On Tuesday, social media was alerted to the existence of a small group’s apparent plans for a “straight pride parade” in Boston. New York Times editor Carolyn Ryan’s Tuesday morning tweet about the event, which was initially posted to Facebook last week, quickly went viral after it was posted. Soon after, pretty much everyone on the problematic platform — journalists, comedians, trolls and the like — piled onto the alleged plans with all of the vitriol you can imagine.
“Straight Pride” parade planned in Boston. With floats. pic.twitter.com/JcTsGRjNPn
— carolynryan 🏳️🌈🏓 (@carolynryan) June 4, 2019
As reported by the Washington Post, one of the parade’s organizers claimed that “the city is now working with us on the parade” after they “filed a discrimination complaint” against them. The parade will supposedly have room for “floats and vehicles” to “celebrate straight pride” in Boston and is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 31st. Oh, and as if to make the deal that much sweeter, he also noted that the parade’s official mascot is Brad Pitt, though the actor obviously won’t be participating.
Additional Facebook posts and a link to the group’s website notwithstanding, the “straight pride parade” group seemingly did nothing more than present plenty of fodder for the Twitter trolls. And while all of this attention is surely feeding them more than is advised, it has resulted in some pretty great responses. For starters, the band Smash Mouth is having none of it:
Straight Pride Parade????? FUCK OFF!!!!!!!!
— Smash Mouth (@smashmouth) June 4, 2019
Getting shouted down online by a ’90s rock band is just the tip of the tea-soaked iceberg, of course:
So evidently this guy is a white supremacist who has tried to start stuff before and has incited violence in the past. I am carefully using the word "evidently" here but please call the City of Boston to tell them not to grant or to revoke this permit. And please share. https://t.co/tGVKFwcctZ
— Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg (@TheRaDR) June 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/failnaut/status/1135951099821772800
https://twitter.com/RonFunches/status/1135974147304054784
The straight pride parade will be mostly men because very few women will get to come.
— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) June 4, 2019
A more accurate name for the Straight Pride Parade would be Incelebration.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) June 4, 2019
Isn’t a straight pride parade just the drive thru line at Chick-Fil-A?
— Christine Thompson (@MadamShefter) June 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/TVietor08/status/1135942184757149696
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/1135929230179610624
boston straight pride parade u have to come in costume as your favorite mark wahlberg character everyone walks around ordering a cranberry juice at a bar and saying how do u like them apples …….. madness
— hunter harris (@hunteryharris) June 4, 2019
why do straight people think they need a straight pride parade
netflix is already paying $100 million to keep friends on, isn't that enough
— skyler 🦆 (@skunkgender) June 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/morninggloria/status/1135929336110784512
(Via Washington Post)