Children aren't allowed to be children anymore.

@Convivial I agree. However do they need to know about all the different genders/sexual orientation etc?

@Lanie78 i think so... For those rare cases where they do feel different it gives them that anchor they need

@Convivial Not primary school aged children. It's too much for them to comprehend at that age. Unfair to expect children to take all that on board

@Convivial Parents should educate their children but on an age appropriate basis. Plus I'd only discuss certain topics if they ask me about it. No need to plant any seeds if there's no need to do so 🤷

@Lanie78 I knew at 12 I was gay. I was just forced to hide it for a decade because I’m sure people didn’t want to burden me with possible acceptance.

@Lanie78 I’m so grateful I wasn’t “burdened.”

@DarkHeaven Not disputing many children know from a younger age, and I'm sorry that society hasn't been very accepting until recent years. That's not my point though.

@Lanie78 fair enough. be well and peace to you. ✌️

@Lanie78
I loved wearing dresses at a young age and I was shamed for it and I was about 10 when I realized that I'm gay.
Kids should know that hetero love is not the only love and that ones sex should not mean you have to behave or dress a certain way. That is not difficult for them to understand.
Also kids should learn about bodily autonomy (that they don't have to accept a hug if they don't want to)

@Lanie78 When I was at school in the UK in the 1990s teachers were not permitted to talk about homosexuality in the classroom. That in my view was the imposition of a narrow ideological viewpoint on a generation of children. Fortunately for me three teachers at my school (including the school chaplain) decided to ignore that rule on compassionate and welfare grounds. Many other children of my generation were left to suffer in silence and needless ignorance.

@bijouxbroussard @Convivial @Lanie78 @Elessar @FragileHeart @SunshineGirl

Not an argument. Just a thought and sharing of my life. This was a post I wrote about my best friend ever, who sadly took her own life 25 years ago. Since tomorrow is Memorial Day, it’s a good time for me to share her beautiful life and keep her memory alive as well. I do often wonder how different her life could have been if we talked about things that affected you even as a child.

https://similarworlds.com/thoughts/personal-feelings/4412503-My-memorial-to-my-friend-Part-1-thoughts-personal

It’s in pieces because it was a lot and very emotional for me.

@FragileHeart I've no issues with boys playing with their sisters dolls etc. Perfectly fine. I just don't agree with primary aged children being taught about things which may only confuse them. Let kids be kids. What is wrong with that?

@Lanie78 That's such a vague statement... what do you think exactly confuses them? What knowledge that is being taught or people want to include in the curriculum would prevent them from being kids?

Good that you don't have an issue but too many still have an issue with it and push children into gender roles.

@Lanie78 What's confusing is if their only exposure to these topics is on the internet. At least in school, it can be presented in context and they will have an opportunity to ask questions.

@LeopoldBloom agreed. how I would have loved to have one single show that represented what I knew was in my heart instead of being made to feel like I was wrong. Plenty of heteronormative PDA, but not even a chaste gay kiss.

@LeopoldBloom @bijouxbroussard @Convivial @Lanie78 @Elessar @FragileHeart @SunshineGirl @Lanie78

In my humble opinion… when you target one sides PDA, you’re trying to excuse bigotry. If it’s truly about children… remove it all. Let’s not have straight PDA at all, nor any mention of straight Mums and Das.

https://similarworlds.com/thoughts/personal-feelings/4277923-Serious-question-Please-be-polite-and-kind

@DarkHeaven Exactly. Whenever anyone says "I don't care if people are gay, just don't shove it in my face," that never seems to apply to them. So if they're being consistent, they will never mention their spouse/partner/significant other or display photos of them at their workplace, and their sexuality should be so ambiguous that no one will be able to say for sure if they're straight or gay.

@LeopoldBloom Exactly. In my office about 20 years ago, someone complained because a gay woman had a picture of herself with her partner on her desk.

There was nothing "suggestive" about the photo, they were simply smiling and standing together. After the complaint, made by one of the "church ladies" who was always fund-raising and selling dinners, the manager asked the woman to remove the picture.

But this was the SF Bay Area, and a union shop. I quietly called my best guy friend, a union officer, and had him meet with the woman against whom the complaint had been lodged, and the manager who had caved.

The office was told that any personal photos would have to be taken down lest grievances be filed for discrimination. The "church lady" withdrew her complaint, and everyone’s photos remained.

@bijouxbroussard Good for you. The same rules have to apply to everyone.

@LeopoldBloom bijoux is one of my hero’s and a dear friend. I can’t even imagine a life where I hadn’t met her here. She’s definitely some one I come to for wisdom and certain perspectives that I can’t have myself but can understand to some degree with someone patient enough to share. She’s a big deal to me. 🖤