You should have included context, but even then there likely isnt a reason to explain it further than telling them its normal. Like how different people like different flavors of ice cream.
Here’s the context. I’m closeted and trying to help my sister not become a conservative nutcase. She’s in a church school so I have to act fast while I still have time. Thank you for the advice tho
Explain it as “People love each other. Sometimes it’s a boyand a girl. Sometimes it’s two boys or two girls. (Not getting into enbys since this is 101.). And sometimes people, whoever they love, want to build a life together.”
Sounds good. Sadly telling her directly is a risk as I probably will be outed. Is there another way I can do it?
You run the risk of being ostracized by a conservative social group if you share any opinion that contradicts the teachings of the church school. I’m straight, but the hicks I went to high school with shouted every homophobic slur they knew at me anyway, because my opinions sounded “gay” to them.
That being said, you could tell her that the church has held opinions in the past, which they decided to change when we learned more about the world. The church persecuted Galileo for suggesting that the Earth revolves around the Sun. They called Leonardo da Vinci a necromancer for studying human anatomy. And 98 years ago, Christians wanted to hang John Scopes for teaching evolution in Tennessee.
Basically, if you can’t tell her directly, you can at least suggest that the church is not infallible when it comes to certain topics. Again though, people will consider you subversive even if all you’re doing is relaying pure, historical facts. There’s no safe way to contradict a zealot.
I’m not in the church school and since last April I ditched my conservative friends. I really want to mess with the church school tho. While I havent executed anything yet I was considering sending letters and pretending to be the devil. What do you think
I know it sounds fun, but that will almost certainly backfire. Most likely it would feed the “persecution complex” many religious groups feel even when they’re in the majority and convince them to “dig their heels in” and become even more staunch in their wrong-headed beliefs. 😔
Yeah. They are already terrified of satanists. To the point where they will make the most random bs. I can tell you some of that be if you’d like to know. But yea Christians have a huge persecution fetish
I’d suggest phrasing the question differently. You don’t want to explain queerness to a 5-year-old. You want to figure out how to salt the earth of the fields of bigotry in her heart so nothing can grow. And I’m so sorry I have no answer for that.
Yeah, that’s what I want to do
Just be careful because she might tell your family about what you talked about. Not out of maliciousness just curiousity.
And the religious crowd loves to hate gays for talking to kids about it because they consider it to be “grooming” or whatever. Funny there is a sub on r*ddit called arethestraightsokay that pointed out how hypocritical straight people/parents are. With the weird clothing for babies/kids with some damn near outright sexual writing on them.
Yeah, I heard of that sub and her telling has happened when I was testing her critical thinking
maybe watch cartoons and stuff with normalised lgbt relationships ?
That was my idea I just don’t know any that are ok for young kids
I personally know Gravity Falls (smaller representation) and The Owl House (in your face representation) to be good. They’re aimed at kids a bit above her age, so you might want to wait 1-3 years to show her them.
The Owl House should be good for all ages
The Bravest Knight on Hulu. The focal character is the daughter of two men, who both appear regularly.
Edit: Also “Ridley Jones” on Netflix. It’s an Indiana Jones kind of thing. The two gay fathers of one of the side characters feature a lot less, so you could cherry pick some episodes.
Steven Universe? If that’s too in your face with it there’s a Netflix show which casually has a gay character which may fly easier since it’s not really a big deal. Can’t find the name right now.
Edit: it’s kipo. Watch that together?
how to explain cisgender and heterosexual to 5 year old?
A good way to start might just be to show the kid that there are all kinds of people and families, and all are normal. :)
You can find some good kids books that include lots of different types of families, including queer parents. You can probably find them at the library, like “THE FAMILY BOOK” or “A Family Is a Family Is a Family” are some good ones. That might be a good starting point.
I’ll look for them
Honestly, I’d just say that some people like girls, some people like boys, and some people like boys and girls, and that’s okay. Super easy version :)