ABOVE: Men kissing at IKEA. (Photo by kargaltsev, from Wikimedia Commons)
A hashtag used by the far-right fascist group, Proud Boys has been hijacked by gay men to the delight of thousands of people on social media.
The male-only organization, which is affiliated with white supremacists, gained notoriety Sept. 29 after Donald Trump refused to condemn them in the first presidential debate.
Now gay men around the world have taken over the hashtag #ProudBoys to make it trend for different reasons.
“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,” wrote actor and LGBTQ activist George Takei on Twitter Oct. 1
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
.@JerickFL and I are joining thousands of gay men on social media to reclaim #ProudBoys from white supremacists and bigoted neo-nazis. Let’s replace the hashtag with images of love, positivity, and true PRIDE! Your two favorite #ProudBoys are here standing by, ready to VOTE! 🏳️🌈🗳 pic.twitter.com/8k8iUlfFFx
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) October 4, 2020
🇨🇦🏳️🌈 #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/rEFL7xIqXu
— Canadian Forces in 🇺🇸 (@CAFinUS) October 4, 2020
Drown out the noise!
Proud of these #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/SYGrhok8dJ
— Luke Baines (@LukeBaines) October 4, 2020
Fantastic, I love this. #ProudBoys https://t.co/ZKB1CgPQC7
— kristen VOTE johnston (@thekjohnston) October 4, 2020
More than happy to help steal this hashtag and spread it around for the true #ProudBoys. Love beats everything pic.twitter.com/y9zIFpBOWV
— Dumb Beezie (@dumbbeezie) October 4, 2020
#ProudBoys trending on Twitter is one of the most beautiful 2020 things! pic.twitter.com/aLJ5T9RxgK
— Jennifer Brown (@jennibee70) October 4, 2020
The #ProudBoys heading to the frontlines. pic.twitter.com/4dmiAsKcq5
— JerseyCraig #ShutUpMan (@Jersey_Craig) October 4, 2020
The claiming of #ProudBoys by Gay Twitter may be the best thing to happen in 2020.
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) October 4, 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
My husband and I, together 14 years and married for 6. Most definitely, we are #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/ZhJaidxdxZ
— Daniel-André Everitt-Mouton 🏳️🌈 🌊 (@AndreEveritt) October 4, 2020
I would like to use the reclaiming of #ProudBoys to give thanks to my role models, guides, and inspirations. Thank you for all you’ve done for my little gay self. pic.twitter.com/GI7h4tlGkx
— Connor 🏳️🌈 (@EatThatHorse) October 4, 2020
We’re the lesbian version of the #ProudBoys & we stand behind all our beautifully gay #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/taEVPCN7HY
— J. Judkins (@AltFedLaw) October 4, 2020
