cases fraudulently. So 'straight pride' seems to me to be a fairly silly response to an idea that wasn't worth that much anyway. Think of it. Pride in 'being straight' is about as sensible as calling a worldwide holiday to celebrate the fact that we walk upright. It's so ubiquitous as to be meaningless.

User Detail :  

Name : Ben S., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 31, City : sydney, State : NA Country : Australia, Occupation : Public servant, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Me21897]

In the United States, anyone has the right to express what we feel. Taking away this right is not an option. Being able to express yourself as you feel also means listening to those with whom you disagree. This option cannot be taken away.

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Name : Me21897, City : Anywhere, State : CA Country : New Zealand, 

[Marcus]

Concepts such as 'Gay Pride,' 'Black Pride,' 'Brown Pride,' etc., exist because they are a means for minority groups to become unified under the same differences for which they are mistreated by the mainstream. 'Straight Pride,' 'White Pride,' etc., are unnecessary because society as a whole celebrates these values every day. Television programs - even commercials - represent straight, white, thin, wealthy people in far greater numbers than they do any outside of this 'invisible norm.' Nobody ever comments if you're white, thin, male, young, heterosexual, Christian, able-bodied or financial secure. It's when you don't fit these norms that you are singled out: 'that black guy,' the fat chick,' 'the Jew,' 'the bum,' 'the lesbo' or whatever else makes you stand out from the majority.

Gay Pride and other celebratory groups exist so that people who are different can fight the 'invisible norm' by saying that, even though we're different, that doesn't make us less valuable, less important or deserve anything less than the invisible majority. For a heterosexual to advocate his or her 'straight pride,' when society at large already does, is simply redundant.

User Detail :  

Name : Marcus, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 28, City : Long Beach, State : CA Country : United States, Occupation : event planner, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Lady-in-Red]

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but respect for others should be used. The shirt is probably used for lack of nerve to ask about it, anyway. Why not show respect to others? At least have the nerve to say you don't understand so you will keep your mouth (or in this case, t-shirt) shut.

User Detail :  

Name : Lady-in-Red, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Lesbian, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 51, City : Midwest, State : IN Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Robert]

The primary question here is whether the school, by telling the boy to remove the shirt, violated his first amendment right to free speech. Had he been asked to remove the shirt while at a resturant or walking on the street there would be no question as to whether or not his rights were violated. However, the fact that the alleged rights violation occurred at a public school makes the matter somewhat more complicated. The fact is, he didn't want to celebrate his heterosexuality. After watching an intereview with the boy and his attorney, and visiting this website, it is clear to all but the most pusillanimous of people that the 'straight pride' shirt was meant to be inflammatory and offensive to gays and lesbians. The school board in which this student attends school has a policy that states that school administrators may ask a student ot remove an item or article of clothing that they feel is meant to harass or offend other students. This type of policy has been supported and validated by the U.S. Supreme Court, and therefore, the question of whether this boy has a legitimate claim becomes: Was this shirt meant to harass or make any students feel uncomfortable? Given this boy's background and the site from which he purchased the shirt, I believe that this case is simply one of a child attempting to act as a provocateur and promote an atmosphere of intolerance.

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Name : Robert, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 14, City : Panama City, State : FL Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Jessica]

I believe it was Voltaire who said something along the lines of 'I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!' If gays make it an issue to censor the opposition we're no more strategical than the 'conservatives' who oppose us. I did look at the website and I did find it offensive -- but that doesn't mean I would object to a heterosexual wearing a shirt saying 'straight pride.' This issue has tickled my conscience for awhile now, that minorities are allowed to express their differences with an almost eccentric flamboyancy but if a member of the majority tries to share the joy by displaying his own God-given identity he's labeled 'discrimatory.' I think I'll go out and buy myself a 'white pride' t-shirt...though chances are I'll have a difficult time finding a retail chain bold enough to carry it.

User Detail :  

Name : Jessica, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Protestant, Age : 18, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Dina M.]

I think what you said about the site is the issue. when a majority (be it males, heterosexuals, whites, ect) wears a shirt like that typically its not a matter fo self-pride but of superiority. now from a legal perspective- he really can't be disallowed from wearing it. but if we are using common sense and cultural normas while disscusing this: its a boy in the majority, trying to upset the minority. its a rude gesture, not a personal statement.

User Detail :  

Name : Dina M., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : unsure, City : Chicago, State : IL Country : United States, Occupation : Poet, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

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