Comments on: From the mouth of babes http://www.gaelick.com/2012/06/from-the-mouth-of-babes/25056/ an irish lesbian ezine Sun, 19 May 2013 10:53:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: nora http://www.gaelick.com/2012/06/from-the-mouth-of-babes/25056/comment-page-1/#comment-19769 nora Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:39:30 +0000 http://www.gaelick.com/?p=25056#comment-19769 Hi for what its worth my kids from 9 down to 4 have always been told that some girls like girls and some boys like boys and that they are described as being gay and that its perfectly normal. My son has come home from school telling me that the "stupid" kids in school are using the term gay to bully others... his expression of incredulity was clear when he said" don't they know its normal and that they are being stupid" I reckon that by being open about it from day one he was ready to contradict at least in his own mind the mantra being bandied about in school. Only yesterday my four year old boy wanted to know if he could marry john. His older sister who is six exclaimed "NOOOOO silly you cant marry him he is your cousin but you could marry george instead... " Ok I know she doesnt quite get the whole civil partnership/marriage debate but to her it was conceivable that boys marry boys... if she can retain that openess then I think "Job done" Hi
for what its worth my kids from 9 down to 4 have always been told that some girls like girls and some boys like boys and that they are described as being gay and that its perfectly normal. My son has come home from school telling me that the “stupid” kids in school are using the term gay to bully others… his expression of incredulity was clear when he said” don’t they know its normal and that they are being stupid”

I reckon that by being open about it from day one he was ready to contradict at least in his own mind the mantra being bandied about in school. Only yesterday my four year old boy wanted to know if he could marry john. His older sister who is six exclaimed “NOOOOO silly you cant marry him he is your cousin but you could marry george instead… ”
Ok I know she doesnt quite get the whole civil partnership/marriage debate but to her it was conceivable that boys marry boys… if she can retain that openess then I think “Job done”

]]> By: Jen http://www.gaelick.com/2012/06/from-the-mouth-of-babes/25056/comment-page-1/#comment-17905 Jen Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:59:51 +0000 http://www.gaelick.com/?p=25056#comment-17905 My missus only the other day told me the same thing about her little cousin. She had started saying 'Justin Bieber is gay' without knowing what gay means. She just heard it at school. But her parents refuse to tell her what 'gay' means. She's 4, and now is the age to instill positive connotations with the word and make her see that it's no biggie. If they're old enough to recognise straight relationships then they're old enough to be told about gay ones too. Change starts at home! My missus only the other day told me the same thing about her little cousin. She had started saying ‘Justin Bieber is gay’ without knowing what gay means. She just heard it at school. But her parents refuse to tell her what ‘gay’ means. She’s 4, and now is the age to instill positive connotations with the word and make her see that it’s no biggie. If they’re old enough to recognise straight relationships then they’re old enough to be told about gay ones too. Change starts at home!

]]> By: Kris http://www.gaelick.com/2012/06/from-the-mouth-of-babes/25056/comment-page-1/#comment-17901 Kris Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:24:59 +0000 http://www.gaelick.com/?p=25056#comment-17901 Hey Maurice (plus everyone else who commented - cheers for the feedback!) With regard to my Mam's reaction about the whole 'niece hearing I was gay thing', I too was suprised at her response when she found out. But we had a chat about it and she assured me it wasnt that she had an issue about me being gay, she just genuinely felt maybe my niece she was too young to know about anything related to sexuality, and she was also worried my niece would get bullied (shes already had a hard time from kids about other things). Shes always been really supportive (thankfully I know not many are as lucky), but the fact I mentioned her reaction in the article (and your opinion on her reaction) helped us to discuss it and both understand each other better, so cheers :) Defo think the comments are right, can only be beneficial for kids to know from a young age about all things different. Hey Maurice (plus everyone else who commented – cheers for the feedback!)

With regard to my Mam’s reaction about the whole ‘niece hearing I was gay thing’, I too was suprised at her response when she found out. But we had a chat about it and she assured me it wasnt that she had an issue about me being gay, she just genuinely felt maybe my niece she was too young to know about anything related to sexuality, and she was also worried my niece would get bullied (shes already had a hard time from kids about other things).

Shes always been really supportive (thankfully I know not many are as lucky), but the fact I mentioned her reaction in the article (and your opinion on her reaction) helped us to discuss it and both understand each other better, so cheers :)

Defo think the comments are right, can only be beneficial for kids to know from a young age about all things different.

]]> By: okitty http://www.gaelick.com/2012/06/from-the-mouth-of-babes/25056/comment-page-1/#comment-17851 okitty Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:44:15 +0000 http://www.gaelick.com/?p=25056#comment-17851 As a mom, I think it is important to get the good information in their heads before the bad gets there. If they hear the bigotry first, that has to be undone and they will be confused about who is right. But if they know their cool auntie likes girls and then hear the stereotypes, they can recognize the wrongness immediately. And if they aren't told early, before they are exposed to homophobia, then the news comes across as a big deal, when really, it shouldn't be. And it is not just about an aunt or uncle or any one person. If children grow up comfortable with LGBT people they know, they will be comfortable as adults with LGBT colleagues, employers, neighbours, friends, etc. It's a huge favour to the next person who comes out to them! As a mom, I think it is important to get the good information in their heads before the bad gets there. If they hear the bigotry first, that has to be undone and they will be confused about who is right. But if they know their cool auntie likes girls and then hear the stereotypes, they can recognize the wrongness immediately. And if they aren’t told early, before they are exposed to homophobia, then the news comes across as a big deal, when really, it shouldn’t be. And it is not just about an aunt or uncle or any one person. If children grow up comfortable with LGBT people they know, they will be comfortable as adults with LGBT colleagues, employers, neighbours, friends, etc. It’s a huge favour to the next person who comes out to them!

]]> By: Jane Magee http://www.gaelick.com/2012/06/from-the-mouth-of-babes/25056/comment-page-1/#comment-17843 Jane Magee Sat, 09 Jun 2012 13:12:29 +0000 http://www.gaelick.com/?p=25056#comment-17843 Think it's important to tell children from young age. It would create better society and less uncomfortable nor homophobia. The positive attitude the easier . Imagine in ten years time, they would think it's crazy that the homosexuality was illegal till 1993 during the history class!! they wouldn't think their mums or uncles are sick or abnormal ,just loving human being. Think it’s important to tell children from young age. It would create better society and less uncomfortable nor homophobia. The positive attitude the easier . Imagine in ten years time, they would think it’s crazy that the homosexuality was illegal till 1993 during the history class!! they wouldn’t think their mums or uncles are sick or abnormal ,just loving human being.

]]> By: Maurice http://www.gaelick.com/2012/06/from-the-mouth-of-babes/25056/comment-page-1/#comment-17842 Maurice Sat, 09 Jun 2012 11:03:54 +0000 http://www.gaelick.com/?p=25056#comment-17842 I have a whole passle of nieces and nephews. Since I've been out I've never hidden it from them. Some of them are quite young, but as the commenter above points out, if you try and keep things from them, they can get the idea that there is something awry with Uncle Maurice liking boys. I have to admit, my sister's were great with explaining it to their kids. It was just stated matter of factly with no issue. If my mum had reacted in the same way as yours did, I have to admit I would not be best pleased. To me that would indicate that she is not as 100% as you might think. I know my mum is 90% there, but there are times when her comments bely a discomfort with some aspects. But she would readily acknowledge that those are her issues and not mine. And certainly wouldn't pass it off as concern for the kids. I have a whole passle of nieces and nephews. Since I’ve been out I’ve never hidden it from them. Some of them are quite young, but as the commenter above points out, if you try and keep things from them, they can get the idea that there is something awry with Uncle Maurice liking boys. I have to admit, my sister’s were great with explaining it to their kids. It was just stated matter of factly with no issue. If my mum had reacted in the same way as yours did, I have to admit I would not be best pleased. To me that would indicate that she is not as 100% as you might think. I know my mum is 90% there, but there are times when her comments bely a discomfort with some aspects. But she would readily acknowledge that those are her issues and not mine. And certainly wouldn’t pass it off as concern for the kids.

]]> By: Mollie http://www.gaelick.com/2012/06/from-the-mouth-of-babes/25056/comment-page-1/#comment-17840 Mollie Sat, 09 Jun 2012 09:55:57 +0000 http://www.gaelick.com/?p=25056#comment-17840 I think you're right, by not telling them until their old enough to comprehend, the fact it's been kept from them implies it's not a normal thing, which is definitely not what children need to believe. I think you’re right, by not telling them until their old enough to comprehend, the fact it’s been kept from them implies it’s not a normal thing, which is definitely not what children need to believe.

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