21/09/2023
I don't normally drink from a can, but I did want an excuse to use this coozie to show my support for safe places for all.
I had a conversation with a friend earlier, and I want to speak to a couple of common concerns:
1) It should be the parent's responsibility/choice to talk to their children about this stuff
- Kids are going to talk about and experience this at school. Parents can have their own hang ups, beliefs, etc., that prevent them from having open discussions with their children. Many children don't know what to expect when they have their first period; many children don't know how to communicate boundaries, have body autonomy, or know that s*x is also about female pleasure. Many adults grow up not knowing how their own body works.
2) They are brainwashing our children/ confusing them
- Educating doesn't mean forcing a choice. It is much easier for kids to learn a non-biased perspective from someone who has no emotional attachments to what their gender identity or s*xuality may be.
3) It's dangerous.
- It's dangerous to be outed. A lot of parents will argue their love is unconditional.. A lot believe that to be true until their child comes out, and the hopes of grandchildren or 'normality' disappear - when people do gender reveals, they're already placing expectations on what that means. There's the danger of a child being misguided and making decisions about their own body - children do that every day through substance/liquor usage and eating disorders. It's where they try and find control in a situation they feel is outside of their control. What's also dangerous is being abused, getting kicked out and being homeless or being placed in the foster system. What's also dangerous is bullying, disempowerment, rejection, isolation, and su***de (which lgbtq individuals have the highest numbers. Those risks increase if black, indigenous, or a person of colour).
Continued in comments..
