Straight Pride

To the man today who saw my nails

s c o f f e d

and said

‘what about straight pride, huh?’:

You are allowed

to be proud of your love.

You are allowed

to shout from the rooftops

and write poems about

the specific shade

of her eyes.

You are allowed

to be proud you found her

proud you chose her

proud she chose you back.

You are allowed to be proud

of what you have become

together.

Your love,

I’m sure,

is an accomplishment.

I’d like to think

you would not fear so much

about being allowed to be ‘proud’

if it were not.

Because I enjoy living in a world

where you said that because of

your love

for her

instead of out of

your hate

for me.

But liking women

in itself

is not an accomplishment for you.

She may have tested you

others may have tested you

but not because

you were straight.

You have not worried

Since you were eleven

that you would be kicked out

if your parents found out you were straight.

You have not worried

since you were eleven

that your future wedding would be one

of protest and hardship

Instead of light and love

because you were straight.

You have not worried

since you were 11

that you would get jumped one day

For holding hands with your partner

Because

you

were

straight.

So to the man today who saw my rainbow nails

and thought first of jealousy and hate

instead of pride or indifference:

My Pride does not hurt yours.

My Pride does not threaten yours.

But asking me

where the celebration of your straightness is

while it’s been plastered on history books

and bibles

And laws

and television

and movies

and books

and songs

and paintings

and the English language

and even on poetry

is ridiculous.

I am proud of my sexuality

because it is something I have had

to fight for.

Something I have decided

is worth fighting for.

I hope I am right.

And that you also

are proud of your love.

That you have a love to be proud of.

That she is worth fighting for.

But when you have never once

fought for your straightness

how can you possibly

look at me

and say

that that is the thing

you deserve to be

proud of?