TripAdvisor becomes latest company to denounce Boston Straight Pride Parade

'If I Could Turn Back Time, I would tell you not to use our name in the first place'

TripAdvisor has issued a cease and desist order to the organiser of Boston’s Straight Pride Parade while simultaneously referencing song titles associated with the LGBT+ community.

Super Happy Fun America, the anti-LGBT+ non-profit organisation behind the parade, recently posted a list of “prospective corporate sponsors” for the event to its website.

The 25 companies in the list include Netflix, YouTube, Twitter, Amazon, Facebook, Starbucks, Pepsi and TripAdvisor.

In response to the post TripAdvisor issued a letter to John Hugo, the founder of Super Happy Fun America and organiser of the parade, in which it states that any claims made regarding its possible sponsorship are false.

The travel website adds that Hugo is infringing on its trademark and trade name rights by using its logo without permission.

The letter, which has been shared on Twitter by CBS Boston news anchor Liam Martin and retweeted by TripAdvisor, works in several song titles that have been adopted by the LGBT+ community, including Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way”, Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” and Taylor Swift’s “You Need to Calm Down”.

“TripAdvisor’s trademarks are protected in many countries around the world and Over The Rainbow, including the United States”, the letter reads.

“These inaccurate statements, which I trust do not show your True Colours, infringe on TripAdvisor’s rights under the Lanham Act and impinge upon our Freedom!

“There is nothing Vogue or acceptable about making false claims about others merely to support your own cause. If I Could Turn Back Time, I would tell you not to use our name in the first place.”

Speaking to The Independent, a spokesperson for TripAdvisor confirmed that the letter is genuine, adding: "The organisers of the upcoming 'straight pride' have misrepresented that they are working with a number of companies like TripAdvisor.

"On behalf of TripAdvisor I can categorically say that we do not support or endorse this event. As companies begin to speak out against this event, TripAdvisor wants to join in on the chorus.

"To add to the points raised by our creative legal department in this cease & desist letter, TripAdvisor is a proud, inclusive workplace. We believe the organisers of this event owe the LGBTQ+ community an apology."

A number of the logos on Super Happy Fun America’s list of "prospective corporate sponsors" are now marked with a black “X” indicating that the companies have declined to participate, including Netflix.

Earlier this week, the entertainment streaming service sent a scathing email to the company, writing that the planned event “is about hate – not pride”.

“You should know that we’re unafraid of bullies. Our legal department is here, it’s queer, and it’s telling you to steer queer”, the correspondence states.

In June, also known as Pride Month, news spread that a group of men were trying to organise a Straight Pride Parade in Boston.

The group has since secured a city permit to hold the event on August 31, while organisers state that far-right activist Milo Yiannopoulos has accepted an offer to act as a mascot at the event.

The parade has been condemned by Twitter users, with several users calling “every day” Straight Pride day.

“Straight pride is every f*****g day,” commented one user.

“Every time you hold your partner's hand in public and don't get put in the hospital for it. Every time you express your gender/sexuality the most natural way to you and the entire world caters to it. LGBTQ+ people are murdered for EXISTING.”

The Independent has contacted TripAdvisor and Super Happy Fun America for comment.