Why do gays put rainbow stickers on their vehicle?

Question

While driving today, I had to ask myself, "self, are the gays so insecure that they need to advertise (or is it self affirmation, I'm gay and I'm friendly and I'm normal and gosh darn it people like me)...or are they just cruising?". If orientation is such a huge deal, then why don't all the straights put some kind of identifying mark on their vehicle? This smacks of some kind of twilight zone racism.

This is a question I've asked of my cousin who is my age who is in my mind the most comfortable person in his own skin I've ever met. He's also the prototipical gay man. Hairdresser, lives on the bay. He also leaves town during gay pride week because he doesn't want to associate with the barneys from Iowa that arrive to turn SF into a giant bath house and blow each other in public. He's a regular guy..with a lisp. He doesn't put stickers on his car...he just is what he is and it's beautiful. I won't apologize if I offended anyone with my question, but someday maybe folks will realize that if you constantly remind people that your different or unusual than eventually people will make sure that you're treated as such, it's a fact of life...get used to it. I don't care if you're gay any more than you care if I'm straight.

Answer 1

It's a symbol people display to demonstrate support and affiliation for the GLBT community, though technically it represents an appreciation for diversity in its various forms.

I don't have any rainbows on my vehicle. (I find them a bit too "My Little Pony" for my own tastes, and prefer an HRC decal.) But it's always nice to see one on the road; I instantly feel connected somehow to the other driver, and it reminds me that I'm not as singular as I sometimes feel.

But this is hardly a gay thing. I think everyone can relate to the positive emotional experience of seeing a bumper sticker with a clever political slogan one agrees with, or the name of a favorite band, or one's alma mater.

People commonly use bumper stickers to personalize their vehicles. For some reason, this is only construed as "insecure" or compared to "racism" when gay people do it. Invariably, the threatened heterosexual individual suggests displaying some kind of Straight Pride sticker or parade, as though you weren't the dominant group in society already.

Answer 2

This is like unto the question: why can't we have White History month?
or
Why can't we have a straight pride parade?

Because: every month is white history month. Go downtown any day and you'll see your straight pride parade.

To live in a minority is to live, often, an invisible life. People always assume I'm straight (unless they see me kissing my partner). Before people know me, they see my wedding ring and ask about my 'wife.' I tell them that my 'wife' is a husband, his name is Paul, we've been together 15 years. Often I'm met with: "congratulations!" Other times I'm med with incredulity, or inane questions, like, "which one is the woman?" Once, the response was actually for the woman I was talking to - and had been good friends with in college - turning beet red and backing away. As if I were poisonous. (Editor's note: 'gay' is not contagious)

I have a Human Rights Campaign sticker on my car, along with a Flying Spaghetti Monster emblem. The HRC equal sign is my way of saying: you're not alone. It is such a nice breath of relief to be driving through the wilds of a very homophobic state and to see another such sticker, or a rainbow flag. It reminds me that I'm not alone. Sometimes I'll honk and wave, or the other car will. I have never picked anyone up because of a rainbow flag sticker. That would be like a straight person picking up another straight person based solely on the fact that the other car did NOT have a rainbow flag on it.

I think what is behind your question is, "Okay, gays are all fine and good. But can't they just go be invisible somewhere so I don't have to ever deal with it?"

Thank you all the same, I prefer standing up for who I am.

Answer 3

One of the common things you hear in coming out stories is "I thought I was the only one in the world". Realizing you are gay can be a terribly lonely experience. You can't talk to teachers, friends, clergy or family.
Long after I came out, I thought, "I don't need a rainbow sticker. It's too pushy." Then I thought that those other people who might just need a little reassurance during the day.
When Hitler sent the German gays to the Concentration Camps, they were made to wear pink triangles, the equivalent to the Jewish yellow Star of David. You may see those on cars to. They are also a sign of our strength and will to survive.
When Eisenhower and the Allies liberated the Concentration Camps they freed everyone but the Gay Men. They just moved the Gay Men to prisons where many of them died of old age.
Rainbows are kind of cheery. Everyone can use a little cheer in their day.

Answer 4

" If orientation is such a huge deal, then why don't all the straights put some kind of identifying mark on their vehicle?"

Like a husband and wife in a car with all of their children isn't a sticker enough to adverstise? Talk about "twilight zone racism"! Most everything in the world is heterocentric. Duh!

Answer 5

Gays have to put up with a lot. There is a lot of hate against homosexuals (whether anyone wants to admit it or not) and placing a rainbow on their vehicle or anywhere else is just a statement from them, saying they're gay and proud! If they were insecure about being gay, I would think the last thing they would do is advertise it. Everyone should be who they are and be proud of it. If you are proud of being striaght and feel the need to share, then by all means! I have cleared a lot up with myself about homosexuality by befriending gay people. To me they are just normal people. So if you are really trying to understand them, and not judge them, then maybe you should do the same! Hope this helps :-)

Answer 6

Some people just choose to show their pride and the things that they support with a sticker on their vehicle. I, myself have a sticker on my car, its a bulldog with a pink collar and she has a cat's tail hanging out of her mouth. The caption reads "I eat p*ssy", I think its funny. I also proudly display a sticker with an equal sign on it, because i support equality. See how that works?

Answer 7

Imagine being young, and sitting in the car with parents who don't know your *big* secret. They think you're moody because you've got teenage hormones or over someone of the opposite sex. They don't know it's because you think you're gay or bi. You're feeling like there's no way you can have a good life if that's really how you are.

Then you look up and see this really nice car with a bright rainbow flag sticker, and a happy same-sex couple inside of it. You feel tons better.

That's why.

Answer 8

Rainbow Stickers For Cars

Answer 9

Because for so long gay people have had to hide who they were because of intolerance. Now it is becoming more and more acceptable. Its saying that they aren't ashamed.

Why do American's fly flags on their cars? Its the same thing.

Answer 10

It is a subversive way of taking something that God made as a promise to Noah and future generations and trying to defile it by using it as a symbol for something sinful. Don't get me wrong, I do believe homosexuality is sinful, but not any worse than any other sin IE thievery, premarital sex, lying etc.