The "+" Club

Won't You be a Good Sister?

A few days after the little 'rainbow riot', I was watching the news with my family. They announced that there would be several protestors at the next official pride parade. The club's parade wasn't official but it was pretty big.

I looked at my mom and asked if she would ever go to a pride parade. Her reply shocked me a bit.

"You're not even old enough to know if you're gay."

'What?! First of all, pride parades aren't just for gay people. Second, that's not how it works...'

"I was just asking..." I had to mumble to stop myself from raising my voice.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I was watching 'I am Jazz' yesterday. It was the episode where they went to the pride parade."

"No. I wouldn't. I know pride parades are for pride but why? Why have a pride parade? What's so important about gay pride? You don't hear about straight pride or straight people saying 'Look at our straight pride! We're so proud to be straight! Come and be straight with us! Come and celebrate our straight pride with us!'"

'She used that mocking voice again! I hate it when she does that! Why can't she understand the concept of pride?! AND THE FACT THAT EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE AS LONG AS THEY AT LEAST SUPPORT THE LGBT COMMUNITY' I had to take a deep breath before I said anything else. I didn't want to get angry, then raise my voice and get into trouble.

"Straight people don't really need pride. Straight people don't normally face much discrimination. Racial minorities have movements too-" She decided to cut me off.

"You can look at someone and tell that they're black or Mexican... Or any other race. If you don't tell anyone you're gay, they won't know! And if they wouldn't act so damn flamboyant, nobody would know!"

'WOAH! CALM DOWN!'

"Just because someone is flamboyant, that doesn't mean they're gay."

"Sam." She chuckled for a second. "Flamboyant and straight don't mix."

"Yeah, they do."

"Who do you know that's straight and flamboyant?

"...Uhhh... Oh! There was this one guy in my history class when I was in eighth grade..."

"I think he was actually gay but he didn't want anyone to know."

'I'm done with this. I love to debate, but you can't be reasoned with.'

As soon as the news was over, I got up and went to my room to play some video games and try to do some philosophical stuff. Five minutes later, I heard what sounded like pebbles hitting the window. I opened the window and got hit in the face by a strawberry jelly bean. I looked down to see Danny dressed as one of his favorite anime characters.

"Are you coming or what?" He mumbled with his mouth full.

"Coming where?" I was slightly confused. I didn't even know why he was wearing that costume.

"To Annicon! That awesome anime convention! Did you forget? This is your chance to be seen as a boy for the first time in your life! By the way, Nera said she was coming too."

"Hold on. Just let me ask my parents."

'Yay! I can probably be a boy today!'

I went downstairs to ask my mom but I saw my dad before I saw her.

"Daddy, can I go to the convention?"

He looked away from his football game for a moment. "Sure, but if your brothers want to go with you, take them. Be a good sister."