Mayor Marty Walsh Weighs In On Proposed 'Straight Pride Parade'

BOSTON — On Saturday, Boston will fill up with thousands of people and rainbows as the city celebrates the 50-year anniversary of the civil rights movement that gave the LGBTQ community protections. Now, in a move blasted as a masked discrimination by some and as outlandish by others, a group of men are working to get a permit to introduce a rival "Straight Pride Parade"

The man behind the parade, John Hugo, the president of a group called Super Happy Fun America called straight people "an oppressed majority," on the website that includes an illustration of a woman wearing a MAGA sweat band. The website says the purpose of the parade is to celebrate the diverse history, culture and contributions of the straight community.

“We will fight for the right of straights everywhere to express pride in themselves without fear of judgement and hate," he wrote on the website. "The day will come when straights will finally be included as equals among all of the other orientations.”

The website features posters suggesting "S" should be added to the end of LGBTQ to include straight people in protections.

Although officials don't expect many to attend, the reaction online prompted Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to address concerns on Twitter and explain that the city can't deny a permit based on values.

"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," tweeted Walsh.

"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," said Walsh.

"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."

A member of the group said it filed a discrimination complaint against the city, which is now working with to figure out how to permit the parade.

"We will have the streets closed and be allowed floats and vehicles. The tentative date is 8/31 but will be finalized in the next few weeks," said co-organizer Mark Shahady on Facebook, calling the parade a patriotic one.

A number of celebrities, including Boston's Chris Evans, took to social media to blast the group for making false equivalencies.

"They may feel they're threatened somehow by people celebrating who they are, and while we're talking about DDay? What were they fighting for? They were fighting for your right to be who you are as an American," said Whoopi Goldberg on the talk show "The View."

"I think why it's particularly tone-deaf is it's World Pride, and it's 50 years since Stonewall. It's historically significant," said Megan McCain on the show, pointing that hate crimes are still happening against people in the U.S. because they are not straight.

In 2017, LGBTQ hate crimes in the country rose 17 percent over the year before, according to a report.

Related:

• Boston Pride Parade 2019: What To Know
• Proposed ‘Straight Pride’ Parade In Boston

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).