Someone actually wrote this (obligatory Pride nonsense)

In today's New York Times, Joanne Spataro writes,

But there is a deeper tension running through this year’s Pride celebrations. Especially in the Trump era, it’s becoming harder for people who don’t present as the “right” kind of queer-identified person to feel welcome. They sense an encroaching “homonormativity,” the idea that there is one acceptable mode — white, male, gay — with everyone else marginalized or silenced.

In which alternate universe is that the case, especially with regard to "Especially in the Trump era"? Being the right kind of queer-identified person, at least in my experience, accommodates people of diverse appearances and presentations, as long as they conform to the goodthink, and this has been true at least throughout my adult lifetime.

Corporations are cashing in on these identities by selling gay-themed products during Pride Month — often referred to as “rainbow capitalism” — but too often, the rainbow begins and ends with masculine gay men.

Again, in which alternate universe? I have a hard time seeing how things like Ikea tote bags are specific to masculine gay men. It does not help that the article is illustrated with photographs of drag queens at Pride.

Homonormativity isn’t an issue only on the parade route. The term “masc 4 masc” is increasingly prevalent on dating sites for gay men as a way of prioritizing masculine-presenting people and filtering out more feminine-presenting ones.

It's almost as though her knowledge of gay men began and ended with pop-cultural osmosis. Contrary to what we keep reading in the LGBT "news" media, I've never noticed any shortage of gay men interested in twinks or femboys.

That compulsion and exclusivity is masked by the perception of diversity within gay identity. “Nowadays, there are just as many plug-and-play identities, like twinks, bears, otters and dykes, and each comes with a hefty price tag if you want to ‘do them correctly,’” Mr. Burford said. These “plug-and-play” identities can make closeted L.G.B.T. people feel isolated and unseen.

That can be true, or the bit about one acceptable mode can be true, but not both.

“The economics of being out at Pride relies on the old idea that all gay people are rich, and as we know, this isn’t true. It gets really hard when your idea of gay is attached to expensive product placement.”

She needs to look at the booths at Pride events. Everything from churches to social services is an expensive product, I guess.

The freedom of Pride had become a lead weight for me, my sensible plum-colored Ralph Lauren dress a prison amid the homonormative show of lithe gay men in rainbow paint and butch lesbians in white tank tops.

Butch lesbians in white tank tops? Didn't she just say...?