Boston Straight Pride Parade To Celebrate 'Oppressed Majority'

A parade that seemingly no one asked for will be held in Boston Saturday. The first Straight Pride parade is set for noon. The group Super Happy Fun America is organizing the parade, which will end at Boston City Hall with a ceremony that will include the raising of the so-called Straight flag.

“Straight people are an oppressed majority," said John Hugo, Super Happy Fun America's president, in a statement. "We will fight for the right of straights everywhere to express pride in themselves without fear of judgement and hate. The day will come when straights will finally be included as equals among all of the other orientations."

A Facebook event page for the Straight Pride parade shows 968 people said they're attending. Hugo said he expects at least 2,000 to attend.

Mayor Marty Walsh said the city's hands were tied. He said he doesn't support the group's values, but the city can't deny an event permit based on a group's beliefs.

"First, Boston's values are clear: respect, diversity, and acceptance of all," Walsh said in a statement in June when the parade was approved. "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. Second, permits to host a public event are granted based on operational feasibility, not based on values or endorsements of beliefs."

Hugo supports an effort to add S for straight to the acronym LGBTQ.