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”
This could be the subject of a future post on Phil’s blog and make it mandatory in the Moderation Rules and Codes of Conducts [sic]:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handbook_of_Nonsexist_Writing
> As he shaves or blow-dries his hair or pulls on his panty hose, he is easing himself by small stages into the demands of the day.
No wonder I didn’t read that damn thing. I got a B in Honors Ivy League English just by writing things like “Herm is a strong woman, and goes to work while the weaker male stays at home in apron and vacuums, keeping an eye on the homebrewed beer, which the domfem will allow him to drink occasionally before mating.”
I just noticed the picture of the baboon rear end, previously subconsciously blocked, by the We the People box. I’m not even going to ask the subtext behind that one.
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.
Not a pun, and not remotely trying to be funny, but pointing out hypocrisy: shouldn’t they ban themselves and their flag for using Nazi imagery? (Sorry if someone said that already, but I could only process about 20% of this article at a time, currently 60%, with breaks for hammering nails and planing the high spots on the deck in between.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_triangle
Bigotry and hypocrisy is wrong, in any of the various hues.
100% completed. Final thought…the world has completely lost its mind.
Can’t we just watch a video with a cute woman in it on Guncle Day and drink some Shirley Temples? Damn. Why does everything have to be about Nazis?
https://youtu.be/Ly1cPYSqgR4
(I wish she was on our side, her dimples are so cute.)
Phil, I had been meaning to ask whether you had a meaningful Month of Pride and whether your long monkeypox interfered at all with your enjoyment?
I enjoy Guncle day, but the after party hangover is a B. It takes your liver some time to break down the Red Dye #40 in the Shirley Temples.
We never talked about not being gay when I was growing up. It was just a shameful secret we lived with. My parents hoped I would be the first gay uncle ever in our immigrant family (1492). But all the play dates with little Dougie didn’t help. I wrote a high school friend when I was at Columbia that they were teaching us a lot about gay culture. He went around spreading rumors that I was gay, and my parents sent me extra money hoping I would gay date more. My girlfriend spent it on weed (true story–she said “I think you are gay” once to me.). Where was Mattress Girl when *I* attended? I know I could have fixed her.
I’m doing some clicktivism for Gauntie day–I recently learned that women can be gay too–to be celebrated on 4/20. I think PhilG’s advanced A.I. moderation has “The Handbook of Nonsexist Writing” link hard coded–but have a look on Wikipedia, fun stuff.
“Why does everybody think me and George are gay?” Jerry, “Seinfeld”
If I was in charge of rainbow flag code:
Because the most recognizable component are the roy g bi stripes, when viewed from the most viewed direction, the red stripe should be at the left if flag is displayed vertically or on top if displayed horizontally.
The only correctly displayed flag is in the one idaho poster.
White house flag should be flipped left to right.
Streetlight flag is arguably correct to me. If it was rotated 180 degrees as in your inclination, red would be on the right.
Biden White House flag display is all wrong and against US law.
According to the “U.S. Code Title 4 § 7 (c) – Position and manner of display” items (c), (d) and (e), US flag must be displayed above all other flags, in the center or to thee right of all other flags.
Of course, both US and rainbow flags serve just as political decorations for Democrats. Still illegal, it is breaking item (a) (“on parade”) of the same stature.
Of course, it was fair to consider Biden White House non-US territory, and then flag could be displayed at the same level, as at UN. But in this case Biden had to be impeached for treason.