July 30, 2014
'Straight White Guy Festival' Coming to Ohio?
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
Fliers were posted around Goodale Park in Columbus, Ohio, this week that advertise for a "Straight White Guy Festival," Columbus' CBS-affiliate station WBNS-TV reports.
The posters have sparked an outrage in Ohio's community as Goodale Park hosts the Columbus' annual Gay Pride parade. According to the flier, the festival will be held on Sept. 20 in the park.
"This kind of thing implies there's some kind of struggle going on for being a straight white person in Ohio," Michael Premo of Why Marriage Matters Ohio told the news station. "Straight white people are doing just fine ... I think it detracts from the real problems of Ohio that need to be solved, that are being denied their constitutional rights because of who they are, or who the love."
Premo adds: "And that's what we really need to work on and this is just kind of a distraction."
According to city officials, there have been no formal permits requested for the event, leading some to believe the fliers were just a hoax. Nevertheless, images of the fliers have gone viral on social media websites like Twitter, as the Huffington Post points out.
WSBN reporter Paul Aker said the fliers send a "less inclusive message" than messages sent by LGBT Prides.
The fliers also ask attendees to not use illegal drugs.
Onlookers didn't seem to mind the fliers, however.
"I think it's funny. If they want to do this, great, freedom of expression," Cheralyn Elkins told the news station.
"It doesn't offend me personally," added Collin Brubaker. "But I can think of people it would offend."