Valentines day is the same thing every year. We over-celebrate heterosexual couples and sell a false idea of what love is or should. It’s also a silly capitalist ploy that gets hopeless romantics and serial monogamist to spend money of gifts and expensive dinners. The older I’m getting, the less lonely I feel on Valentines day. This is simply due to most of my friends being single on this day. What a treat.. we’ll all be showing love to each other in the most loving and platonic way. It’s Palentines Day.
ALSO READ: What being an ally means
The concept may sound strange to weirdos that seek validation and happiness through a romantic relationship but it’s all about inclusion and it’s something that isn’t well represented in the mainstream media. Most romantic comedies that will be televised or heavily streamed on the 14th will feature the same, boring, overly done hetero-normative relationships.
The cringe-fest that is Valentines day also allows people to perform the most tiring romantic-tropes and a lot of straight men think women want to be wooed on this day and somehow, a lot of women can be made to be felt lonely on Valentines day. It’s a weird narrative that either comes from their serial-monogamist friends or societies sexist expectations. This is why romcoms are weird to me, why are women always portrayed as being passive and “waiting for love” and should be grateful if they have an admirer? These narratives can easily be carried over into society.
ALSO READ: The guilty pleasure that is ‘love island’
The film, Valentine’s Day, represents everything I hate about the day and most romcoms. It’s just of similar couples, all straight obviously and presents love in the most jarring way. It’s filled with unrealistic romantic scenarios and there’s far too many subplots and it lacks in sexual representation.
Why does Valentines day exclude queer couples on a mainstream platform? Why can’t this day also be about celebrating beautiful friendships, that also share a lot characteristics to a romantic relationship? Let’s also make this valentines day about celebrating every human being that you love deeply but not romantically.
Your thoughts:
Gemma – Valentines day is a day about showing love and kindness, so why should we just be picking one person to show love and affection to when you should be showing it to all the people who mean the most to you
Kiara – In the culture of today love is spread more freely and with more diversity. Celebrating Paletines (Platonic Valentine’s day) allows for everyone to love freely and ensure the diversity we want for the future.
Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via Telegram? Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts.
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple
