When we first started up the LGBT webpage on the Georgia Straight site back in 2011, it was to help gather the LGBT coverage we had in various sections throughout the paper.

What I soon discovered was that many readers were not familiar with LGBT community terms, such as the use of "dyke" as a reclaimed term, "queer" or "trans" as umbrella terms, or even what LGBT meant.

Our coverage became a bridge between LGBT community members and those outside of it.

Over the years, the number of questions about such terms have decreased, as more mainstream local, national, and international coverage of LGBT issues has increased. Even within the span of a few years, readers have become more aware, educated, and knowledgeable about LGBT subjects than they were before, thus speaking to the power of social media.

Despite that progress, like clockwork, every year when Pride comes up, we get the inevitable comments with comments and questions such as "Where is the straight Pride parade?".

Last week, #HeterosexualPrideDay became a social media hashtag trend, with numerous people reacting to it, either in support of it or criticizing it.

If it isn't already apparent or hasn't already been explained, asking for a Heterosexual Pride Day falls into the same line of questioning as to why there isn't a White History Month but there's a Black History Month.

While it should be obvious, here it is, kids: heterosexuality has not been repressed, oppressed, marginalized, and stigmatized in the way that homosexuality, bisexuality, being lesbian, and being transgender or gender variant has. How many people have been killed for being straight in comparison to how many have been murdered for being LGBT? How many places in the world are there where heterosexuals have had to develop grassroots movements to fight for acceptance, equality, and rights? How many children have struggled to come to terms with their heterosexuality? And how many of those came out as straight, only to be kicked out of their homes, disowned, or estranged by their parents and relatives for being born straight?

In other words: when was it ever wrong to be heterosexual?  

Of course, the fact that Pride parades have become so mainstream and draw crowds unfamiliar with their history, the sociopolitical origins of these parades may be forgotten, erased, or misunderstood. In fact, a friend once said that when he went to one of Kylie Minogue's few North American concerts, it was far more gay than Pride.

Anyhow, if you're not familiar with how Pride doesn't just benefit LGBT people but all people, including "the straights" (who seem to be everywhere—and you can't stop them!), check out this explanation I wrote last year about how Pride helps to reduce discrimination, such as homophobia and transphobia which can be used not only against LGBT people but also against straight people, to keep strict gender and sexual orientation definitions in place.

The thing is, such definitions are artificially constructed. They vary from culture to culture and also change over time.

For example, in many warm climate cultures, it is socially acceptable for same-sex friends to walk hand-in-hand with each other, including in southern Europe, some Arab countries, and parts of Africa, which does not denote homosexuality.

What's also interesting is that while wearing skirts has been reserved for women in modern societies, the traditional wear for men (particularly for special events) in many cultures is a form of a skirt-like outfit, ranging from kilts (Scotland), funstanella (Greece), hakama (Japan), sarongs (Southeast Asia and Oceania), and hulas (Polynesian).

It's something to think about when you're attending this year's Pride parade, rather than simply gawking at its voyeuristic aspects or outrageous costumes. While Pride aims to help LGBT people overcome social barriers and both systemic and individual oppression, its overall impact does benefit everyone.

Then again, as someone once said, there is a straight Pride parade: it's called Halloween.