Boston's 'Straight Pride' Parade Sparks Protests, Arrests

BOSTON — A controversial "Straight Pride" parade featured several hundred marchers on Boston city streets calling for a return to traditional values and an end to identity politics — and a much larger group of protesters decrying what many considered an event driven by hate and intolerance.

Police were deployed in great numbers to keep the two sides apart. Police told WHDH 34 protesters were arrested, and four police officers suffered minor injuries.

A group calling itself Super Happy Fun America organized the parade, which ended at Boston City Hall with speeches and the raising of the "Straight" flag. Organizer John Hugo had said he expected at least 2,000 people to take part, but fewer than 300 marchers eventually gathered in a cordoned-off area for the City Hall rally.

Speakers, including Super Happy Fun America's vice president Mark Sahady, told the crowd the organization put on the event to fight for the rights of an "oppressed majority."

"I am straight hear me roar! Sahady yelled to the crowd. "Whether you are straight or 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. Today we are here standing strong to support our diverse culture, history and accomplishments of the straight community."

While the small crowd cheered Shady's opening statement, the counter-protestors did their best to drown out the speech; booing and then chanting "We can't hear you."

Some of those taking part in the parade said afterward they strongly support the message of upholding traditional gender roles and family values.

"It means a return to traditionalism," said Brendan Hoover. "I think the happiest thing we can do for our community is what we've done for thousands of years: man, woman, family, helping the community."

Others said they would speak out despite the large protest.

"I'm not backing down," said Steve Baldassari. "I'm never gonna back down. I know we're right.

"I'm a Christian," he continued. "It's being normal to me; it's not about them at all. I'm just a messenger of God."

But other marchers took a more nuanced view.

"The important thing is going against identity politics," said Claeton Cresswell. "I think gay pride has become over-specialized, so we are bringing out redundancy to show how ridiculous people have been.

"This isn't serious," he added. "A lot of people are getting mad at everyone else and don't understand the message. I just feel people aren't listening and it's become a clown show."

Counter-protester Andrea McCarron took the event seriously, saying "the streets don't feel safe" with the "Straight Pride" group marching with police protection.

"To have them marching down my street is very threatening," McCarron said. "It's aggravating because it was obvious from the beginning it's all about hatred."

Taylor Kimball of South Boston agreed.

"It's frustrating to see them speak and still have to have counter protest," Kimball said. "I feel like these people are here because they're getting called on their bulls***. I'll be up here every time they want to do something like this."

Radio station WBUR reported that some of the parade's organizers have ties to far-right groups.

Before the event, Hugo said the march was intended to celebrate the straight lifestyle and that he hopes to add an "S" — for straight — to the now-familiar acronym LGBTQ.

"Straight people are an oppressed majority," he said in a statement. "We will fight for the right of straights everywhere to express pride in themselves without fear of judgement and hate. The day will come when straights will finally be included as equals among all of the other orientations."

Mayor Marty Walsh has said he does not support the group's values, but the city can't deny an event permit based on its beliefs.

"First, Boston's values are clear: respect, diversity, and acceptance of all," Walsh said in a statement in June when the parade was approved. "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. Second, permits to host a public event are granted based on operational feasibility, not based on values or endorsements of beliefs."