Happy Gay Uncles Day to those who celebrate.
When the American flag is displayed we can refer to the official U.S. flag code for guidance on orientation, etc. I’m wondering what the corresponding document would be for the Rainbow Flag, which is far more sacred (it is permissible and protected speech to burn an American flag (Supreme Court) but burning a Rainbow Flag is punished by 15 years in prison).
Here’s what I assume is the proper way to display a trans-enhanced Rainbow Flag (flown by Joe Biden in 2023 and reported by state-sponsored PBS):
The trans-enhancing triangle is on the top.
Here’s part of a taxpayer-funded display of the state religion’s sacred symbol in Boise, Idaho on July 1, 2025 (after Pride but before Omnisexual Visibility Day (July 6));
The trans-enhancing triangle is on the bottom. That can’t be correct, I don’t think, but where is the flag code to establish authoritatively that it isn’t correct? (See Big Sky v. Jackson v. Park City as a summer destination for images of a taxpayer-funded display in 2023 where the triangles are on the top, just as Joe Biden set up.)
Speaking of the U.S. Flag Code and Boise, the folks who run the Zoo decided that the American flag fit perfectly into the Olive Baboon habitat:
The backup Baboon American flag boxes were displayed contrary to U.S. Flag Code (maybe a protest against the Trump administration?):
Finally, let’s have a look at post-Pride (July 2025) displays of the sacred flag and related symbols by merchants in Boise:
One establishment reminds the public that a MAGA hat can be considered “Nazi symbology” or, at least, Nazi-adjacent:
My uncle in SF, a memory chip marketer, was not to my knowledge, or possible belief, gay. I’m an uncle and I’m not to my knowledge gay, despite Becky’s taunts in 8th grade to the contrary after I rejected her for a younger 7th grade Becky. My nieces were bullied by the rainbow set in their theater group for not being gay, and are not gay. Another uncle in Seattle described himself as a “freight ape”, working as a manager in baggage handling–he was “In the Navy”…but again not gay…he worked on a minesweeper during in the Korean War era. A third uncle was not gay, he was a hoarder, but a nice guy and a private pilot who worked as an engineer on stealth aircraft. I have ten uncles, in all, not a single one gay or their spouse either.
At freshman orientation at Columbia in the 80s, I was a bit of a naive Dorothy, and attended the Lavender Picnic. Damn good pizza for the munchies, but despite their attempts to hit on me, not gay. We learned in English class that PhilG was wrong, way back then, there is only one pronoun: herm–as per the “Handbook of Non-sexist Writing”, its book-spine was uncracked because I preferred reading sports in the Times to torque off the teacher. My SIL thinks I’m a little gay, because she sells essential oil, and I told her lavender drops in my travertine lined bath tub made me feel masculine like Caligula–but she gave me 3 bottles of her finest anyway (my wife’s sister is def not gay).
For anyone who does have an uncle who is gay, by all means celebrate, and send them a card. My “freight ape” uncle died of Covid, so it’s nice to remember him and all the others I’ve lost; one time our family was saying goodbyes and exchanging hugs after a trip to the Rockies–and he and I looked at each other, then decided on a quick “bro hug”. He suspected I was gay, because I like butterflies and song birds, but my wife says that makes me seem confident and manly.
Happy Gay and Straight Uncle Day, all!
“These Colors Don’t Run”
Enough with the flags, we got the real thing/thang/thunk here in Queens, and its kinda hot getting hit on by a good looking dude who almost certainly has a vagina.
On a philosophical note, I think there is a natural resonance with trans-philosphy and the universal experience of puberty. All healthy humans “transition” from sexless childhood into sexual maturity and it is a confusing process.
There is a similar resonance with menopause. The post-menopausal woman has lost her biological sexual essence. Men also experience a similar sexual senescence, though it generally comes later in life.
Queens has changed a little since the ’80s, I see. Our flags back then only had monochrome lavender. I was hit on by a “Proto-Goth” dude, but it was not hot.
> All healthy humans “transition” from sexless childhood
Then if you are married long enough, back into a sexless, post-manopause dude? They taught my wife in her 2rd world school that every sexed animal went through a gay phase, even pigs. I never looked at any male and said “I want that.” Sorry, I’m antiquated.