Rainbow/Queer Flags/Bumper Stickers--Yes/No?

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by sassy_girl

Well in one way I am not a flag waver.. Straight folks don't wave straight people flags so I don't feel a need to.. I feel the more we fit in mainstream the more accepted we will be..

Partially agree, partially disagree. I don't feel the need to put up a flag/sticker/patch/whatever, either.

I do like that stores/services put them up when they are geared toward the lgbt community or are trained/more aware in dealing with lgbt individuals than the average store.

I disagree on the comment of fitting into the mainstream, though. I've never fit into the mainstream when it comes to just about anything, and for me not putting up a flag has nothing to do with trying to be more mainstream or more accepted, but just that I see no point in it/no desire to do so for myself.

[AtLast]

OK, wondering if we have a bit of difference going on between Butches and Femmes with this (including all gender variations, thereof)? Talking overall, I see a few posts to the contrary, but a trend, too. Seems like (and for obvious reasons), butches may not be inclined to sticker our bumpers!

[scootebaby]

i have an HRC sticker on my front windshield above my sunpass--altho it is somewhat faded....i have never put stickers on my bumpers bc they are hard to get off. on my old car i had a thin rainbow stripe across top of rear window...i have never had any issues with my stickers or with the fact that i am butch....yeah i may get a double take or called sir,but i must be one of the luckiest bitches in the world bc i have never really dealt with much hate regarding my sexuality.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by scootebaby

i have an HRC sticker on my front windshield above my sunpass--altho it is somewhat faded....i have never put stickers on my bumpers bc they are hard to get off. on my old car i had a thin rainbow stripe across top of rear window...i have never had any issues with my stickers or with the fact that i am butch....yeah i may get a double take or called sir,but i must be one of the luckiest bitches in the world bc i have never really dealt with much hate regarding my sexuality.

Yup... lucky. And I am glad this is your experince.

[skeeter_01]

i fly my bumper stickers loud and proud...i've been very lucky though...no one has ever bothered me...
skeet

[rainintothesea]

I do have several stickers on my car... always been a bumper sticker person, I have to admit! Gay-wise, I have the HRC equals sign sticker, one that says "I <3 <3 - I support gay marriage" and a rainbow flag sticker, also. Oh, and it's not specifically gay-related, but I also have one of the old rainbow Apple logo stickers on there, too. The rest of my stickers are political. I think I've gotten more flak from the political stickers than anything else, really... but I have had people spit on my car, take pictures of it and once, someone drew an obscene picture on one of my windows with soap. Charming, right? But it just further cements my personal resolve not to be intimidated into changing the way I express myself.

[AtLast]

Yikes! I recently was threatened physically (and verbally) as a butch woman in a public dog park .... so, hell, bumper stickers were just not involved!

Who knows! There is just a lot of hate out there and although, it is sad, we do need to pay attention to our surroundings. I live in what some would call a queer mecca. Yeah, right! There are always pockets of hatred and people that will do violence.

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by AtLastHome

OK, wondering if we have a bit of difference going on between Butches and Femmes with this (including all gender variations, thereof)? Talking overall, I see a few posts to the contrary, but a trend, too. Seems like (and for obvious reasons), butches may not be inclined to sticker our bumpers!

Wait...I do my windows versus my bumpers.

After putting my Pride stickers on my car I felt a sense of Pride. And a sense of community when people pull up and wave and smile.

Back window of my SUV has a row of tall palm trees in Pride colors. Beneath the palm trees is another sticker of people holding hands in Pride colors.

I live in an area where my Ex, who lives a mile away, had the HRC = signs shaved off the trash cans that were put outside for the garbage truck pick-up.

I live in an area where the gay bars were closed and people were bashed and arrested, and Anita Bryant marched in the 70's. Gay's say I live behind the Orange Curtain.

i live in an area where to be gay is not popular, and our Gay Pride events were not held for 7 years. BUT, we are coming back.

This year Orange County Pride held our first Gay Pride event at the Verizon Amphitheater. I was the Face Painter in the Children's Corner. and many adults wanted rainbow flags

This June I held the first ever LGBT Pride event at work. Gay Pride flags flew inside and outside a very large exposed Federal Building I work in. I had speakers from PFLAGG and Out and Equal. Attendance was huge and mostly straight folks with questions and sincerity about concerns for gay family members. I started a Diversity Committee, because, well, I knew I just did not want to die in silence. I grew up in a town that was silent and violent, and had a father who hated me for being gay. So, guess my time is now.