Two facts
about me:
1. I
like rainbows.
2. I
am not gay.
Some
people seem to have a problem with these two facts because they seem to think
they contradict each other. It seems like the presence of fact one questions
fact two. Like fact two cancels out fact one.
For
those who don’t know, the rainbow has been a symbol to the LGBT community and
often comes associated with the word ‘Pride’. I’m sure you can put two and two
together and not end up a million miles away from four. The rainbow has long
been a symbol of hope and better things to come for a very long time,
particularly in religious history. The rainbow appears in a few places in the
bible as a sign of God’s presence and as a sign of hope. And there is of course
the sun-shining-through-the-rain train of thought. Not hard to see why this
would be adopted by a community that has had such a hard struggle with being
accepted.
That
being said, they don’t own it.
I
have been asked quite a few times about my sexuality because I’ve been wearing
something rainbowy. I will admit this has mostly been on Iona… the island does
gather LGBT folk. It’s a safe and accepting place I guess. When I explained
that I just like rainbows I was often met with a puzzled look. One person even
asked me if I was sure. Their puzzled state puzzles me. Can’t I just like
colour? If you look at how I dress you must be able to see I like colour. I
appreciate that the rainbow means that for you, but can’t you appreciate that
it doesn’t mean that for everyone?
If
I’m being honest it annoys me that it is even a symbol for the LGBT community.
Now don’t you go thinking I don’t support them. Give me a second to explain. I
don’t like that they need it. Needing a sign of hope and pride in who you are
shows oppression. Put it this way, there is no straight community and we do not
need to march up and down streets waving big rainbow flags to get people to
accept that we exist. I am glad that Pride marches happen and that is such a
joyful day for everyone involved. I’m sad that they are necessary. Morgan
Freeman spoke out about Black History Month in the States, and I think the same
applies here. There is no White History Month. There is no I’m So Glad I’m
Jewish Day. There is no Happy Hispanic Day. By purposefully singling it out
they expose the need for it: racism. By having a symbol of pride it highlights
the lack of acceptance.
As I
say, I’m glad that people go out and campaign for the cause. I am just sad that
somebody has to.
I
would like it if the rainbow was just a rainbow. If it was just a selection of
pretty colours that I could enjoy because they are pretty and colourful. I
would like it if people did not take away the rights of others because of their
own fear or ignorance. Just let people be happy, and on a purely selfish note, let
me like rainbows.
