30+ Times the Straights Forgot Gay People Existed in the 21st Century

For those in the LGBTQ+ community, erasure is a very real issue. Whether it is in academic, historical, or social spaces, many people see their identities being invalidated and ignored. Tired of being erased, a group of Redditors started to compile these micro-aggressions into a subreddit thread entitled r/sapphoandherfriend. We’ve gathered some of the funniest, eye-roll-worthy moments of the thread, proving that even in 2021, gay people are still being forgotten about.

While it’s not always an act of malice, many straight people assume that being hetero is the automatic default identity for all humans. They can often forget that people can be attracted to other genders, too. That’s exactly what happened in this Reddit thread.

One user made a joke, calling upon the “ladies” in the subreddit. Another user responded, “no ladies here,” blindly assuming that everyone in the group was a straight man. Women can like women, too!

This Instagram user was perplexed when an NPC in their Pokémon game seemed to be flirting with their player. They posted a screengrab on their profile, with the caption, “But the player is female!”

Someone needs to inform them that gay people exist! While some people are clearly close-minded individuals, it’s at least good to see that the game developers behind Pokémon are becoming more inclusive. Way to go, Nintendo! Representation in the gaming world is important.

The Cartoon Network series Steven Universe is beloved by kids and adults alike. While children enjoy the bright colors and goofy jokes, many adults praise the show for its LGBTQ+ representation. Fans were overjoyed when Ruby and Sapphire, two female lead characters on the show, got married.

This Reddit user pointed out the inaccurate listing that accompanied a piece of merchandise for the show. The description reads “best friend necklace set,” while the relationship between Ruby and Sapphire isn’t platonic.

The ignorant Target employee who put this vest in the men’s section was clearly misguided. The employee assumed that the shirt was for straight guys, as it reads, “Hey ladies.” However, the garment was actually created with gay women in mind.

It even has a rainbow pride flag on the tag, signifying the LGBTQ+ message. Some people really cannot accept that gay people exist. And sometimes, gay people just want to wear gay clothes. Is that too much to ask?!

This online advertisement for a rainbow phone case is truly laughable. It reads, “Colorful Rainbow Stripe Best Friend Phone Case” — because who doesn’t want to reflect their friendship with a beautiful rainbow?

Whoever wrote the copy for this ad must have been living under a rock, because the rainbow flag has been used to represent LGBTQ+ identities for decades now. Thankfully, a Reddit user spotted it and made sure to sarcastically share it in the r/sapphoandherffriend Reddit thread.

According to this Walgreens receptionist, gay women do not exist. When one lesbian Twitter user visited the pharmacy, she was asked whether she was insured under her mother, as the name on the form was another female moniker. Considering the fact that the customer was a grown woman, this seems like a foolish question.

Someone needs to be reminded that LGBQT+ people are not mythical creatures. It’s 2021, for goodness sake! Ignorance like this should be left in the past.

Pinterest is the home of aesthetically pleasing images. Photos on the site often link to other sources, just like this photograph associated with a Wattpad story. It was clearly about a gay relationship, as the image showed two men embracing.

One misguided, anonymous Pinterest user had their say in the comments section, remarking, “Is that a girl with short hair?” Is anyone going to tell them that a hetero relationship isn’t the only romantic pairing that exists in the world?

This Reddit user commented on two women who were on a date, comparing them to “long lost sisters.” It seems strange to us that they would compare two potential romantic partners with a pair of siblings! Some people are just too close-minded to acknowledge that same-gender relationships exist.

Newsflash — it is possible for two women to have chemistry without forming a sisterly bond! This Reddit user needs to rent the movie Carol on their streaming service of choice.

The ‘Kids React’ YouTube videos are almost guaranteed to make you laugh! In this episode, a group of children was shown videos of gay couples getting married, following the legalization of same-gender marriages in the USA in 2015.

These adorable kids had good intentions, but some of them inevitably made some comments that were not exactly politically correct. This girl saw two men holding hands and gleefully responded, “Good friends!” They say you should marry your best friend, after all!

Technology is amazing. You can learn a completely new language from the comfort of your home, by simply downloading a smartphone app. While some words and concepts do not exactly translate between languages, it’s safe to say that the idea of engagement is a rather universal idea.

Whoever coded this app could have created a more accurate sentence to accompany this picture. The illustration shows a woman proposing to her partner, but the caption says, “I gave her a gift.”

Well, that’s one way to put it! This Snapchat user couldn’t help but giggle when they received this alert. It read, “You have been #1 best friends with Maddie for at least two months. This is getting serious!”

Considering the two were in a committed relationship, this seems like the understatement of the year. These two are a pair of super best friends hanging out, living with each other, existing in domestic bliss, loving each other unconditionally. Classic BFF stuff.

Twitter user @Soul was perplexed when they read a tweet from fellow @TommyInnit fan @Snifferfish. The YouTuber and Twitch streamer made a joke about their AI girlfriend, to which @Snifferfish responded, offering relationship advice as she had had a girlfriend before.

@Soul’felt the need to point out, “Aren’t you a girl tho?” — to which @Snifferfish simply replied, “me gay.” Now, that’s certainly one way to deal with blatant LGBTQ+ erasure! Only two words needed. Some girls like girls.

Now, this silly Reddit meme is pretty ignorant. The post insinuates that teenage girls simply claim to have LGBTQ+ identities after their boyfriends break up with them. Not only does this suggest that being gay is a choice, but it also implies that young girls merely enter into same-gender relationships to make teenage boys jealous.

There are so many things wrong with this post that we don’t even know where to begin. Take your homophobia and LGBTQ+ erasure somewhere else!

At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with this lingerie advertisement. It shows two women lying on a couch together, smiling. However, the caption simply says, “Me and my BFF.” Now, everyone has different relationship dynamics with their best friends, but not everyone lies half-dressed on the couch, cuddling their bestie.

It looks like these two are a little more than friends. The copywriter responsible for the caption apparently needed to clarify that lesbians are non-existent beings.

Twitter is a breeding ground for problematic individuals. You only need to spend a few minutes posting on the platform before the trolls come out. One user shared a gleeful message about a relationship between two males named Benson and Wilson.

Another user responded in a state of confusion, asking whether Benson was a girl — because, of course, two boys couldn’t possibly be in love! It’s hard to believe that gay relationships are still taboo to some people in 2021.

Unfortunately, homophobia and LGBTQ+ erasure is totally prominent in the gaming world. When the account admin for the ‘Borderlands’ game franchise shared a post celebrating two gay characters on National Boyfriend Day, they received a significant amount of backlash.

There’s a number of gay characters in the franchise, but some players disagree with the portrayal of same-gender relationships in video games. This Twitter user confirmed that they don’t acknowledge the relationship between gay characters Sir Hammerlock and Wainwright Jakobs.

This anniversary dinner turned into a girly catch-up between friends, when a server mistook a married couple for a pair of besties. Unfortunately, this happens a lot. Many gay couples have shared similar experiences on Twitter, as service staff can sometimes assume that straight relationships are the default.

At least this woman saw the funny side, quipping, “Yeah, just a pair of gal pals having a nice, girly catch-up about our girly marriage!” followed by a string of cry-laughing emojis.

Dealing with close-minded parents is an unfortunate experience shared by many members of the LGBTQ+ community. Even parents who claim to be accepting of their children can struggle to use the correct terminology when discussing their kids’ relationships.

This Reddit user had been out to their parents for years, when their dad sent them a text asking about their plans to move in with their “friend.” Their relationship was more than friends, but at least their dad was trying.

Well, someone needs to lighten up! This Reddit user felt the need to chime in on a post, which claimed that Mulan‘s Li Shang was bi. They did not agree, claiming that his look of admiration was purely a look of respect, and not romantic interest.

We understand that Disney films are not always designed to make a political statement or deep social commentary, but this Reddit user was having some fun and sharing a meme. It’s not that deep!

In 2021, families can come in all different configurations. What constituted a “normal” family unit in the 1980s now looks different, as same-gender couples have many options to go about having their own children.

This dad shared one of his parenting fails on Twitter, as he realized he had not adequately explained the relationship between him and his husband to their kids. His son thought that his parents were siblings! What a funny mishap. He’s got some explaining to do!

This image shows two beautiful women walking down the aisle. Imagine the shock on the face of this Facebook user when they realized that these blushing brides were about to marry each other!

It just goes to show that some people are mentally stuck in the past, as they assume that marriage is something that’s exclusively reserved for hetero couples. While there are many countries in which same-gender marriage is illegal, most of the Western world has embraced equality.

Many lesbian couples will understand the frustration of being mistaken for best friends, or even worse, sisters. This Twitter user shared an anecdote about three women who had been discussing their various trips and vacations.

When one woman commented, “You guys have such a great friendship,” silence ensued. The two women were a married couple! LGBTQ+ erasure happens every single day, and it can be hard to deal with for those who have been marginalized and discriminated against for years.

It’s a sad fact of life that some families have trouble raising children who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. This gay woman took to Twitter to complain about her strained relationship with her mom.

Her mother refuses to acknowledge that her child’s same-gender relationship is romantic and refers to her daughter’s partner as her “friend.” Her daughter is not on board with gay erasure and instead asks her mom, “Which friend?” — encouraging her mother to reference her girlfriend.

The TV series Queer as Folk was famed for its groundbreaking portrayal of LGBTQ+ identities on a mainstream television show. The comedy encouraged a generation that it was okay to be gay, and it has a cult following even many years after it was first broadcast.

Unfortunately, when it’s broadcast in other countries, the title is censored to erase the reference to gay people. In Russia, the program is called Close Friends. This is not surprising, given the country’s reputation.

We continue the list with another misguided mom, refusing to admit that her child is gay. This Twitter user felt frustrated when his mother continually refused to use the word ‘boyfriend’ to describe his partner.

When she texted her kids to invite their partners to an outing, she said, “Make sure to bring your significant others.” This mom could have made more of an effort to include her son’s partner, but at least she did not use the word ‘friend.’

This wholesome image shows two women dancing on their wedding day. It’s a beautiful and uncomplicated image of pure joy and love. One woman shared it on Twitter, to proudly exclaim that her daughter was the one wearing the suit.

In an attempt to correct their use of pronouns, another confused Twitter user named Harold commented, “I think you mean *he.” Thankfully, Maria jumped in to clarify, “They’re lesbians, Harold.” Women get married and they can even wear suits!

The film Brokeback Mountain is a modern classic, focusing on a forbidden love story between two cowboys in the American south. Something tells us that this Facebook user has never watched the movie, as he shared a right-wing meme that was intended to criticize “city-dwelling liberals.”

LGBTQ+ rights is an issue often supported by those who lean left on the political spectrum, so he definitely made a fool out of himself with this one. He really said, “gay rights!”

What’s behind K-Stew’s smile? Her on-again-off-again relationship with co-star Robert Pattinson made the headlines for most of the 2010s, but Twilight actress Kristen Stewart came out as bi in 2017.

The original poster claimed that Kristen Stewart was smiling because she loved the hot wings available at the Hooters restaurant chain. Something tells us that her smile may have been caused by being surrounded by a harem of beautiful waitresses! Stewart’s coy smirk seems to give the game away.

Thankfully, the next item on this list is a pretty wholesome example of LGBTQ+ erasure turned happy coming out story! A Reddit user shared a screenshot of a funny text exchange with her aunt, after updating her relationship status on Facebook.

Her aunt asked, “Is Brooke your real girlfriend or a friend who is a girl?” — to which she responded, “lol she’s my real girlfriend.” Her aunt’s sweet response has made us believe in the good of humanity once again.

This Twitter user decided to shoot her shot and ask her mom if her girlfriend could stay over. Her mom didn’t think twice about it, agreeing to let her “friend” stay over as she wanted to meet her.

Either her mother is a terrible listener, or she is complicit in erasing her daughter’s identity as a gay woman. She simply could not fathom the idea of her daughter being in a romantic relationship with another woman. Get with the program!

The internet is full of weird and nonsensical posts. After all, anyone can share their opinion online, no matter how idiotic. Unfortunately, this means that the web is often home to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric. This person had asked a question on a forum, as they had been experiencing same-gender attraction and questioning their identity.

Another commenter hopped onto the thread to reassure them that crushing on members of the same gender doesn’t make you gay. Who’s going to tell them?

This Reddit user couldn’t stop laughing when she received this text from her girlfriend. They had decided to move in together and had been visiting rental properties to find somewhere to live.

This landlord agreed to let them move in, but not before asking if they had decided whose bedroom is whose! It turned out that they thought they were simply two pals moving in together. Who’s going to tell them that the ladies will be sharing a bed?!

“I love your friend’s shirt!” commented one TikTok user. They had not realized that the person in the video was actually the TikToker’s boyfriend! This user probably had completely innocent intentions, but it just goes to show that LGBTQ+ erasure is rife online.

The internet is a place for people to share their real lives and be authentic, no matter what their identity or orientation is. While there are some trolls out there, there are many safe spaces online.

LGBTQ+ erasure is common in the areas of academia and history. This picture shows a locket that was shared between two women in 1880. The description claims that the locket was originally “a friend’s gift.”

However, it seems like this piece of jewelry may have been shared between two women in a romantic relationship. These two best friends probably loved each other very much, to be sharing such a valuable piece of jewelry! It almost looks like an engagement ring.

The media is often complicit in acts of LGBTQ+ erasure. Queer actress Alba Flores was out walking her dog with her partner, the epitome of a happy family unit. Of course, the journalist behind this article was quick to erase any trace of a romantic relationship between the actress and her girlfriend.

The caption for the photo simply read, “Alba Flores, con una amiga.” It doesn’t take a fluent Spanish speaker to work out that amiga means “friend.” How typical!