The start of this year's Pride Month has been accompanied by groups of conservative commentators pushing back against the annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) reported a record spike in LGBTQ+ during 2023's Pride Month, with controversial figures such as influencer Andrew Tate this year sharing unfounded conspiratorial views as the event began.
One viral online post this week said a man got more than he bargained for while attempting to protest during the celebration this month, however, setting his house on fire as he tried to burn a rainbow flag.
The Claim
A post on X, formerly Twitter, by The Halfway Post, shared on June 12, 2024, seen 9.2 million times said "BREAKING: A MAGA fan in Iowa accidentally burned down his house today trying to burn a gay pride flag."
The Facts
There have been several reports from across the country of advocation for and acts of burning rainbow flags related to Pride Month this year.
At the start of the month, the Colorado Republican Party caused uproar after sending an email that described members of the LGBTQ+ community as "evil," "woke creeps" and "godless groomers."
The Colorado GOP also posted the message on June 3: "Burn all the #pride flags this June." There have also been reports of recent flag burnings in Chicago, Illinois, and near Mandeville, Louisiana, as reported by WGN9 and WVUE.
The idea that someone set fire to their house in an attempt to burn the flag not only echoed these reported acts but appeared to convince social media users as well.
One reply by user @MeltedDollParts, viewed 132,000 times, said, "Hope he had trailer insurance" while user @greg_kiser20, whose post was seen 135,000 times, added, "Why was he so embarrassed by his flag? There are easier ways out of the closet, right?"
https://t.co/ufv300sDmi pic.twitter.com/AzT3zuFNFv
— Sorcha Ní Nia (@Luiseach) June 12, 2024
While the premise of it may have mimicked some of the authentic reports about flag burning, the post was intended as satire.
The account which sent it, The Halfway Post, describes itself as "Halfway true comedy and satire" written by comedian Dash MacIntyre, whose X profile also says that he publishes "satirical Dada news@HalfwayPost."
Other examples of The Halfway Post's content include jokes such as "BREAKING: Steve Bannon has reportedly decided to pledge to the Aryan Brotherhood for his prison protection" and "BREAKING: During an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump reportedly had the words 'Do not call them concentration camps' written on his palm in Sharpie."
According to GLAAD and the Anti-Defamation League, there were "at least 145 incidents of anti-LGBTQ hate and extremism nationwide" during Pride Month in 2023.
President Bill Clinton declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month 25 years ago. His decision came 30 years after police raided The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, in 1969, sparking violent clashes among patrons, residents and law enforcement. Also called the Stonewall Uprising, the six days of protests further fueled a national LGBTQ+ movement.
The Ruling
Satire.
While there have been calls to and acts of rainbow flag burnings during Pride Month, this story is satirical.
The account that posted it, The Halfway Post, produces what it calls "Halfway true comedy and satire."
FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
