{{Short description|Meme dog}} {{Distinguish|Whitney Houston}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Use American English|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox animal | name = Whitney Chewston | image = Whitney_Chewston.jpeg | caption = Whitney as depicted in the first of many "homophobic dog" memes | alt = Whitney Chewston, a white dachshund. She is standing on a counter top next to a glass of red wine. The text in the image reads "not too fond of gay people". Whitney looks annoyed or put off in this photo, adding to the humor of the caption. | othername = Homophobic Dog | species = Dog (''Canis familiaris'') | breed = Miniature dachshund | gender = Female | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2016|9|8}} | birth_place = Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | occupation = Internet celebrity | years_active = 2021–present | appearance = White miniature dachshund | namedafter = Whitney Houston | known_for = Internet meme | residence = Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. | owners = Logan Hickman and Ben Campbell | module = {{Infobox social media personality | child = yes | instagram_handle = whitney_chewston | instagram_display_name = | instagram_years_active = | instagram_genre = | instagram_followers = 163,000 ({{as of|2026|03|lc=y}}) }} }} '''Whitney Chewston''' (born September 8, 2016), also known as the '''homophobic dog''', is a miniature dachshund who became the subject of an internet meme in 2021. An Instagram page for the dog has gained a significant following, with over 173,000 followers {{as of|2026|03|lc=y}}.
== Biography == Whitney Chewston was born on September 8, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio, and was adopted by her owners, Logan Hickman and Ben Campbell. Hickman recalls that his sister initially wanted to get another dachshund from a breeder but was dissuaded by her husband. Instead, she convinced Hickman to visit the breeder, where he spotted a newly born Whitney.
== Career ==
=== 2016–2021: Instagram account === Whitney began her social media journey on Instagram as a result of her owners wanting to share puppy photos with their families. After several complaints about how many puppy photos were being shared on their personal pages, Whitney was given a personal account to post from.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dispatch |first=Megan Sharp The Columbus |title=Columbus area dogs, cats and owners thrive on Instagram |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/features/the-good-life/2020/04/04/columbus-area-dogs-cats-owners/1401868007/ |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}}</ref> She gained notable traction within Columbus, becoming a local internet celebrity and the subject of many articles, while hovering at around 40,000 followers in early 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ghose |first=Dave |title=Columbus Pets Guide: Meet the Petfluencers |url=https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/lifestyle/features/2021/05/19/columbus-pets-guide-meet-petfluencers/5166701001/ |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=Columbus Monthly |archive-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128042452/https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/lifestyle/features/2021/05/19/columbus-pets-guide-meet-petfluencers/5166701001/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== 2021–present: "Homophobic dog" meme=== In March 2021, an Instagram user added the text "not too fond of gay people" to a 2019 photo of Whitney beside a glass of red wine. This image circulated on social media and grew in popularity in early 2022 on Twitter, gaining Whitney the nickname Homophobic Dog. The format of the meme adapted as it spread; users, who were often LGBTQ,<ref name=":3" /> superimposed homophobic captions on other photos of Whitney "often looking sassy or suspicious".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stein |first=Lucia |date=July 29, 2022 |title=The Homophobic Dog isn't actually homophobic – she's a gay icon |url=https://gcn.ie/homophobic-dog-gay-icon/ |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=GCN}}</ref>
While the meme continued to grow, users discovered that Whitney's owners were a married gay couple. Her owners have expressed that she is an advocate of LGBT rights, and pictures have shown her donning rainbow attire. Her owners have also expressed support for the meme, saying it uses satire to "[shed] light on things and people who actually are homophobic".
On May 15, 2022, a tweet of a fake ''Washington Post'' article titled "This dog is the new face of online homophobia", written by Taylor Lorenz, accrued nearly 450,000 likes in 24 hours. Several accounts responded to the fake headline with criticism of ''The Washington Post'' and Generation Z;{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} one of the most high-profile cases was Christina Pushaw, spokesperson of Florida governor Ron DeSantis.<ref name="Independent">{{Cite web |last=Spocchia |first=Gino |date=May 18, 2022 |title=DeSantis press secretary 'duped' by fake story about 'homophobic dog' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/homophobic-dog-desantis-press-secretary-b2081668.html |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518141759/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/homophobic-dog-desantis-press-secretary-b2081668.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Lorenz responded to Pushaw, writing, "I would have assumed a press secretary could recognise the difference between a fake screenshot from a meme page and a real news story, but apparently not".<ref name="Independent" /> On May 16, the fake title was used as the headline for an article about Whitney in ''LGBTQ Nation''.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Bollinger |first=Alex |title=This dog is the new face of online homophobia |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/05/dog-new-face-online-homophobia/ |access-date=January 28, 2023 |website=LGBTQ Nation |date=May 16, 2022 |archive-date=January 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128042451/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/05/dog-new-face-online-homophobia/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In June 2022, Lil Nas X posted an image of Whitney to promote his and YoungBoy Never Broke Again's single "Late to da Party".
== See also == * List of individual dogs * Lists of dogs * Gay icon * Internet celebrity * Pets and the LGBT community
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Instagram accounts Category:Internet memes about dogs Category:2016 animal births Category:Individual dogs in the United States Category:Individual dog Internet celebrities Category:LGBTQ culture in the United States Category:Homophobia