A question regarding etiquette

I have an odd question regarding etiquette. I made myself a rainbow paper bead necklace a few months ago. I also made one for a gay friend of mine. I myself am not gay, but I love the rainbow colors and I am also very much an advocate of the freedom to love whoever the hell you want. I was wondering if my wearing it was bad form, since I'm straight. Any opinions? I wouldn't want to offend anyone.

 

Where is there a law that only gays can wear rainbows? I guess I see the rainbow as meaning something else. With all of the different colors together in a beautiful pattern, it makes me think of diversity and acceptance. People of all beliefs, lifestyles, or ethnicities living together in harmony. You can talk to folks in the Rainbow family and they will all tell you different meanings of the rainbow and what it means to them personally. And a majority of them are not gay.

So feel free to wear your rainbow. It just means you like lots of colors.


BTW, Gonzo rocks!!!!

 

Most of the people that know that it is a symbol for LBGT (along with a symbol for many other things) also dont' have a problem with it. If you are in a crowd with mostly gay people, you may be mistaken for gay and as long as you feel comfortable saying that no, you are straight, but not narrow, you should be fine. It is a symbol of pride and I know that as a Lesbian, I have no problem with other people wearing them.

 

Thanks for the input monosphere! I like to think of the rainbow as a symbol of diversity and acceptance too. I just wasn't sure if other people felt that way too. :&

Actually, there is (of all things!) a Care Bear I've thought of getting because he's called "Harmony Bear" and the picture on his chest is of a flower with rainbow petals on it. I love it! His little "personality card" states he's the bear that spreads love, acceptance and harmony and glories in the diversity of those around him. Cool beans.

And yeah, Gonzo does rock! He's my favorite Muppet. Although I do have a soft spot for Oscar the Grouch (I can be pretty grouchy myself).

 

<you are straight, but not narrow>>

*LOL*! I've got to remember that one, In The Moment!

Strangely, I don't mind if people mistake me for being gay, I was just wondering if gay people that knew I was straight would be bothered by my wearing it. I'm glad to hear that that does not seem to be the case! Thanks for your input as well.

 

I don't get why guys don't like being mistaken for gay: what you're basically saying is "Hi, you look like you take care of yourself, have nice clothes and hair, and are in touch with yr feminine side."

I don't think anyone's bothered, if a straight person can be proud to be gay, I guess it's ok for me to be really homophobic to compensate.

 

Oh no no no, friend! There's no problem. The pride rainbow is a specific order anyway (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple), but if you love rainnbows, wear them! Unless you're reallyy really uncomfortable with the occasional person mistaking it for a pride rainbow, then go nuts!

 

Rainbows rock. Look at the "Hip Forums" icon in the upper left of the screen! They're for everyone.

 

Awhile back I remember reading this article about the traditional rainbow logo from the University of Hawai'i and how it was removed from the college football team because of the connection with gay pride. If you ever go to Hawai'i you will see that the rainbow lives everywhere and that it is an integral symbol of the lives of the people (not just a tourist gimmick like a bobble hula dancer).​

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I don't think that the gay community has taken ownership over it. In fact, it is written about in the Bible story of the 40 days of rain. So, if anyone asks, just tell them that you made one for a gay friend and that you liked it so much you decided to wear it yourself. It can certainly be used as a conversation starter.​

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http://www.outsports.com/wire/norainbow.htm​

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The Rainbow Is Gone From Hawaii

Homophobia lives in paradise. ​

A University of Hawaii official has conceded that the school nixed the football team's 77-year-old rainbow logo because of concerns about its homosexual theme, the Associated Press reports. The symbol was adopted 77 years ago in reference to the colorful rainbows that appear over the islands each day.

School officials unveiled the new logo - an ``H'' edged in a traditional Hawaiian design called kapa - on Wednesday. And instead of the Rainbow Warriors, the team will now be known as the Warriors, AP said.

``That logo really put a stigma on our program at times in regards to it's part of the gay community, their flags and so forth,'' athletic director Hugh Yoshida told KGMB 9 TV on Thursday. ``Some of the student athletes had some feelings in regards to that.''

But, Yoshida added, the decision to abandon the rainbow was not anti-gay.

``We are just trying to get a new image out there,'' he said.

Of course, it would be the football team that took the lead. The women's volleyball team has announced it will keep its ``Rainbow Wahine'' name. And other teams still haven't decided.

Craig Stutzmann, a receiver on the football team, told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin he likes the change. "I think it's great. I like it a lot better, especially the colors," he said. "I knew it would raise some issues, but overall I think it's better for the program. I can't wait to get in one of those helmets and start banging heads."

The gay connection to the rainbow was foremost on the mind of former receiver Kyle Mosely, who told Star-Bulletin:

"Being called the Rainbows, especially for men's teams, left them open to ridicule," Mosley said. "Warriors has a much stronger connotation."

Aesthetics were first on the mind of Scott Lum, a Hawaii native living in Seattle, who told the paper:

"My gosh, how ugly can you get! As a UH grad living on the mainland, I'm always concerned at how the people on the mainland view things in Hawaii. This (new) logo has got to be the worst. How many people outside the islands will know that the design is an old Hawaiian kapa pattern? After seeing the poor attempt to incorporate it into the university's logo, how many people will care? Our logo is an important part of our brand and usually one of the first impressions made on people. Rainbows, the ocean, native foliage and flowers -- these things represent Hawaii."

 

In fact, the article is much more damning of other teams for taking the piss out a team just for having a - not exclusively - gay symbol in their flag.

 

Damn straight! Er, I mean... You know what I mean! Ok, I have to admit that aesthetically speaking, I like the look of the new logo. But, c'mon! The old logo had 77 YEARS of history. And you can't tell me that the new logo is just about "updating their image". What a load.

I think it's sad that the opinions of some small-minded competing teams successfully killed the 77 year logo. What does that say about the Warriors?

 

In case any of you are interested, I posted my harmony necklace in my gallery.