Boston 'Straight Pride' Parade Approved

BOSTON — In a move blasted as a masked discrimination by some and outlandish by others, a group of men proposing to hold a "Straight Pride" parade in Boston had their application approved Wednesday, City Hall confirmed to Patch. However, if finalized by Boston police and the Licensing Board, Mayor Marty Walsh will not be attending.

"It's official August 31 #StraightPride" posted the group to its Facebook page.

Yes, the public event application for the "Straight Pride" parade was approved. But that's just a step in the process towards receiving a parade permit, city officials told Patch. The City of Boston cannot deny a permit based on an organization's values, and applications to host a public event are granted based on operational feasibility, not on values or endorsements of beliefs.

As a next step, the organizers will need to receive necessary approvals from the Boston Police Department and the Licensing Board to receive both a parade permit and an entertainment license.

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

Hugo, of Woburn, indicated he expected 2,000 people to attend. He also said he had no plans to advertise the parade.

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

His group originally requested to hold an event on City Hall Plaza and raise the "Straight Prid" flag on City Hall flag poles. The city denied this request, saying its flag poles are a forum for government speech. And because of that, the folks at city hall maintain selectivity and control over the messages conveyed by the flags flown on flag poles, and has chosen not to display the “Straight Pride” flag.

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

The gay pride parade is an event that marks progress in a civil rights movement for LGBTQ who are still targets of hate crimes and discrimination today. In 2017, LGBTQ hate crimes in the country rose 17 percent over the year before, according to a recent report.

Although officials don't expect many to attend, the reaction online prompted Walsh to address concerns on Twitter earlier this month.

"Permits to host a public event are granted based on operational feasibility, not based on values or endorsements of beliefs," Walsh tweeted. "The City of Boston cannot deny a permit based on an organization's values."

The parade will be held from noon to 3 p.m. and will step off from the corner of Boylston and Clarendon streets, turn right onto Clarendon, and then left onto Tremont Street. The group also said there will be music, dancing and about 20 security personnel.

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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).