Brad and I are #ProudBoys, legally married for 12 years now. And we’re proud of all of the gay folks who have stepped up to reclaim our pride in this campaign. Our community and allies answered hate with love, and what could be better than that. pic.twitter.com/GRtSH1ijQ8
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 4, 2020
Good morning Gorgeous!#ProudBoys 🌈 pic.twitter.com/TzVre2z5XX
— Allana Harkin (@AllanaHarkin) October 5, 2020
Check out the beautiful engagement and community-building work of @dotgay - connecting and celebrating #LGBTQ communities. #LGBTQProud #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/3hNiiT3ufr
— Brian Trautman 🌹 (@brianjtrautman) October 4, 2020
heard we were being gay under the proud boys hashtag.... I’m in. #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/w263fbZQ31
— liz (she/her) (@liz20998398) October 5, 2020
Me & mine just a couple of #proudboys pic.twitter.com/jhkwmluegH
— Donte M. Lyles (@DonnieDivo) October 5, 2020
Brown Americans #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/YwbWgku7DP
— VN*Sync (@vnsync) October 5, 2020
These are my #ProudBoys ... #transisbeautiful pic.twitter.com/07UJoNFwqz
— 💖 trans rights are human rights (@Nat_itsme_uk) October 5, 2020
#Proudboys ❤🧡💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/u7vOPBdkCB
— Rocky Gurung (@sushil26) October 5, 2020
So IG didn’t block #ProudBoys until it was gays? When it was white supremacy it was fine? pic.twitter.com/EiTs1YEWAM
— Trixie Mattel (@trixiemattel) October 5, 2020
The reclaiming of #ProudBoys is wonderful. Here’s me and my husband. Together for 20 years and married for 3. Both very proud boys. pic.twitter.com/U2Dj95wpxy
— Matt Dechaine 👂 (@mattdechaine) October 4, 2020
#ProudBoys has become the best and most beautiful hashtag of the internet, thanks to all those amazing people. #LoveIsLove 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
— Laitalee🇪🇺☮️⛤🖖💀👻🎃🦇 (@big_fat_cat) October 5, 2020
My boyfriend and I are #ProudBoys. Your an amazing guy. Thanks for the love and the laughs!!!! pic.twitter.com/VYQcneBBCe
— Jeremy Schaeffer (@Schaefferjer) October 5, 2020
#ProudBoys ProudGirls love our proud gay brothers pic.twitter.com/JL2Oj7pjUu
— Debbie Starry (@ncstarry) October 5, 2020
Love is such a beautiful thing. #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/Ewztl6koNc
— Alyssa Boicel (@steadygirl89) October 5, 2020
#proudboys My husband and me on vacation this year. Git cha some a that! pic.twitter.com/gDr2XcYMfM
— JCMaps (@jc_maps) October 5, 2020
#ProudBoys Pic is 1997 Ptown. Couple since 1997. WHITE SUPREMACISTS- F U! pic.twitter.com/8wV6AqMSdt
— James Hahn (@JamesHa27719125) October 5, 2020
🌈 Here's a bunch of #ProudBoys and #ProudGirls
— S&D Group (@TheProgressives) October 5, 2020
🇪🇺♥️🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/QehUC17N8p
#proudboys Standing bi 🌈🌈 . . pic.twitter.com/6ZfQuIz7hY
— Dana Karash (@danaflips) October 5, 2020
My husband Rob and I are two #ProudBoys. Here we are with our five wonderful children. 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/fti6gj4Roo
— Jon Cooper 🇺🇸 (@joncoopertweets) October 5, 2020
#proudboys on their way to vote pic.twitter.com/m1d7gcJwBY
— Alexandra (@michiganington) October 5, 2020
I’m proud of the #ProudBoys in my extended family. Ray and Joe were together 55 years. They were married August 1st 2013, the day same sex marriages became legal in Minnesota. They met in 1960. They were together 53 years before they were allowed legally to marry. pic.twitter.com/cqQykDjdED
— Andrea 🐾🐶🐕🐱 (@ILiveOnAvenue5) October 5, 2020
Me and my husband on our wedding day being #ProudBoys. pic.twitter.com/NOEbyDZdd5
— Nick Malkin (@NickTMAZ) October 5, 2020
My fiancé @whiskyallen and I are both #ProudBoys and in LOVE! #LoveIsLove #LGBTQ #pride @LALeatherPride #leathermen #daddyboycouplela pic.twitter.com/1vKW2QK7tx
— Hector S Quintana (@hectorqlspider) October 5, 2020
#proudboys Going strong since 2000. My husband and lil' Edward and myself living large in Daytona Beach. pic.twitter.com/JJ1O5qA9yt
— Gregory Sheridan (@GregorySherida7) October 5, 2020
18 years together. Matt and me and our two girls, Iris and Vivian #ProudBoys and girls. pic.twitter.com/KjSTsycGsh
— Jay (@jaydog2315) October 5, 2020
#ProudBoys we will never stand back and standby! Together for 25 years with 2 amazing children. pic.twitter.com/cl9QOqcBj2
— Dan Ort-Patrick (@ok2bout) October 5, 2020
Excited for our wedding! 6 years of growth and love. Wouldn’t have it any other way. #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/O4SOPXPSoD
— Christopher Ubiadas (@TheRealUbiadas) October 5, 2020
Some boys just do Pride better. 🏳️🌈 #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/kNJIG7z31c
— Omar van Reenen🇳🇦🏳️🌈♀️ (@OmarvanReenen) October 5, 2020
Can single gays also do #proudboys ?? 👁👄👁 pic.twitter.com/5IfcrAdUdp
— 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃 (@worldofxtra) October 5, 2020
We got married this September after 33 yrs together and we re #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/u8d4OuWgrc
— Roberto Cioccari (@RobertoCioccari) October 5, 2020
I’m in Ohio and my partner is in ontario. So, we are international #ProudBoys! pic.twitter.com/YNTtI5gG8n
— mkmurphy1267 (@mkmurphy1267) October 5, 2020
My husband Jeff and I are #ProudBoys Together for 24 married for 12. pic.twitter.com/VN56qQDA7c
— CESmith56 (@CESmith56) October 5, 2020
Just a couple of #ProudBoys married five years strong and living our best lives pic.twitter.com/r3Q5mFuqlz
— Paul LaRoche (@plaroche86) October 5, 2020
Category is: rockstars. #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/0RpKHlqtzH
— House (@aho) October 5, 2020
My best friend and soulmate, together for 2yrs. #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/Al8TNkKSfc
— Leo The Cub (@_LeoTheCub) October 5, 2020
Sure I'll bite. One of my favorite photos of us#ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/iKkOjAHhMG
— Jeff (@pettitjw) October 5, 2020
Proud older men in our case!#ProudBoys 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/JhiLQLp9Qp
— John Spencer-Barnes (@JohnBarnesUK) October 5, 2020
Extremely #proudboys pic.twitter.com/vgsGrzLSwn
— Benjamin Cohen (@benjamincohen) October 5, 2020
My marriage has no impact on your religious liberty and you all know it #scotus #lgbtq #GayMarriage #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/AW4mZFpRqf
— Michael Robertson (@MikeRob03) October 5, 2020
Keeping this going 🌈#ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/ek2Vg4a0XK
— G.U.N.K.L.E 🇪🇺🇵🇸🏳️🌈 (@GUNKLE2) October 5, 2020
#ProudBoys senior division. Standing by. pic.twitter.com/fVZzjROCDL
— David Zippel (@DavidZippel) October 5, 2020
Stand back and dance by...#ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/bppknJp0nT
— Jesús M. Pérez (@writethemanuel) October 5, 2020
Together for over 3 years now. I love this man 😘. #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/C8sm2jjwOs
— Travis Morgan (@TravisMMorgan) October 5, 2020
“Look up what’s trending now on #ProudBoys. You’re welcome, Internet.” -George Takei
When Donald Trump refused to condemn white supremacists during the first presidential debate and instead directed the “Proud Boys” hate group to “stand back and stand by,” the #ProudBoys hashtag surged with hateful rhetoric on Twitter, but the LGBTQ community quickly stepped in to drown out the hate.
George Takei, Star Trek star, activist, and beloved King of the Internet, was at it again with a sly suggestion posed to the LGBTQ community. On Thursday, Takei wrote on Twitter:
I wonder if the BTS and TikTok kids can help LGBTs with this. What if gay guys took pictures of themselves making out with each other or doing very gay things, then tagged themselves with #ProudBoys. I bet it would mess them up real bad. #ReclaimingMyShine
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 1, 2020
The initiative rapidly gained momentum, as LGBTQ people of all kinds posted photos of their own relationships, flooding a once-hateful hashtag with love, support, and positivity. The message is clear: when faced with hate, we won’t stand back or stand by. One tweet at a time, the gay internet is showing the world the true meaning of pride.
This takes on more meaning as LGBTQ people across the country pause reflect upon their personal stories as part of National Coming Out Day on October 11. More than ever, we must acknowledge the cultural and political importance of this brave act and celebrate how meaningful it is to fully embrace your authentic LGBTQ self.
October is also LGBT History Month, which is not only a time of recognizing important moments in the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people – such as the anniversary of the first LGBT Rights March on Washington on October 14, 1979 – it’s also a moment that can inspire social and political change.
Well, that certainly blew up. 😂 Have you posted your #ProudBoys photo yet, friends? pic.twitter.com/VGqUc8ORlA
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 5, 2020