People decided to reclaim the tag after Trump told the extremist group to "stand by" at the first presidential debate.
Lauren Strapagiel is a reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in Toronto, Canada.
Posted on October 4, 2020
If you search for "Proud Boys" on Twitter, you won't get what you're expecting, and you will absolutely be delighted.
After Donald Trump's reference to the extremist group at the first presidential debate, people have taken over the #ProudBoys hashtag with photos of gay men celebrating their lives and their love.
Sam J. Miller@sentencebender
We're Proud and we're Boys and Nazi cowards can fuck right the fuck off. #ProudBoys02:49 PM - 04 Oct 2020
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The goal of the movement is to take back the hashtag from the Proud Boys, a far-right men's organization with a history of violence. Founded by Gavin McInnes, the group describes itself as "western chauvinists," and the FBI considers the group to be an extremist organization with ties to white supremacy.
When asked to condemn white supremacists during the first presidential debate, Trump told the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by." The statement appears to have galvanized the group and bolstered their following.
Given the group's penchant for a certain brand of white masculinity, the move to use the tag with images of gay men is not just a reclamation, but a cheeky provocation.
And it's also just plain cute.
Damian Barr@Damian_Barr
When I met this man we weren’t allowed to marry. The law changed & we had our trip to the registry office & our official day of love because society changed -is still changing- thanks to all the brave allies of all genders & loving families & #ProudBoys #LoveMakesTheWorldGoRound03:35 PM - 04 Oct 2020
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People are getting pretty personal with it, sharing important moments from their relationships.
Keith@ShrillockHolmes
Reclaiming #ProudBoys is a great idea. Here’s us after voting ‘Yes’ for marriage equality back in 2015.02:07 PM - 04 Oct 2020
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MO@MarcoMateoOchoa
Happy anniversary to my husband of 12 years @FCermak We are #ProudBoys aka #LGBTQIA03:38 PM - 04 Oct 2020
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MG 🌈👊🏾🎓@mikeyocean_
The only #ProudBoys that matter 🌈03:40 PM - 04 Oct 2020
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Ants@helloitsants
Here is me and my husband on our wedding day .... and a pic of our two adopted sons #ProudBoys03:30 PM - 04 Oct 2020
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Reddit users have also been submitting images of gay men using the phrase "proud boys" in order to take over the image search results for the phrase.
old.reddit.com
Even the official Twitter account for the Canadian forces in the US got in on the action.🇨🇦🏳️🌈 #ProudBoys12:40 PM - 04 Oct 2020
It's not clear exactly who started the takeover, but actor George Takei tweeted the idea on 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. #ReclaimingMyShine10:14 PM - 01 Oct 2020
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And people were more than happy to help out.
XCfalcon@chucktripp74
@GeorgeTakei So basically, you’re saying the #prideboys should take over #proudboys ? Works for me10:57 PM - 01 Oct 2020
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Trump Told The Proud Boys To "Stand Back And Stand By" After Being Asked To Condemn White Supremacists
Stephanie K. Baer · Sept. 30, 2020
Jane Lytvynenko · Sept. 30, 2020
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