Ah, looks like we’ve learned something from the Kpop stans.
Earlier today, #ProudBoys started to trend on Twitter. While the hashtag may have started off as a way for white supremacists to express their support of Donald Trump and the violence that has taken over the United States of America, that did not last. Thankfully, LGBTQ people took over the hashtag by spreading images and videos of gay men kissing, participating in pride, strutting, dancing, and anything else under the rainbow.
These two #ProudBoys give me so much life. @PoseOnFX pic.twitter.com/9iYTf9KP4w
— Senthorun Raj ✨ (@senthorun) October 4, 2020
🇨🇦🏳️🌈 #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/rEFL7xIqXu
— Canadian Forces in 🇺🇸 (@CAFinUS) October 4, 2020
The way the #ProudBoys hashtag has been hijacked like this is a thing of utter beauty https://t.co/2mVHPXKNJQ
— Otto English (@Otto_English) October 4, 2020
Look at these cute lil #ProudBoys (#retweet and make this hashtag about love, not hate) pic.twitter.com/AddflCUMpi
— Bobby (@bobbyberk) October 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/jazwinner/status/1312818762836406272?s=20
#ProudBoys trending on Twitter is one of the most beautiful 2020 things! pic.twitter.com/aLJ5T9RxgK
— Jennifer Brown (@jennibee70) October 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/PatrickStrud/status/1312717544340574208
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
good morning to nobody except the gays who highjacked the #ProudBoys hashtag
— Jane Lytvynenko (@JaneLytv) October 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/BeingLGBTQPod/status/1312727388237725701
My husband and I have been together 30 years. We are:#ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/Fccr6sFD0k
— Mark 🇺🇲 🇺🇦 🟧 (@SMarkfish) October 4, 2020
Drown out the noise!
Proud of these #ProudBoys pic.twitter.com/SYGrhok8dJ
— Luke Baines (@LukeBaines) October 4, 2020
Thanks for the inspiration, @GeorgeTakei! Happy to be among the real #ProudBoys in this political fight! #BeReal pic.twitter.com/yuNHW1apkd
— Brian Sims 🌈 (@BrianSimsPA) October 4, 2020
The #ProudBoys hashtag is full of images of love and pride a freedom and is just beautiful pic.twitter.com/UcDeEnp71h
— Hitch (@eleeeyeeleh) October 4, 2020
I’m old enough to remember when a hashtag like #ProudBoys was all about man-on-man beauty. pic.twitter.com/RhrYdmEuKo
— Darryl Stephens (@darrylstephens) October 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/brycetache/status/1312732094863478790
Reclaiming the hashtag #ProudBoys 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/5FlTcUqKY0
— Ryan Knight ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist) October 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/pongosapien/status/1312685665079959554
In the past few months, the Proud Boys have risen to prominence. The extremist, alt-right group is known for terrorizing citizens and inciting violence based on a white supremacist stance.
Donald Trump even supported the group during last week’s Presidential debate. Moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump, “Are you willing, tonight, to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down?”
Trump then responded, “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left.”
Chris Wallace: "Are you willing, tonight, to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down…"
Trump: "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by! But I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left." pic.twitter.com/4vrPocKzcu
— Axios (@axios) September 30, 2020
Due to the President himself inciting violence, there’s been a rise of people joining the Proud Boy movement. But thankfully, gay/bi/trans men stepped in to quiet the flames online. And they did after taking a play from a book penned by Kpop fans. In the past few months, Kpop fans have taken over hashtags like #ImWithJKRowling. Specifically, they post pictures and videos of Korean pop stars so that hateful tweets get lost in the fold.
After taking notes from Kpop fans, it looks like gay men and other LGBTQ people have a new way to tackle hate online. We love to see it!
