Superhero Diaries

Straight sex day?

We live in a world full of causes, charities, celebrations and a multitude of multi-coloured rubber wristbands. It seems you can’t turn around without it being National Executive Assistant Day, a parade to celebrate the follicly challenged, or a festival for the enhancement of linguistically localised phraseology.

So I suppose it was probably inevitable that we would eventually have Heterosexual Pride Day. Yes a Brazilian council* has enacted legislation creating a day to celebrate… well “traditional” straight sex it would seem.

 What’s next? A parade for objectaphiles? (and no, apparently vibrators and fleshlights don’t count) Perhaps we should have a computer geeks/internet addicts march (would mac users have to march separately?).

I have to be honest and admit my initial reaction wasn’t very PC. Heterosexual Pride Parade? I was somewhere between an indifferent “why not?” and an apathetic “who cares?” After all, if we can celebrate gay pride, transgender pride or take back the night for women, then to deny any group a chance to celebrate their philosophy would be discriminatory right? 

And at the end of the day the stupidity of it should see it relatively ignored by most after some eye rolling. 

Sadly, looking at the comments of the legislation’s author this is neither well meaning nor likely to go away.  

It appears the day isn’t really about a celebration of heterosexual practices but rather a political - and somewhat small-minded – statement. While claiming it’s not anti-gay, Carlos Apolinario says it’s a “protest against the privileges the gay community enjoys”.   

I’m not quite sure how that isn’t anti-gay but I’m aghast that someone who, as we say politely, “may have some issues” is using my sexuality as a political tool. 

I really don’t care if there’s a Heterosexual Pride Day or not. I would have no problem if one took place but only if it were for the right reasons.  

I have no time for the “but every day is heterosexual day” argument because yes it is. For some. Just as everyday is gay day for others. And some people love their iphones way too much all the time. 

I do however acknowledge the particular problems some groups face. As the Brazilian Lesbian Gay, Bisexual and transgender Association says, heterosexuals aren’t really discriminated against simply for being heterosexual. 

That doesn’t take away the right for straight people to celebrate or enjoy their orientation but it does highlight the differences in motivation. 

Marching to celebrate is good. Marching under the guise of celebrating to score cheap points is childish at best and abhorrent at worst. 

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