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

[Ranger Butch Force]

I have various rainbow items. Flags, stickers, buttons and patches. When I go to Burning Man, I hang one of my rainbow flags on my tent. No one really cares that its there, but its there more as a marker of which tent is mine. So when I come back to camp, drunk, I dont accidentally go in someone elses tent.

The buttons and patches are on my Camelback and hat.

[J. Mason]

Nope not for me.

[Tawse]

I do - not a sticker though, no way. I use a static. But yeah - I love seeing someone "flaggin" so I figure if I do - I'm brightening someones day as well.

I used to wear "in your face" type shirts as well - but not so much on those anymore.

[girl_dee]

I am from the Deep south and flagging is calling attention to yourself in ways you don't really want, however that makes me want to flag even more.

On another thought our community asks for equal rights and to just fit in to society, so flagging seems out of line, like straight folks don't wave the straight flag.. I hope one day it won't even be a thought.......

[Tawse]

Originally Posted by Cajun_dee

I am from the Deep south and flagging is calling attention to yourself in ways you don't really want, however that makes me want to flag even more.

On another thought our community asks for equal rights and to just fit in to society, so flagging seems out of line, like straight folks don't wave the straight flag.. I hope one day it won't even be a thought.......

Yep - I've had gay bashing incidents (one of the reasons I insist on a fast car) but it won't stop me from saying "we exist".

And I would also say Straight people flag everyday. Walk into most offices and you'll see pictures of their wives/husbands/etc. Walk up to the "water cooler" and you hear open talks about their gf/bf/wife/husband. They make it very well known they're straight - but we don't tend to notice because it's "Normal" everyday stuff.

[Write14u]

I love bumper stickers and reading them, but I hate having them on my vehicle. Absolutely hate them. In the past 15 years, I've had exactly one sticker on any of my vehicles, and that was my dive flag. I'd be more inclined to have something hanging inside.

I've now experienced both ends of the spectrum. I've lived in some of the most backward places in the South, places where you'd get your @ss kicked for putting out a flag. Now, I live in a progressive area with a thriving gay community. It's way cool.

ETA: As far as the theory of them, I'm split. I'm a walking gay billboard anyway. I definitely queer up anyone I'm with, so I don't need to scream it with a bumper sticker. However, I enjoy seeing vehicles with flags on the. It does give you that impression of, hey, not alone in this thing.

[Inuus]

Originally Posted by Cajun_dee

I am from the Deep south and flagging is calling attention to yourself in ways you don't really want, however that makes me want to flag even more.

On another thought our community asks for equal rights and to just fit in to society, so flagging seems out of line, like straight folks don't wave the straight flag.. I hope one day it won't even be a thought.......

I can relate to what you posted. Living in Oklahoma you are running the risk of serious conflict if you "flag". I do not deny who I am and in most instances at work especially I am out but to put that "out there" so to speak is asking for harassment and even physical harm to you or your property. I've had it happen to me....so to me it's not always appropriate.

The part of your post that I bolded I agree with 100%. Have said that for years myself.

[clay]

I have lived all over the South...Atlanta,Ga., Fla., and my home state of SC..and I have never, ever had any kind of "retaliation" or harassment, at all, by anyone....with my Pride stickers. I have shared, with discretion, of course, PDA's..and never have I had anyone say anything to me. That is not to say it hasn't happened to others, and could maybe happen to me, but that is my personal choice to show my Pride! I agree with whomever posted about straights "waving" their straight flag..everyday! Kudos! Just my $.02.....carry on

[LaneyDoll]

I don't have anything on my car except for the small Alabama "A" on either back window. (Roll Tide Baby!) They are the same color as the pink personalized tag I have in support of breast cancer and regular mammograms.

My Deep South concerns extend to my children. We live in a super small town where there are a lot of closed minds. Honestly, I do not want my preferences to negatively affect their lives. Tolerance and acceptance have been taught in my home ever since they were babies. I just wish other people taught the same values.

[ArkansasPiscesGrrl]

I have a super faded rainbow strip on my back window, and a pride colored sticker proclaiming "Femme". In the past I have had a leather pride flag too, but I don't have that car anymore.

I also "flag" on ME..... I have a tattoo on my left shoulder, a heart what has rainbow flag stripes on one half of the heart, and leather pride colors on the other. My next tattoo I get (sometime before the end of the year!) will be the pink triangle, bordered by a strong black outline, with an oriental symbol of "women" inside. Can't wait for that one!

(my heart tattoo was one of the things that caught the eye of my last partner. That and my femme bumper sticker. )

I was driving on I-95 a few years ago, and there was a car full of teen boys that came up alongside of me. a few of them had hastily hand drawn signs saying "Fag" and "Queer". I saw them and smiled REALLY big and waved! LOL Not what they expected!

When I first came out, my partner and I lived in a small backwards town, and our house was down the street from a Church of God. My car's rear end was so rusted out, I had to hold it together with all my Pride stickers! The cars coming and going from the church always slowed and the people glared at me. Oh well!

[Rockinonahigh]

On my old suv I had several stickers with rainbows,equality stickers,a pride one..oh and a BF simble I got in dallas.The car im driveing now has nothing on it except a inspection sticker and licence tag...no real reason why I havent put things on it but just never did.

[Library_girl]

Originally Posted by Inuus

I can relate to what you posted. Living in Oklahoma you are running the risk of serious conflict if you "flag". I do not deny who I am and in most instances at work especially I am out but to put that "out there" so to speak is asking for harassment and even physical harm to you or your property. I've had it happen to me....so to me it's not always appropriate.

The part of your post that I bolded I agree with 100%. Have said that for years myself.

I've lived in the South, the Midwest, and now the Golden State in a really gay city. And I've had gay stickers on all my cars since 1989 or so. Plus I have a "gay tattoo". I've never encountered any problems or harassment because of my "flags". (when my dad borrowed my car once, I told him what the stickers meant, and he just shrugged as if to say "so what?" This came from an old guy from the deep south!)

My personal philosophy is that if someone really wants to attack me or say something to me or do something to my car, let them! The possibility of that is not going to stop me from expressing myself or stating who I am.

My sexual orientation IS who I am. I know many LGBT peeps say that its just one part of who they are, it's a part of the whole person. That's cool. But for me, being a lesbian is who I am. Being a femme is who I am too, and being a librarian, and a Southern girl, and a few other things. That's just what identity means to me. So I have decided to express this on my body and my car. (Just like millions of other people do. I love that freedom of speech!) And if someone wants to hurt me, even kill me, because of it, they can go ahead and try. I paraphrase an FDR quote: "I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees."

[Glenn]

I once restored an old VW camper van (my passion wagon), and it was my pride and joy. I'd go to the parades every year in Chicago with paint and tell everyone to paint some love and pride on my van. It was covered with symbols and sayings lol! One year, it even led in the parade. My poor van was keyed, had every tire flattened, every window bashed in, hate spray painted over all the love and pride,etc. No problem! I'd just fix the damage. Overall.. more people liked it, gave it the peace sign and smiles, much more than the hate in public.

[Inuus]

Originally Posted by Library_girl

I've lived in the South, the Midwest, and now the Golden State in a really gay city. And I've had gay stickers on all my cars since 1989 or so. Plus I have a "gay tattoo". I've never encountered any problems or harassment because of my "flags". (when my dad borrowed my car once, I told him what the stickers meant, and he just shrugged as if to say "so what?" This came from an old guy from the deep south!)

My personal philosophy is that if someone really wants to attack me or say something to me or do something to my car, let them! The possibility of that is not going to stop me from expressing myself or stating who I am.

My sexual orientation IS who I am. I know many LGBT peeps say that its just one part of who they are, it's a part of the whole person. That's cool. But for me, being a lesbian is who I am. Being a femme is who I am too, and being a librarian, and a Southern girl, and a few other things. That's just what identity means to me. So I have decided to express this on my body and my car. (Just like millions of other people do. I love that freedom of speech!) And if someone wants to hurt me, even kill me, because of it, they can go ahead and try. I paraphrase an FDR quote: "I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees."

I can see by your post it's very important for you to express yourself as a member of the LGBT community. That it works for you and is part of who you are and to express yourself in that way is great.(Love the Dad story!) However, it doesn't work for everyone. I can relate though when you said "My sexual orientation IS who I am." It's something you strongly identify with and feel a need to express yourself. I on the other hand, identify myself more by being an annoying bastard about animal welfare, especially spay/neuter (I'm known as Bob Barker on steroids and that's one of the nice names). It IS who I am. I willingly put myself sometimes in potentially harmful situations for animals. Thankfully there are those of us that have passions/beliefs/causes we believe in and are willing to lay ourselves open to whatever comes of it.

I did forget to add on my first post I do have one bumper sticker on my truck(and I hate them, took a lot for me to put one on my truck). It's a stick figure of a guy, next to him is his dog, next to the dog is a litter of puppies. It reads: This is Dick, this is Dick's dog, this is Dick's dog's puppies.... Don't be a Dick spay and neuter

[Okiebug61]

I have one sticker on my car that is on the top center back window and it says Okie with the peace sign in the O. Never have been into tagging my vehicles with stickers.

[T4Texas]

I don't like bumperstickers and never have them on my vehicles. With that said, some years ago my GF had the rainbow antenna ball stolen from her car and they also managed to mangle her antenna so badly it had to be replaced. I wouldn't put anything on my vehicle that would entice vandals as I can't afford or desire vandalism. Besides, as someone else said, I am a walking advertisement for being butch, so I don't need no stinkin sticker.

[Babyangeleyez]

I have never been into bumper stickers. My dad laid down the law on them when he bought me my first car over 20 years ago. So, I have a removable rainbow ribbon that says "Support Our Families". I take it on and off depending on where I'm going. I used to date someone that live in a very small town and I would have to cross over a mountain to get there and I always would take it off at night when I traveled to or from there because I was afraid that I would be run off the road. So there is a safety issue for me. But where I live, I will display it. I also have rainbow beads with a rainbow ribbon hanging from my rear view mirror and I have my necklace with the double female charm.

[SecretAgentMa'am]

Yep! We've got a rainbow bar across the top of the trunk, and one that looks like the Superman S, only with an L on a rainbow background. It's hard to describe, but it means SuperLesbian! It's also covering up the car's first ding, which I created the very first time I drove it.

We also have a big Pride flag that we flew for our wedding and every year for Pride month.

[Elijah]

I am not big into stickers, but I have always thought it was important to be visible (It's pretty self evident when you see Me, but that's another thread). I usually have one of the window cling appliques, because I too, am concerned with ruining the paint. I always get a little smile when I see one on the road, so I thought I would return the favor.

When I was home owner, I also flew a pride flag. If I were in trouble or My car broke down, or I was simply walking My dog after dark...I would feel better approaching a home flying a queer flag, so again, I returned the favor.

[Bad_boi]

I feel kinda uncomfortable being out and proud. I would put an equals sticker on my car if I had one (I still want one for my laptop).