Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Just Torched That 'Straight Pride' Event In Boston With A Genius Tweet
June is Pride month, which means LGBTQ communities around the world will be organizing parades and events to celebrate their identities and continue the fight for equal rights under the law. However, three straight men in Boston seem to misunderstand the point of the festivities, and have applied for a permit to hold a "Straight Pride" parade.
It’s LGBT pride month, but three guys in Boston want a permit for a "Straight Pride" parade https://t.co/ZREEWNn44m— The Washington Post (@The Washington Post) 1559682125
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wasn't about to let the inane idea pass without giving it the take-down it deserves.
She responded to the news on Twitter with a burn felt by straight guys everywhere:
Will “Straight Pride” be a Freaky Friday type situation where all of our history books, movies, stories, media, new… https://t.co/0mUJaDtD2n— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1559740643
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the parade business!
People are like “HEY there is NOTHING wrong with dad jeans.” 😂 Exactly, Jim. Wear them with pride. I see you and a… https://t.co/4HlgSctlUt— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1559741383
Twitter was cracking up at AOC's zingers.
@AOC New balances as far as the eye can see.— Dave McKellar (@Dave McKellar) 1559740679
Many joined in the fun to throw some shade at the straight Pride organizers.
@AOC They’re gonna march in cargo shorts and Barstool shirts. 🤮— Jordan Meehan (@Jordan Meehan) 1559740786
@AOC The Straight Pride parade is an absurd concept. There will be lots of fragile male egos in attendance and an a… https://t.co/ibn7oNoAi4— Angela Belcamino (@Angela Belcamino) 1559744046
Of course, the idea that straight people need a dedicated Pride event is a ridiculous one once you know the history of the occasion.
@AOC https://t.co/SQ45AjqGrg— Jersey Craig 🇺🇦🌻 (@Jersey Craig 🇺🇦🌻) 1559740669
@RussellZoloft @AOC Members of a marginalized community making a joke about people who have the privilege we lack i… https://t.co/HNP6rdRnh1— Norma Krautmeyer 🏳️🌈 (@Norma Krautmeyer 🏳️🌈) 1559741714
The straight community doesn't face many of the struggles LGBTQ people do on a daily basis.
@AOC Definitely need to feature some support groups for all the teens kicked out by their families and made homeles… https://t.co/bcLInTY2Ne— tank, touching grace ✨ (@tank, touching grace ✨) 1559740795
And yet, whenever privileged men see a marginalized group of people with a moment dedicated to them, their first thought always seems to be "We deserve recognition too! Why don't WE have a parade in our honor?"
Who would even want to go to Straight Pride?
@AOC Conjuring the image of people marching in socks and sandals is a war crime FYI— Marion Teniade Johnson (@Marion Teniade Johnson) 1559741102
Many Twitter were glad AOC called out the Bostonian men for their selfish behavior.
@AOC You're my freaking hero. Period.— Michael King, Lover 💖 (@Michael King, Lover 💖) 1559740691
Happy Pride month, everybody! LGBTQ people have come a long way since the movement began at Stonewall, but there's still lots of work to do before the world achieved true equality under the law.
@AOC This is my response to those that want "Straight Pride" https://t.co/DkmGF5wWDS— RIZE | Gary Nelson 🏳️🌈 (@RIZE | Gary Nelson 🏳️🌈) 1559744758
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Popped Into A 'Donkey Kong 64' Twitch Session To Raise Money For An Important Cause
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez showed her support for the trans community during a gaming session of Donkey Kong 64 meant to raise money for a charity.
A British YouTuber named Harry Brewis – a.k.a. "Hbomberguy" – told followers he would play the popular Nintendo 64 game from start to finish for an endurance challenge to raise money for Mermaids, a charity organization that has been targeted for a de-funding campaign by anti-trans parenting forum Mumsnet.
And when Occasio-Cortez was alerted to the demographic under attack, she was game to support a charity she strongly believes in.
She stunned viewers with her surprise participation during the live stream after whistleblower Chelsea Manning tipped the Congresswoman off about the online charity event.
The freshman Representative for New York's 14th congressional district tweeted about her participation in the live session with Brewis.
If you’d like to use this as a good moment to support the queer community, there’s a charity twitch stream going on… https://t.co/MCb6sCmewB— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1548025537.0
The 29-year-old Congresswoman joined Twitch – a live stream video platform run by Twitch interactive – during Brewis's 50th hour of playing time watched by 17,000 viewers, according to Broadly.
"Trans rights [are] a no brainer. Trans rights are civil rights are human rights." she said.
"We mean equal rights for all, no asterisks, no fine print, no nothing."
Brewis raised over $340,000 to help transgender children from the Twitch event and explained in a video why he chose to support Mermaids.
"I chose to support [Mermaids] because as a person living in Britain, I find the media discussion around this issue to be woefully misinformed, and I'd like to do my bit to help support the people who do the hard work of contributing to people's thinking on an issue."
Twitter user Gene Park shared the moment AOC talked about her love for Nintendo 64, despite never owning one.
Here’s @aoc talking about how Nintendo 64 was the best system. She’s on @twitch helping to raise money for trans ki… https://t.co/OvPvJGd4Ho— Gene Park (@Gene Park) 1548026803.0
But then she got into the heart of the matter and discussed the hardships faced by the trans community, including health care and housing issues.
"When you have the added layer of discrimination, it makes these issues much more acute in their crises than they usually are on average for other people. It's important that we do talk about these issues in an economic frame, but not let go of the fact that discrimination is a core reason for the economic hardship."
Here’s @aoc on @twitch talking about how trans discrimination is a “core reason” for economic hardship https://t.co/JruOD5lcjM— Gene Park (@Gene Park) 1548027025.0
Park, who is an "audience editor" for The Washington Post, summed up AOC's involvement during the streaming session.
I, too, never owned an N64. I only played the classic games by either renting the whole console at blockbuster for… https://t.co/kAIlnIJzKT— Gene Park (@Gene Park) 1548027738.0
I will no longer tolerate another "what even is twitch" joke from a media peer.— Gene Park (@Gene Park) 1548028720.0
AOC mentioned her Twitch participation when LGBTQ advocate Charlotte Clymer pointed out that director Aaron Sorkin gets credited with having "gravitas."
During an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Sorkin said, "I really like the new crop of young people who were just elected to Congress," referring to the young Democratic Congresswoman, then added that young Democrats should "stop acting like young people."
Sorkin, who created the political drama, The West Wing, added:
"I think there's great opportunity here, now more than ever, for Democrats to be the non-stupid party."
On Sunday, AOC responded, tweeting, "News Flash: Medicare for All & equal rights aren't trends."
"When people complain about low turnout in some demos, it's not because communities are apathetic, it's bc they don't see you fighting for them."
"If we don't show up for people, why should you feel entitled to their vote?"
News Flash: Medicare for All & equal rights aren’t trends. When people complain about low turnout in some demos, i… https://t.co/oRIByHjSgH— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1548014564.0
Let’s dig into “gravitas,” bc it’s an ambiguous word, selectively applied. Ever wonder how expression that’s femin… https://t.co/7hZ7Z2uqdI— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1548018180.0
This has deeper consequences, bc as we’ve seen w/ narratives advanced by the right, they have trouble recognizing i… https://t.co/yskYGmXEKG— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1548018885.0
If you notice, on the right they’ll flatly call people blanket terms, and even make things up. And I don’t mean tro… https://t.co/p1ZJmcZSe5— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1548019201.0
This stuff infects some Democrats, too. Because in our overall discourse, nonviolent protest somehow gets deemed as… https://t.co/VDHXXePkYZ— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1548019854.0
Lastly, we wouldn’t need to talk about bathrooms at all if we acted like adults, washed our hands + minded our own… https://t.co/S0F3MNChHi— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1548024952.0
Her supporters expressed their gratitude.
@AOC @Mermaids_Gender YES! Thank you @AOC! Over the past few years @Mermaids_Gender has been subject to relentless… https://t.co/FLuVQvCtxE— Paris Lees (@Paris Lees) 1548028018.0
There is so much more work to be done, in so many places. And we can do it, together. A brighter world is there for… https://t.co/cRSSiMDNEf— H.Bomberguy (@H.Bomberguy) 1548060652.0
In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, Cher and Chelsea Manning also helped support Mermaids.
Who knew when we woke up this morning that we’d be tweeted by Cher and have Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez… https://t.co/Afh3Wjs509— Mermaids 🧜🏻♀️ (@Mermaids 🧜🏻♀️) 1548036710.0
.@Hbomberguy has raised over $180,000 for Mermaids by playing Donkey Kong. He’s now on his last push to finish the… https://t.co/Ux9xj7eky0— Mermaids 🧜🏻♀️ (@Mermaids 🧜🏻♀️) 1548016531.0
When it comes to supporting her constituents as well as the oppressed, AOC always has her game face on.