I’ve had this idea in my head for a long time. I argued with my old college buddies’ girlfriends about the idea that it might come across as “mocking”. But, in the end, I don’t really care all that much. I figure that if I’m happy to be a heterosexual, I might as well say so. I mean, heck, gay people love to spout that they’re gay (yes, I realize that’s a gross overgeneralization). So, why can’t I say that I’m proud to be a heterosexual?
If you’re interested in a t-shirt, hoody, or something else with the above logo on it, you can get a bunch of stuff over at the store.
Bring on the flames! I love controversy! (Just be civil or I’ll delete your comment and you will have wasted those 5 seconds it took to think up the spiteful comment.)
nate
Kevin Thompson
Joao Carlos Caribe
Sérgio Rebelo
Posted by Your Pal on Jun 25, 2006 at 08:33am
Been there, done that.
Nothing like spicing up what I thought was an interesting blog with a little bit of homophobia. I’m appalled at the general bigotry and right-wing fervor displayed by those with whom you share your stance.
Feed -> unsubscribe.
(edited: removed the <a> tags because they weren’t linking anywhere).
Posted by Jared on Jun 25, 2006 at 10:53pm
I almost used your gallery plug-in for wordpress…and then I stumbled across this and decided not to.
I really don’t want to have something become part of my own personal creation that was partially developed by someone effected by what I would now refer to as the disease of homophobia.
Posted by nate on Jun 26, 2006 at 09:23am
Since when is being proud of my heterosexuality mean that I’m homophobic. If you knew me, you would never assume that, considering I have many friends who are, in fact, gay. I don’t hate gays. I am not afraid of gays. I am standing up for what I am proud of. If we take this on the other side of the coin, does that mean that all the rainbows, gay pride months, days, weeks, holidays, concerts and flags all mean that everyone who supports or participates in such are heterophobes? Of course not. So why am I now a labeled (not self-described) homophobe?
Oh, and on a side note…. so you’re unsubscribing from a feed you once read, and you’re not using a product you would have otherwise. Man, that sounds like a boycot to me. Please don’t ever tell me that you’ve chastised right-winged bigots (which I am not, btw), for boycotting something they believe is wrong. That might be seen as hypocritical. It’s amazing how that comes back around to bite you in the ass huh?
Posted by Will on Jun 26, 2006 at 03:04pm
Ban Republican Marriage!
Posted by nate on Jun 26, 2006 at 05:02pm
Hahah.
Posted by Max on Jun 28, 2006 at 04:46pm
I stumbled on the image in your gallery and was momentarily shocked. Now I can see that you’re joking, but it didn’t make me laugh.
Obviously, the idea of the gay pride movement is to encourage people to ‘come out’ and be open about something that is considered taboo - Something that is socially unacceptable in many circles, illegal in some places, and occasionally even punishable by death.
It really doesn’t make any sense to celebrate heterosexual pride, and the obvious conclusion is that you are really insinuating something else. Some people might just see it as humorous mockery, but I suspect most people would assume you were an ultraconservative. This isn’t an unreasonable assumption, when you think about the ultranationalists, nazis and racists who associate themselves with the comparable reactive movement White Pride!
I won’t be wearing one of your t-shirts, but if you’ve really tried it, I’m very intrigued what response you got.
Posted by nate on Jun 28, 2006 at 04:59pm
Max, thanks for the post. I see your point.
I wonder, though, is the gay pride movement all about encouraging people to come out? It probably was that intention from the beginning. But, from what I’ve experienced it has become more. From what I’ve seen, it has become an excuse. An excuse to piss on conservatives. An excuse allowing seperation - just like segregation - rather than inclusion.
That may not be what others have experienced. So, I can see why some may be upset. But, I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s experienced this.
In fact, the funny thing about all this is I’m just propagating the reverse of what’s already going on, as a point of the irony. I make a shirt that says I’m proud to be a heterosexual and suddenly I’m labeled homophobe. Yet, it happens the other way around and they’re not labeled heterphobes. It’s a double standard I’m trying to point out.
If you look deep into the racism problem, you’ll see and hear many african americans and other minorities now saying “Hey, we’ve got this far… sure there’s some progress still yet to be made, but let’s stop calling every little thing out as racism. Doing so just brings the problem to mind, rather than erasing it and truely getting the equality we desire.”
Thus, when people get pissed off about this, it just shows how far we really have to go to get rid of the problem of seperation.
(Of course, the other side of the coin is that if we don’t address the real problems, then they won’t get fixed. But, that’s not my point. My point is that I’m proud to be a heterosexual, and pride has nothing to do with keeping homosexual rights at bay.)
Now, dare I really say my true feelings on the subject beyond this argument?
Posted by Simon on Jun 28, 2006 at 10:27pm
Searching for straight pride on google turns up a plethora of pages, products, and debates identical to this one. Unfortunately, most are not civil discussions or proposed in any logical light; it\’s just fervor. So while you may have good intentions with your bit o\’ inside humor, it\’s the company you keep that implicates other motives.
Posted by nate on Jun 28, 2006 at 10:30pm
Simon,
Thanks for the post. I appreciate the percentage of signal to noise so far in this discussion here. I agree. Unfortunately, some who share the same views as I do on other topics unfortunately have just as nasty a temper as I’ve ever seen. I apologize for them. Please disregard them as uncivil.
Thanks. (never thought of searching for such a thing…. *checks it out*)
Posted by Max on Jun 29, 2006 at 03:35am
You talk about ‘pissing’ on the conservatives, but I think its more than that. I think the intention is not simply to offend, but to actively undermine conservatism. That’s why many heterosexual people also go along to Pride in order to support the movement (and have fun).
Traditionally it is the conservatives who try to restrict our freedom with all their old-fashioned mores and religious motivations, so Pride is an opportunity to mount a highly visible revolt against this conservatism. And the festival is influential not just at home but it also promotes others abroad, where homophobia is still more influential (I don’t know about San Diego, but here in London homophobes are already totally marginalised).
You talk about causing segregation, but if you meant between gays and heterosexuals then I think you are wrong, because everybody is welcome at Pride and the adverts make that clear. The only conflict is between people who value sexual freedom and the opposing conservatives. But this sort of conflict is inevitable, because Pride is a social/political movement after all.
I think the natural question to ask is this: what are the goals of your ‘heterosexual pride’ movement? The obvious assumption is that you are rallying conservatives in order to fight back. But, if you’re really not suggesting any movement at all, then it seems rather silly to wear the t-shirt. You might as well have Right-Handed Pride, Average Height Pride, Quite Typical Penis Pride…
Finally, even if homophobia is wiped out, I think that Gay Pride might still make sense in a way that heterosexual pride does not. Assuming that only a few percent of the population are gay (i really have no idea), then it must be very hard for them to meet companions, I guess the Pride festival is a great way to meet other gay people.
Posted by Max on Jun 29, 2006 at 03:48am
Oh, also, you say:
As it stands, if you don’t say anything or behave any differently then people will just assume you are heterosexual. Perhaps gay people have to be explicit in making their sexuality known if they want to stand any chance of meeting a partner, but it’s not the same for heterosexuals.
Posted by nate on Jun 29, 2006 at 07:47am
Ok, so then what if my images and t-shirts really WERE a motivation for undermining homosexual pride and sexual freedom? Does that make me a homophobe?
No.
I wouldn’t be afraid of homosexuals. I would merely want to point out that speaking out against homosexuality has more to do with the action (notice, I said “homosexuality”, not “homosexual”) than it does the person. (Enter the nature vs. nurture debate.)
And since when does having trouble finding a partner/mate/whatever give rights to marginalize others? For many things that I support, the meetings, or parades, or whateve are not intended for me to find a partner through them. It may be a result of it anyway, but it’s not the intention, and I don’t think it’s a good reason to create civil unrest because someone wants to meet someone else. There’s lots of other ways (internet?).
Oh, and I fully agree with having a “Right-Handed Pride” t-shirt, etc. That would be funny. And it wouldn’t piss people off. In fact, I do have a t-shirt I created that says “Average Joe”. I had that done long before that stupid tv show came out and I love it, and so do a lot of other people. So, does everything we do have to have a controversy or a point? Nah.
Posted by Chris Radcliff on Jun 30, 2006 at 03:03pm
I think there might be some confusion about what “gay pride” actually means. Specifically, Nate, you seem to be missing the connotation of that kind of statement. Historically, phrases like “gay pride” or “black power” are coined not to state the obvious (”there are proud gay people” or “there are powerful black people”), and they’re not intended to state exclusivity (”i’m proud because i’m gay, you should be ashamed to be anything else” or “black people are powerful, everyone else is powerless”). Instead, they’re stated in opposition to a status quo message (”you should be ashamed to be gay” or “black people are powerless”) in order to encourage that status quo to change. So the end result is a connotation (”i’m gay, and i’m still proud” or “i’m black, and i still have power”) that becomes more mainstream as the message sees success. (It also gets misused by some, like anything else. Doesn’t mean it’s not necessary.)
Thought of that way, a shirt proclaiming “heterosexual pride” ends up like a shirt proclaiming “babies taste like chicken.” It’s technically true, but that’s totally outweighed by the connotations of the phrase. In your case, people assume that your real statement is “the status quo states that i should be ashamed to be heterosexual”, which is the kind of upside-down logic used frequently by the religious right to turn the oppressor into the victim. (Just in case the reality of oppressing gay people is in doubt, use this as a test: has anyone forbidden you to marry, fired you, arrested you, or officially classified you as having a mental disorder because you’re homosexual?)
As far as the shirt goes, I think that you’d be able to save it if you could make it tongue-in-cheek somehow. That’s why a “babies taste like chicken” shirt would actually work in some circles. (As-is, yours isn’t actually funny. Sorry, dude.) For instance, the same shirt with a footnote of “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.” Or something funnier, because I’m not so much a comedian. ;)
Posted by Max on Jun 30, 2006 at 08:55pm
“babies taste like chicken” LOL!!!
Actually I’ve discovered that there’s now a trend to move away from the name ‘Gay Pride’. Apparently they changed it to LGBT Pride a long time ago, but now some people are promoting an acronym instead: PRIDE.
Here in europe, there’s also an international festival (which is held today coincidentally) but it’s called EuroPride.
(I had some links, but I’ve had to take them out cause the spam filter was menacing me)
Posted by Dave on Jul 14, 2006 at 09:52am
It always strikes me as odd that groups of people who consider themselves in a minority or disenfranchised and cry out for equality, freedom of speech/sexuality etc. seem to frequently have a problem with someone stating that they believe the opposite.
I have no problem with someone saying they are ‘proud to be gay’ just as I have no problem with someone saying they are ‘proud to be heterosexual’ or anything else for that matter. An opinion is entirely one’s own and everyone is entitled to have one (and everyone is also entitled to have theirs shot down too :-) )
But just one thing… where can i order a ‘Babies taste like chicken’ T-shirt?
Posted by Chris Radcliff on Jul 14, 2006 at 10:31am
Crap. Now I’m tempted to put one up on Goodstorm…
Posted by Dave on Jul 14, 2006 at 11:24am
Chris.. mine’s an XL :-)
Posted by Brent on Jul 23, 2006 at 11:32pm
I don’t really understand group pride things like gay pride, hetero pride, white pride, Italian pride. Your shirt isn’t silly because hetero pride is silly, it is silly because group pride, in most cases, is silly. So what if you are a member of a specific group that you were born into. It didn’t take any work to get in that group, and you can’t honestly cite the accomplishments of other members of the group as your own just because you share a trait, can you? I get what you were trying to do here, but I’d rather see a shirt that says Nate Pride.
Posted by Kelley on Aug 12, 2006 at 08:38pm
Nate,
If I didn’t know you better, I’d think we were separated at birth. And since, I don’t… I won’t. :)
I love your personality… I love the way your words come across so innocently yet spark the fires that burn within…. Bravo my dear! I love your idea!!!!! Kudos!
Always,
- Kelley
Posted by Kalie on Aug 25, 2006 at 02:43pm
I love this I idea I mean, gay people are always saying they’re proud to be gay how how come us heterosexuals say were proud without getting critised?
Posted by nate on Aug 25, 2006 at 02:49pm
Thanks Kelley and Kalie.
Posted by Vince Brewster on Dec 01, 2006 at 09:27am
Your idea is fine with me.
I came across this site looking for instances where promoting one’s beliefs with a slogan such as “Heterosexual Pride” was outlawed at a school but a slogan such as “LBGTwhatever Pride” was allowed.
Such a double standard annoys me.
Posted by clint on Feb 12, 2007 at 06:07pm
Keep up the shirt printing!! Do you make bumperstickers!! It’s great to see that someone is not ashamed to be pro-heterosexual!
I am tired of the culture trying to make us straight men feel that we should hide our pride. I am a proud husband and father.
Posted by nate on Feb 12, 2007 at 06:13pm
Unfortunately, I don’t make bumper stickers at this time, but if you know of some place that is able to make them, I’d be happy to add mine to the list.
Posted by heterosexual pride on Jun 16, 2007 at 10:43am
we should be proud, as heterosexuals, that we are actually carrying on our species.
Posted by Andy on Jun 30, 2007 at 01:19pm
Your shirt is awesome. A good way to spite and defy the politically-correct. Nowadays, those who have every reason to be ashamed are conditioned to have pride, and those who have every reason to be proud are conditioned to be ashamed. Heterosexuals are the ones who keep life going on this planet. Heterosexual plants, too. Without heterosexual plants, the homosexual florists would be out of business.
Posted by Greg on Sep 07, 2007 at 12:53pm
Hear, hear Chris! It’s th club of political correctness that I oppose. I don’t care one way or the other gay or not, it’s the right of the individual to say what and how they want to say WHATEVER they want. I did a search on “hetero pride” and was amazed that at every turn the gay community was concerned, annoyed, upset, or outright opposed any hetero pride marches, t-shirts, bumperstickers, anything! What hypocracy.
Posted by Elaine on Sep 26, 2007 at 09:06pm
I think it’s great and I don’t understand why anyone would be offended by it anymore than anyone is offended by Gay/LBGT/PRIDE shirts, celebrations, bumper stickers. I think the biggest problem is that a lot of people are too quick to take offense at the slightest thing. Relax, people. If someone wants to take pride in their sexuality, and proclaim it to the masses, where’s the problem? If someone wants to wear an “I Support Bestiality” shirt, that’s their business… I may not want to hang out with them, but again, that’s MY choice.
And quite frankly, I don’t see where it’s my business or anyone else’s what your or your friend or your mother’s sexuality is anyway. If you want to show your pride in it, then by all means, go ahead, but accept that others have that same right as well, just as others have the right NOT to proclaim their sexuality. Choices, differences, lifestyles, heredity … it’s what makes the world go ’round!
(And just in case anyone’s wondering, I lean slightly to the left of center, mostly liberal, with two homosexual siblings, and friends of varying sexualities, races, religions, and lifestyle choices, and I’ll take that shirt in an XL, thank you!)
Posted by Rickgyver on Oct 19, 2007 at 09:56pm
Why does it always come down to race, homo…whatever or anti-ANYTHING? Can’t we just agree to disagree? I have more gay and lesbian relatives than I care to admit. I still ove them but I am
“commanded” by scripture to hate the sin involved.
Personally I am a Bible believing Christian who dearly loves God and has had a personal relationship going on with Jesus Christ since 1974!!
I take no opffense at all when people turn up their nose and say with a sneer, “Christian? I suppose you are one of those ‘once saved, always saved’ believers”? And I proudly answer, “Yes I am. Would you like to learn more?!
I would love to see Nate’s t-shirts worn everywhere. I will have one just to test the waters………….but:
In California, the Governator just signed a bill that takes effect in January. It allows children to be expelled from school if they show ANY homopho-whatever. If the “GAY/LESBIAN pride” people wear one of their t-shirts, straight kids can say NOTHING……..or else. But the road to expulsion doesn’t run both ways. Go figure. *scratches head*
II Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. NIV
Welcome to Washington DC politics!
Posted by lez b friends on Jan 07, 2008 at 03:41pm
It’s been a while since you posted this, so I just wanted to ask: How many shirts did you actually end up selling? It probably would have sold a lot better if it was funnier, like “Bizarro Gay Pride” with like the rainbow flag’s colors inverted or something.
Also, if you’re already in the majority, why do you feel the need to rub it in? We all know you’re proud of being straight, I mean you guys don’t even have laws saying you can’t get married.
I hope you don’t take this comment the wrong way. I understand the point you’re trying to make, but I think it could have done better if more effort was applied.
Posted by nate on Jan 07, 2008 at 04:24pm
None. :) And that’s fine by me. It was a simple point I was trying to make. I wasn’t trying to “rub it in” at all. Since when does having pride in anything mean that I’m rubbing “it” (whatever “it” is) in someone else’s face.
The point was that I am proud to be heterosexual, not that I have laws that support me. Can’t I be proud of my heterosexuality without getting into the legality issues? I would be proud of my heterosexuality with or without any laws to support my choice.
Critiquing my “effort” and application thereof has nothing to do with the point here. Feel free to leave that out of your next comment.
Posted by Chris Radcliff on Jan 07, 2008 at 05:29pm
In other news, the “babies taste like chicken” t-shirt has made me a multi-millionaire. Thanks, Nate!
Posted by nate on Jan 07, 2008 at 06:14pm
You’re welcome Chris. I like being an enabler.
Posted by lez b friends on Jan 07, 2008 at 10:53pm
Well, that’s my point. Have you ever been discriminated against for being straight? Have you ever been afraid to go into public with your loved one because of violent reprecussions towards the two of you? Have you been told you were mentally ill for loving the people you do? It feels like rubbing it in for people who have faced discrimination. It’d be like wearing a “Non-disabled Pride” shirt. Of course you’re proud not to be born disabled, but it’s a kick in the teeth to people who are.
Pride in the context of Gay Pride isn’t just about being proud of who you are. Pride in that context is telling a society that says you should be ashamed of yourself that you aren’t. When has anyone told you to be ashamed of being straight?
Posted by Surefire Boy on Jan 25, 2008 at 11:11am
This is hillarous! I can’t stop laughing!
Posted by nate on Jan 25, 2008 at 11:13am
Thank you Surefire Boy. Finally, someone gets it.
Posted by Surefire Boy on Jan 28, 2008 at 10:23am
Maybe if it was
HETERO
PRIDE
your sales would go up? Some people may not like the word “sexual” on their apparel… It’s just an idea…
Posted by nate on Jan 28, 2008 at 11:02am
What if it was just SEXUAL PRIDE? haha..
Posted by Serena on Feb 06, 2008 at 07:28pm
I’ll take a Sexual Pride shirt, please.
I agree with the point you’re trying to make. I have several gay friends, who I’ve known for years, that never fail to remind me that they are gay when we go out together. [I'm talking about refusing to go places that aren't frequented by other homosexuals, constantly wearing PRIDE pins and picking fights with strangers who look at them funny because they automatically assume that its because they are gay. I also want to note that these are all people who grew up in upper middle class families, every advantage one could desire and had perfectly normal childhoods. Everyone either accepted them when they came out with open arms or just flat out didn't care one way or the other.] I love them to pieces, and I would never want to upset them by telling them they need to shut it but sometimes I can’t help but wonder how they would react if I was suddenly reminding them constantly of how I’m heterosexual.
Besides, even they could see the irony in this shirt and find it humorous.