-The Straight Pride parade
has officially started.
-[ Chanting ]
-Straight Pride parade --
A celebration of
our sexual orientation
just like other people
celebrate theirs.
We just think it's great
to be straight.
-They even have a grand marshal,
Milo Yiannopoulos,
a very controversial gay man.
-Hi!
-Was this a true expression
of an identity
that they feel is being
oppressed currently in America?
-They absolutely believe in what
they're doing. And so do I.
-What felt a little bit more
like a party
and like a parade two blocks ago
now feels
like a lot more tension.
And even the tone
of the people
marching in this parade
has shifted.
[ Indistinct shouting ]
-Back it up!
-Are there any President Trump
supporters here today?
[ Cheers and applause ]
-I have no problem with people
existing as straight people,
and that this rally shows
that they do not understand
where we are really coming from.
-The LGBT
is putting it in schools,
and the counselors are telling
them it's okay to be gay.
It's not okay to be gay.
[ Indistinct shouting ]
-You've got people
screaming and brawling
and trying to tear down
public infrastructure
and attack the police.
My work here is done.
-I am straight!
Hear me roar!
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
-I have just arrived in Boston.
It's Saturday
of Labor Day weekend,
and I'm currently on my way
to the Straight Pride parade.
The founders of Straight Pride
have said they want
to celebrate the contributions
of straight America
and provide a space
in which straight people
are able to "be themselves
and not fear persecution."
This has caused
a lot of controversy.
People like the Mayor of Boston
coming out voicing
their opposition.
I hope it stays peaceful.
The city of Boston has said
they're going to have
a massive police force here.
This was something that started
a couple months ago online.
I think a lot of people
thought it was a joke.
They thought
it wasn't gonna happen.
They got their permits in time.
And yes, in fact,
the Straight Pride parade
is actually happening.
And like all Pride parades,
they even have a grand marshal.
You guessed it --
Milo Yiannopoulos.
Yes, he's a gay man,
and very controversial gay man.
But he was invited
to be the grand marshal today.
-So I've been practicing
my straight voice.
Did I get it right?
-He is wearing a very sparkly
"Make America Straight Again"
hat.
-It's all right.
I'm used to being on the bottom.
I'll have more to say later
once we've gone
for a little walk in the sun.
-I'm seeing a lot
of American flags.
There is
"Don't Tread on Me" flags.
There's the classic
Straight Pride flag,
which you all know and love
as being the symbol
of a man and a woman together
with pink and blue.
"Straight Lives Matter."
Oh, my gosh. Funny.
The shark from the Katy Perry
video is here.
"Straight lives matter" --
What does that mean to you?
-All lives matter.
You know, gay lives matter,
straight lives matter,
everyone's lives matter
except for socialists.
-Where did you hear about
the Straight Pride parade?
-Facebook.
-And when you first heard
about it,
what was your initial thought?
-That's hilarious.
I'm doing it.
-What was funny about it?
-Because it's never
been done before
and everyone's
gonna be pissed off
even though it's obviously
a joke.
-Is it obviously a joke?
-Yes.
-Grow up, will ya?
Seriously.
-Have a conversation, man.
-Do something about it.
-This does feel like,
it's trying to not only just
troll the left,
but a little bit poking fun
at gay pride.
The route itself
is the exact route
that the Gay Pride parade
that happened in Boston
at the end of June took.
I do feel like there was
a missed opportunity
to have the parade route
being literally straight.
You can't deny that this is the
50th anniversary of Pride.
Pride for LGBTQ people
started at Stonewall,
not as a parade,
but as an expression
of being in a space that a year
prior they had been beaten
by members of the police force
for being gay.
-But he identifies as
a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
-He identifies as a shark.
-He is a dinosaur
of the alt-right.
-What is
the Straight Pride parade
and what do you want to
publicize?
-A celebration
of our sexual orientation
just like other people
celebrate theirs.
Straight Pride Parade, we think
it's great to be straight.
We don't hate any other group.
We just think it's great
to be straight.
So all are welcome
to come celebrate us.
We got our straight allies
and our gay allies,
and many are coming here
to march with us in solidarity.
-There seems to be some
unhappy Americans, though.
-Well, you're gonna get that
all the time.
Here we got people holding signs
that say "Nazis."
We actually have
a Jewish delegation,
and we're allowing them
to carry the flag from Israel,
the Israeli national flag,
because we love
our Jewish brothers and sisters.
So please don't listen
to their narrative.
It's a false narrative.
-So for a while you were not
actually going to
be allowed to have this march.
It was an issue with permits and
that was a big turning point.
-That's why God made lawyers.
-But now you
are having the parade.
You've gotten what you wanted.
So, what do you want to show,
I guess, at this hour?
-We want tolerance
just like everybody else.
And we have a right
to tolerance.
And we've got a wonderful crowd,
as you can hear,
they're all riled up today.
We've got some of
the most amazing speakers,
and we're gonna have
a terrific day,
and next year in America,
there's gonna be a hundred
Straight Pride parades.
-What brought you here today?
-I love Jesus with all my heart.
-Yeah?
-And being straight is great.
And I believe that
we have not stood up for that
and that we have suppressed it
to the point
where when your children
come home,
automatically thinking
it's okay to be gay,
then we have not done
our parts as parents.
It's not okay to be gay.
If it was okay to be gay,
how would we be here?
-Kind of like
a procreation perspective?
-You better believe it.
You better believe it.
Yes. Yeah.
-So they're chanting "Milo."
You know Milo is
the grand marshal of the parade?
You know he's a gay man?
-I know.
-Married to a man?
-Yes.
-So what do you think
about that?
-Well, I'm glad he's out here
with us today
and he supports
straight marriages.
But if I get a chance
to minister to anyone,
I'm gonna tell him
that's not God's design.
-Where are you from?
-Davison, Michigan.
-Davison, Michigan.
-Same.
-Same.
So that's kind of
not close to Boston.
-No, a 20-hour drive.
-20 hours?
-For some.
-Yeah.
-Oh, my gosh. So what
brought you out here today?
-Straight Pride.
-Okay.
-His shirt says it all
right there.
-What is "Dad, role model..."
Tell me about your outfit today.
-It says "Dad" on it
and has all sorts of
responsibilities of a dad.
-And do you think that
there's people out there
who are trying to not have dads
with those characteristics
or...?
-Well, that would be called
toxic masculinity, wouldn't it?
-Oh, okay. Have you been
attacked for your beliefs?
-No. I work with a bunch
of people just like me.
-You're amongst your kin,
your like-minded people,
and I don't want to use
the word "safe space,"
but, like, in a space
in which you can look
to the left and the right
and you know
that the people around you
are of similar beliefs
and that makes you feel
more comfortable to be yourself.
-Correct.
-If you believe
there are more than two genders,
you should go back to school.
-Can you tell me a little about
this flag that you're holding?
-Yes, it's the flag
of Straight Pride.
The pink is for girl
and it has the female symbol,
and then the blue is for boy
and it has the male symbol.
-Have you individually
or people that you know
ever faced violence
because of your sexuality?
-Not over my sexuality yet,
but if it continues,
that it will.
I feel that we are slowly
becoming the minority.
Like, there might be more of us,
but our belief
is becoming the minority.
-I think we're starting
to march.
-♪ 'Cause the flag still stands
for freedom... ♪
-Oh. I know this song.
-♪ Stand up next to you
and defend her still today ♪
-Yeah. We're starting off
with a pretty patriotic tone.
-Now, it wouldn't be
a Straight Pride parade,
I think, without Santa,
so that is very exciting
that he was able to come down
from the North Pole
despite the objections
of the elves.
[ Horn honks ]
-♪ God bless... ♪
-God bless.
Yep, it's happening.
The Straight Pride
has officially started.
We're now moving
through the streets.
We started with
"God Bless America"
and "Proud to be an American"
because a lot of people
are saying
it's about freedom of speech.
And it seems like
a real fun time.
-♪ Yeah, freedom ♪
-♪ Freedom ♪
-♪ Freedom ♪
-♪ Freedom ♪
♪ Yeah, freedom ♪
♪ Freedom ♪
-♪ Freedom ♪
-♪ Freedom ♪
-♪ Freedom ♪
-♪ Freedom, freedom ♪
-How you doing?
-I'm a bisexual...woman.
Woman walking with everybody.
-Do you consider yourself
an ally for straight people?
-Absolutely. Straight people
throw out the same insults
from the sidelines
that are being hurled today
by gay people
toward straight people.
Identical! I'm here to celebrate
their lifestyle. Good for them!
-I definitely expected people
on both sides
to be sort of upset
with each other.
I don't think I expected
the amount of people to show up.
We're starting to get into
a bit of a denser part
of the parade route.
What felt a little bit more
like a party
and like a parade two blocks ago
now feels like a lot more
tension and a lot more anger.
And even the tone of the people
marching in this parade
has shifted.
Oh, my gosh, the crowd
just basically tripled
of people who are here
to protest.
How you guys doing?
Holding up?
-We are feeling fine.
I feel sorry
for these people, honestly.
I do not hate them.
Hate is what they want,
and I am sorry for them
that they feel so misguided that
they think this is necessary.
-Why do you think this is
existing right now in 2019?
-I think it is
because they are afraid.
I think they know that
because queer people have power
they think that means less power
for them.
It does not.
We do not want to be stronger
or higher up on the ladder
than straight people.
We just want
to be treated equally.
And to them,
being treated equally,
they think that that means
that we want more.
We do not want more.
And I have no problem
with people existing
as straight people,
and that this rally exists shows
that they do not understand
where we are really coming from.
-So what do you think?
I feel like in the beginning
it felt like more of a party,
and now it feels like --
-That's 'cause that's
the antifa. They're miserable.
-Yeah? Do you feel in danger
in any way, shape, or form?
-Hey, we're willing to die
for our beliefs.
-Really?
-Yes.
-Wow.
That's a big statement.
-And to protect our country
and our Constitution.
-At first I actually thought
that people in the parade
were outnumbering
the protesters.
Not in this space.
They are about 3 to 1
in terms of protesters to
actual people in the parade.
So basically everyone
who was protesting
is now in this
very condensed space.
Cops now and protesters
seem to be facing off.
[ Indistinct chanting ]
♪♪
The groups of protesters,
they started to have
a bit of a face-off and clash
with the police.
A couple people were arrested.
A lot of chanting
of "antifascist."
-Antifascist!
-There is a massive crowd
of protesters behind me.
There are helicopters
circling overhead.
There are probably 200
police officers here
in full riot gear.
There is also classical music
being played.
It is a very odd scene.
So now we're just waiting
for speeches to begin
from members
of the Straight Pride parade.
-If you are a supporter
of ours
and you're still stuck
in that crowd, make some noise.
[ Silence ]
-I think a little bit
due to security,
there's not a lot of people
here on the Straight Pride side.
There is a lot of people
who are protesting
the Straight Pride parade.
So if it's a numbers game,
that side seems to be winning
at the moment.
[ Indistinct shouting ]
♪♪
-[ Chanting ]
Move back! Move back!
-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8...
[ Whistle blows ]
♪♪
[ Shouting continues ]
-[ Chanting ]
Let them go! Let them go!
-I am straight!
Here me roar!
[ Cheers and applause ]
[ Air horn honks ]
-Move back.
Turn around and go that way.
[ Shouting continues ]
♪♪
-Are there any President Trump
supporters here today?
[ Cheers and applause ]
♪♪
Whether you are straight and
part of the oppressed majority,
or here as an ally
supporting us,
we welcome you
to the greatest parade
in the history of the world!
[ Cheers and applause ]
-♪ Get the fuck
out of our city ♪
-And what group are you with?
-I'm with The Rhode Island
John Brown Gun Club,
which is a community
defense organization.
We do armed and unarmed security
for different events
for leftist groups.
-What are your thoughts
on the Straight Pride parade?
-Every other day in the calendar
is Straight Pride Day.
[ Indistinct chanting ]
-Why did you
come out here today?
-Because these people
cannot come in
and pull this crap unopposed.
Boston is our city.
-At the beginning,
I think a lot of people
were seeing this as a joke,
they were making fun of it
and teasing,
but obviously the other side of
this is that it's very serious.
So what is the approach?
Is it to make fun of it or is it
to take what they're doing
very, very seriously?
-I think there's a lot of danger
in not taking something
like this seriously.
I think there's a lot
to be said for the idea
that as much as this is absurd,
look, there's not many people
up there,
but there are people up there.
Absurdity appeals to people,
and the more people
it appeals to,
the more dangerous it becomes,
and the more of a platform
it's given,
the more dangerous it becomes.
-They're saying
this is just simply
a "freedom of speech" thing.
-Well, I mean, if you look into
the individuals
who have gathered and who have
organized this parade,
you'll see that they have
a long history
of putting together rallies that
are, you know, fueled by hatred.
-Do you think anyone from either
side is gonna walk away
feeling like they understand
the other side?
-Oh, absolutely not.
-No.
[ Cheers and applause ]
-In case you don't know,
I am Milo Yiannopoulos.
I'm the most lied-about man
in the world,
the most censored man
in the world.
I'm also your personal
pet faggot.
[ Cheers and applause ]
I'm proud of you for coming
today and having the bravery
to live as open heterosexuals
in today's hostile society.
Now, we might not be
as trendy as Gay Pride,
but we have something better --
women who embrace
motherhood...
[ Cheers and applause ]
...men who aren't afraid
to let their wild side out
now and again.
We have truth, we have beauty,
and we have virtue,
and we have something better
than all of those things --
we have me.
[ Light laughter,
cheers and applause ]
-Unlike other Pride parades
I've been to,
this one really didn't feel
that celebratory at the end.
I did get to talk to some
interesting people, though.
The one person
I didn't get to talk to
was maybe one of the most
controversial figures here,
Milo Yiannopoulos,
the grand marshal.
But luckily he's agreed
to talk to us now,
so we're on our way
to go meet him.
We're now in the evening hours
of the Straight Pride parade.
So you're not super fresh
off the Straight Pride parade.
-I always feel fresh.
-You're always refreshed.
-Always feel fresh.
-So how the hell
did you get involved
with the Straight Pride parade?
-Well, why wouldn't I be?
I've been talking
about how my fellow homosexuals
have embarrassed
and humiliated me
for the better part
of half a decade.
It's no surprise that
they would want somebody
from that side of the fence,
you know, to say,
"You know what?
We're not all like that."
Doesn't surprise me at all.
I pretty much share
all their values.
I believe
in what they're doing.
And it was fun and happy and
joyful and upbeat kind of event.
It just seemed
like a good joke,
and I can't really resist
a good joke, so...
-Has it paid off?
How's your joke?
-Yeah, yeah, it is.
I mean, if you look
at the total, like,
butt-clenching insanity,
and you're just like,
"Dude, we're just laughing
at the excesses of you,
this is exactly what
this was intended to produce.
And you haven't disappointed."
I'm not even getting paid.
I'm just here because --
-You're not getting paid
for this?
-No, because it just sounded
like a good troll
and I was like,
"All right. Sure."
-Do you think that this was
more of a performance piece
for the members
of the Straight Pride group,
or was this a true expression
of an identity
that they feel is being
oppressed currently in America?
-They absolutely believe
in what they're doing.
Are they ignorant of the ironic
and amusing overtones?
Of course not.
But they believe in what
they're doing, and so do I.
-Who is the most marginalized
group in America?
-Straight, white men, for sure.
And there's more straight, white
men than some other groups.
-Most other groups.
-Yeah.
Why does that mean that
they can't be routinely demeaned
and ridiculed in culture?
It's perfectly possible for
a group that holds much of
the -- or allegedly holds --
much of the economic
or social power
to be very rapidly
defenestrated,
and I think
they're perfectly entitled
to defend their position if they
feel that's what's happening.
-If you had advice
for the other side,
if they were to listen,
and if you were one of them --
-Stop taking the bait.
-Stop taking the bait.
-Yeah. So long as the --
I mean, I shouldn't really tell
them this,
but I don't think
they ever will,
which is why I feel happy
giving them the advice
because I know
they'll never take this advice,
but really stop taking the bait.
I think they reveal themselves
better than my words ever could.
You've got the people who are
laughing and singing and dancing
and having a good time,
and then 200 yards that way,
you've got people
screaming and brawling
and trying to tear down
public infrastructure
and attack the police.
My work here is done.
-Wow. Wow. Wow.
So that was Straight Pride.
There were a lot of protesters.
They definitely drew people out
who were upset
about an organization
like the Straight Pride
parade existing.
And I think the question
comes to the left,
what should the continued
reaction be?
Do you continue
to take it as a joke?
Do you take it seriously?
And is there any kind of
learning or communication
that can be had
where both sides start to see
where the other side
is coming from?
I'm just not sure that
a larger goal was accomplished
other than continuing
to solidify both sides
and thinking that the other side
is wrong,
and that kind of sucks.
