It’s almost June, so you know what that means: It’s time for our annual onslaught of “no kink at Pride” arguments.
A recap for the uninitiated: Every year around Pride season, discourse emerges about whether BDSM, leather, puppy play, asses, tits and a whole host of other things often incorrectly dubbed as “kink” should be present at public Pride events like parades.
This year’s conversation is buoyed by some opinions no one asked for from the usual suspects: Right-wing politicians, trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) and straight people.
In one op-ed, published this week in the British tabloid The Independent,, the author argued that his opposition to so-called kink at Pride is based on “consent.” Notably, that author is a big ol’ TERF.
Other opponents took on baseless stances that “kink” at Pride is inappropriate for kids, and some going so far as to suggest it’s alienating to the asexual community.
Here’s the thing: Opposition to so-called “kink” at Pride is rooted in a discomfort with queerness—whether that’s homosexuality, trans people or any sort of “deviant” gender or sexual identity. These arguments are the same as right-wing politicians arguing against drag storytelling for kids or those who say we shouldn’t have queer characters kissing on kids shows.
One of the core purposes of Pride is to celebrate and normalize queer identities, so arguing for one that is “kid-friendly” implies that openly celebrating queer sexuality is a bad thing.
BDSM and leather culture are integral to the history of LGBTQ2S+ liberation, and public displays that include them are not about being horny; they’re about expressing queer identity. From leather dykes to puppies, these outward expressions are all about community, solidarity and self-expression—all things Pride is meant to celebrate.
Shockingly, the first brick at Stonewall was not thrown so that Jonathan Van Ness could say “yas queen” on a float sponsored by a brand of vodka or so that Target could make millions of dollars selling truly gaudy Pride merch. Queer people haven’t been fighting for liberation for decades just so a cop can wear a rainbow gun holster or a big bank can change its logo to a rainbow for two weeks. Pride is inherently political, and BDSM, leather and kink are a part of that history.
I’m not here to present this as a “both sides” issue, because there is only one side: Kink, drag and maybe even a titty or two are what Pride is all about. And, frankly, the LGBTQ2S+ community has had enough of this kind of discourse.
What I am here to do is share some of the most iconic online clapbacks to “no kink at Pride,” because if there’s anything the queer community loves more than bickering on the internet, it’s sharing a quality meme or joke.
My personal favourite is this video arguing that if we don’t want kink at Pride, we better ban phones (a.k.a. porn portals):
Some people suggested we better ban The Kinks, too (because, obviously).
There was also a lot of pointing out the hypocrisy of the “no kink at Pride” discourse, particularly when it comes from straight folks.
Many reminded us that Pride isn’t about making straight and cis people comfortable.
Others turned it around, suggesting that, frankly, we should have more kink in other places.
Asexual folks were quick to defend kink at Pride, saying they really didn’t want to be roped into this fight.
And still others pointed out that there are bigger issues with the current state of Pride that we should be talking about—namely, why it’s all about rainbow banks and police rights now.
Anyway, let’s stop interrogating leather and maybe take a hard look at rainbow capitalism and, you know, the “cops with guns at Pride” of it all instead.
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