Conservative pundit Milo Yiannopoulos has been named the grand marshal for Boston’s “Straight Pride” parade and he couldn’t be happier.
The former Breitbart editor and controversial political commentator was named as the new mascot and parade grand marshal by the group Super Happy Fun America which is planning the event “to achieve inclusivity and spread awareness of issues impacting straights in Greater Boston and beyond.”
The openly gay Yiannopoulos accepted the invitation of the group after they were asked to remove actor Brad Pitt’s name and likeness which was originally used for the event scheduled in response to Boston’s annual gay pride parade being held Saturday.
Pitt “was not super happy” about being associated with the organization, the president of Super Happy Fun America told the Boston Herald.
“I really like his movies and his lawyers sent us a letter asking us to take his stuff down but, you know, you’re allowed to do satire,” John Hugo said Friday of the Oscar-winning actor.
The change was announced on the group’s website.
“Due to a scheduling conflict, our former mascot is no longer available. Not to worry, we found someone younger, more handsome, and more in tune with heroic masculine virtues,” the page read, introducing Yiannopoulos.
“I might technically be a sequined and perfectly coiffed friend of Dorothy’s, but I’ve spent my entire career advocating for the rights of America’s most brutally repressed identity — straight people — so I know a thing or two about discrimination,” Yiannopoulos said in a statement released by Super Happy Fun America.
“This parade is a gift to anyone, male or female, black or white—gay and transgender allies, too!—who will stand with us and celebrate the wonder and the majesty of God’s own heterosexuality,” he added. “Men, bring your most toxic selves. Women, prepare to burn your briefcases! Because it’s great to be straight, and we’re not apologizing for it any more. We’re Here, Not Queer.”
City officials have reportedly not approved the permits yet for the parade, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 31, but Boston Mayor Marty Walsh tweeted that the group is “working to amend their application.”
First, Boston’s values are clear: respect, diversity, and acceptance of all. As Mayor, I’m proud to host our annual Pride Week, where our city comes together to celebrate the diversity, strength and acceptance of our LGBTQ community.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) June 6, 2019
Super Happy Fun America set off a firestorm of backlash after announcing its planned event at the outset of LGBTQ Pride Month, getting the attention of some famous Bostonians like “Avengers” actor Chris Evans.
Wow! Cool initiative, fellas!! Just a thought, instead of ‘Straight Pride’ parade, how about this: The ‘desperately trying to bury our own gay thoughts by being homophobic because no one taught us how to access our emotions as children’ parade? Whatta ya think? Too on the nose?? https://t.co/gaBWtq2PaL
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) June 5, 2019
He also called out the “gay/straight pride parade false equivalencies” in another tweet.
Wow, the number gay/straight pride parade false equivalencies are disappointing. For those who don’t understand the difference, see below. Instead of going immediately to anger(which is actually just fear of what you don’t understand)take a moment to search for empathy and growth https://t.co/e98K0Z150T
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) June 5, 2019
Mark Hoppus, bassist for the band Blink 182 added his voice to the outcry, announcing he would be auctioning off one of his bass guitars for an LGBTQ charity.
To celebrate how utterly ridiculous a Straight Pride parade is, I’m going to auction off one of my basses, match the final bid dollar-for-dollar, and donate all the money to the @TrevorProject. ?️?
— mark hoppus.?️? (@markhoppus) June 5, 2019
This is the bass I’m going to auction and match to benefit the @TrevorProject. Its name is Groundskeeper Willie. Details soon. pic.twitter.com/iueUYflODt
— mark hoppus.?️? (@markhoppus) June 7, 2019
Fox Nation host and conservative commentator Tomi Lahren called it “open season on straight white men” during a commentary on Super Happy Fun America’s attempt to get a permit for its event.
Straight Pride might be “intended to be a joke of sorts,” Lahren said on her online show, “First Thoughts” Wednesday. But, she wondered, “why is it so taboo nowadays to recognize or be proud of how sexuality or traditional values in general? … I’m sick of this.”
Fox host touts “straight pride parade” organized by a far right group founded by a white nationalist: “It’s open season on straight white men in this country” pic.twitter.com/AMbCCFF0dC
— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) June 6, 2019
But Boston’s mayor noted that the city can not deny a permit based on a group’s values, and he extended an invitation to visitors to attend the LGBT Pride Parade.
Second, permits to host a public event are granted based on operational feasibility, not based on values or endorsements of beliefs. The City of Boston cannot deny a permit based on an organization’s values.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) June 6, 2019
Whatever outside groups may try do, our values won’t change. I invite each and every person to stand with us, and show that love will always prevail. Join us in celebration this Saturday for the @bostonpride Parade and in the fight for progress and equality for all. pic.twitter.com/AwoGuuHuVp
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) June 6, 2019
Super Happy Fun America plans to move ahead with its event to “celebrate the diverse history, culture, and contributions of the straight community,” and announced that Yiannopoulos will be speaking with the group’s founders in a livestream video on June 10.
“I know it’s a little ironic to have a gay conservative as our icon,” Hugo, who unsuccessfully ran in 2018 for U.S. Congress as a Republican against Democratic incumbent Katherine Clark, told the Boston Herald about Yiannopoulos, who was called “the most censored, most lied-about man in the world, banned from stepping foot on entire continents for his unapologetic commitment to free expression.”
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