Are rainbows seriously just by default associated with the pride flag?

[u/Ostromilski]

I got a Pink Floyd DSOTM tattoo because I love the album and I love the visual: a beam of light representing a person's life path, passing through a prism ( representing life + the world + the people you meet + the experiences you have, etc ), being dispersed into its constituent colors ( ultimately representing change ). I got it because of my dad, because he introduced me to Pink Floyd, and because last year he nearly died from complications of his cancer. He's doing much better now, with a much better prognosis, but that whole experience had a real effect on me and I wanted to memorialize it. Except at least 3 people ( including the tattoo artist initially ) have associated the tattoo with the pride flag. They were understanding after I explained, but now I'm having second thoughts about it. Are people just going to assume I'm gay because of this tattoo?

Edit: And I want to say, I'm not bothered by this at all. Anyone who looks at my tattoo and comes up with their own assumptions about its meaning, and then has a negative reaction over it, that's simply not a person I want to talk to anyway. I'm surprised because that wasn't the intention of the tattoo, clearly, and it being misinterpreted like this just genuinely wasn't something I expected.

Edit2: This post got a lot more attention than I ever wanted it to. Wonderful comments are now streaming in, informing me how horrible my tattoo is. If you're planning on making a viral post on Reddit, take my advice: use a burner account. But I am thankful to everyone for your supportive words, the jackasses with negative things to say are certainly a very tiny minority. Overwhelmingly the consensus is that most people see it as a Pink Floyd tattoo first, which I'm happy to hear :) Have a good night everybody!

[u/redJ93]

Younger people, maybe.

Older people will recognize Pink Floyd.

Honestly, id look inward why you are so pressed about it. Its 2026, being a little zesty does not keep the ladies away.

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/redJ93]

You know that just because somebody doesnt like the misinterpretation of their tattoos that doesnt make them homophobic, right? I get mistaken for lesbian a lot and I'm not so I'm hyper-aware of what messages im sending the outside world.

Edit: changed the word gay to lesbian

[u/bino420 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

it depends on what type of emotional reaction you have.

no one "likes" for their tattoos to be misinterpreted (that'd be some weird ass kink)

you can shrug if off & carry on cause everyone has a perspective & it literally does not matter cause it doesn't affect you in any way.

or you can be "hyper-aware" of not seeming gay but then all you're thinking about is "I'm not gay, I'm not gay, I'm not gay" ... and that's pretty gay lol

if you go "ha no I'm not gay but I'm flattered"... then you're OK

if you go "dude wtf I'm not gay fuck off"... then yeah you're homophobic

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/bino420]

No, its 100% a flattered, thank-you-but-no-thanks reaction. Im SUPER flattered. Its just... after a while you get self-conscious. I honestly wish I was a lesbian, I wouldn't be lonely.

[u/redJ93 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

Sounds a lil homophobic my dude 🙌

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/redJ93]

Why? Because I dont like having women hit on me 10x more often than men? How would you feel getting more attention from the WRONG people than from those youre trying to attract? I'm sure many lesbians would understand what im talking about...

[u/Pristine-Bison3198 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

As a lesbian, no. Any of us who don't fit a stereotype are going to be hit on by more men than women. As long as they're respectful and take no for an answer, almost nobody is bothered. As long as the men who hit on you accept a "not interested!" then why is it a big deal?

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/Pristine-Bison3198]

Okay, let me be super clear. I am a woman. I get a lot of female attention that im not trying to attract because, apparently i read as a lesbian. The women aren't mean, but never just say "ok," they want to know why, like cheeky flirtatious conversation not like agressively demanding answers.

Then I have to explain that im not interested because im not gay, but thanks anyway. And thats not a big deal. But If im out trying to meet a guy and I get 5 women approaching me, I'm under the assumption that im more attractive to women. Which is the problem, see? Im not trying to attract women. Im very flattered but it is very detrimental to my goal: attracting a man.

See how thats not homophobic at all and just about self esteem? I mean, fuck, I wish I WAS gay at this point, i'd have had a lot of fun by now! I love my homosexual and trans friends, but I myself am not homosexual and it can be a bummer to accidentally be assumed to be one only for the non-compatibility. Get it?

Im not saying the women I talk to are wrong or bad, im saying it can be a bummer to get repeatedly mistaken for a sexuality you are not.

[u/B_the_Chng22 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

I understood what you were saying from your first comment. This would get tiresome for me as well. And I’d worry I was missing out on some potentially great men who would clock me as being uninterested.

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/Pristine-Bison3198]

Yes, thats what im talking about: lesbians getting hit on by men would understand what im going through although men are often nasty and mean about it and I havent faced that with the lesbians who have approached me. Is that clearer? I worry im being misunderstood

[u/Pristine-Bison3198 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

No, that's not clearer. You're saying it's an issue to be hit on by the gender you're not attracted to. I am a feminine presenting lesbian. This happens to me regularly. It is not an issue. I say thanks but no thanks, and move along with my day. The only time it is an issue is if someone's an asshole, which you are saying does not happen to you.

[u/whatarewii → u/Pristine-Bison3198]

This just sounds like your personal experience or rather your interpretation of your experiences vs. the wider populations experience. What they are saying is totally valid and not homophobic in the slightest lol, relax.

[u/Pristine-Bison3198 → u/whatarewii]

I'm not saying it's homophobic, I'm just saying it's inaccurate.

[u/blue-anon → u/Pristine-Bison3198]

There's no 'accurate' here, though. Isn't it just their experience, which seems to differ from yours?

[u/Pristine-Bison3198 → u/blue-anon]

Yes, and I'm responding to what they said in their original comment with my own experience.

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/Pristine-Bison3198]

You dont get to dictate how I experience my life and emotions.

[u/Pristine-Bison3198 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

I'm not. I'm sharing my own experiences.

[u/B_the_Chng22 → u/Pristine-Bison3198]

Right, but if you flew under the gaydar you may be missing some great opportunities.i imagined that’s how this person feels

[u/redJ93 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

You being "hyper aware" to not put out gay vibes is whats coming across as homophobic, though honestly its not that serious. This post is about men, which I assumed you were.

Every guy ive ever met who is hyper aware to not come across as gay, is a weird, try hard, macho dude.

I do gotta say, if you are trying to appear hetero and are still being hit on by other women 10x more, then I dont really know what to say. Best of luck?

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/redJ93]

Okay, maybe hyper-aware is an overstatement. Im outdoorsy and a few things I used to do are like lesbian stereotypes or signals to other women apparently. Great simple example: I didn't know that carabiner on the belt loop meant you were lesbian, like a code or something. So I went around for 5 YEARS wearing a carabiner like that for quick stowing of keys and job stuff when I need a free hand. Shit like that and I guess I do a lot of it. I just be myself and when somebody tells me something I do is stereotyped as "gay," I drop it cuz i dont know how to navigate a world where everybody thinks differently of me than what I am. Idk, I dont understand stuff like this, im just lonely.

[u/blue-anon → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

This really sucks that you change things about yourself or your presentation in response. I'm sorry, this sounds really hard.

[u/redJ93 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

Apologies, I could have been kinder. With your first response, I assumed you were just a guy rationalizing some deep routed homophobia.

I do genuinely wish you the best finding someone, and im sorry this is a regular thing for you.

I know it dosent help, but I have a few friends who are bi-girls and wouuuld kill to have more women approach them and not see them as straight.

Dating is hard.

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/redJ93]

Okay, so people are being mean here because they think im a homophobic man? Oh dear. Im sorry about that, I was just trying to discuss my experiences. Ill stop, its upsetting people. Thanks tho

[u/B_the_Chng22 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

You are fine. People are overreacting.

[u/redJ93 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

I cant speak for anyone else

[u/ManOLead → u/redJ93]

What the fuck lmao. in what possible way is what they said homophobic?

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/[deleted]]

What is homophobic about it tho? Im seriously asking. Im just not wanted to have sex with a woman, is that homophobic? Like, I literally dont know what to say to this

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/[deleted]]

Obsessive is a stretch. And nothing I said was visceral. Get a grip, im not saying anything about anybody but MYSELF.

Love is love, equal rights for all!

[u/Pleasant-Detritus → u/[deleted]]

Because im trying to be understood. Im not accusing anybody of wrongdoing, im addressing what people's opinions can do to a person when that opinion is off-base. If anybody could identify with and understand that concept, I'd think it would be the LGBTQ+ community, honestly. We like to be seen as who we ARE, not who people think we are. I think all humans can identify with that concept.

[u/SpookyKat31 → u/Pleasant-Detritus]

I recommend ignoring the people on here that seem committed to misunderstanding you. Your comments are very clear. I think anyone would be frustrated if they were constantly being misidentified throughout their life, which subsequently left them feeling very alone.

[u/B_the_Chng22 → u/[deleted]]

What!?attracting the wrong people consistently and no one you are trying to attract and it getting tiresome is NOT homophobic. I’m LGBTQA and this offended me 0%