Twitter Redefines What it Means to be a Proud Boy
By Priya Felix
Now that the dust has settled since the much talked about presidential debate that took place two weeks ago, it’s a great time to switch gears and look at some of the more positive fallout from the tumultuous event. Specifically, the twitter takeover of the Proud Boys hashtag to spread inclusivity and positivity instead of the hateful connotation typically associated with the group. To put things in perspective, the Proud Boys are a far-right, neo-fascist group with an exclusively male membership that was hurled into the spotlight again when President Trump refused to condemn the extremist group at the debate. The Proud Boys have a history of violent behavior and strong ties to racist, anti-Muslim, anti-semitic, misogynistic, and transphobic sentiment. While the group has officially repudiated any claims of ties to white supremacist groups, it is evident through the affiliations and statements made by its founder and members that this is not true. To no surprise, the Proud Boys have expressed a resounding sense of support for President Trump and responded with great enthusiasm to his command to “Stand back and stand by.”
George Takei and husband Brad Altman, October 2020
Photo taken from George Takei’s official twitter account @GeorgeTakei
While this entire situation is largely concerning, there are quite a few positive things that can be taken away from the whole ordeal. Hate groups like the Proud Boys and a leader like President Trump, who refuses to advocate for targeted minorities, are not enough to break the American people's spirit. The nation's resilience and strength took center stage when individuals all over the country took to twitter to redefine what it means to be a #ProudBoy. The movement started when actor George Takei set off the impetus with a tweet that reads, "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.” This call to action fueled a massive inflow of images that radiated LGBTQ pride while promoting positivity and acceptance all under the #ProudBoys moniker. In an interview with The Washington Post, Noah Reed, a "30-year-old content creator in New York," who also utilized the hashtag to post pictures with his fiancé, stated that, "Aside from voting, I think a lot of us are trying to do anything we can to really make a difference or, not necessarily silence, but push back the neo-Nazis and the far right groups that are spreading hatred." The twitter community saw pride posts and support from people from every walk of life, including prominent mainstream and social media figures such as Igor Volsky, Matthew Schueller, Representative Carlos G Smith, and the Canadian Force in America.
The overwhelming support and camaraderie manifested in the online world through this movement is precisely the silver lining that the nationwide community needed during the turbulent political climate hanging over the country. While some may see this as the insignificant use of a hashtag, it signifies something so much bigger–an affirmation that the love in this nation will always be strong enough to drown out any amount of hate.
Priya is a political writer for La Tonique. You can follow Priya on Twitter @priya_felix.