I'm gay, so my child must be as well.

[Digital Planets]

No, that's pretty much what the article is. Someone's turning molehills into mountains.

Quick, everybody, scream "HETEROPHOBIA" or some related nonsense at the camera!

I can't, I have a phobia of saying certain words that involve sexuality.

[Dakini]

I'm not sure what the OP is upset about, exactly. While this woman says she wishes her kid were gay, she's also adamant about accepting her if she's not.

I don't presume to speak for the OP, but I think what stood out for them was the likelihood of this woman being labelled homophobic if it were the other way around.

Not really?

I mean, if buying your kid a bunch of stories featuring a man and woman falling in love and feeling a bit awkward when your child has a crush on a schoolmate of the same gender at any point was homophobic, then probably all straight parents of gay children (even the most loving and supportive ones who like gay people) would be giant homophobes.

[New Stephania]

Quick, everybody, scream "HETEROPHOBIA" or some related nonsense at the camera!

You say that as if there is no such thing, of course it seems a common belief nowadays that there isn't.

I don't presume to speak for the OP, but I think what stood out for them was the likelihood of this woman being labelled homophobic if it were the other way around.

Not really?

I mean, if buying your kid a bunch of stories featuring a man and woman falling in love and feeling a bit awkward when your child has a crush on a schoolmate of the same gender at any point was homophobic, then probably all straight parents of gay children (even the most loving and supportive ones who like gay people) would be giant homophobes.

If a straight parent made a point of writing an article in the Washington Post about trying to influence their children away from playing house with two mothers/fathers, and ending the article the way this one did, Tumblr and Twitter would lose their collective minds and I'd have to hear about it from all my LGBT friends.

Identity politics is a big thing at the moment.

[Stagnant Axon Terminal]

Quick, everybody, scream "HETEROPHOBIA" or some related nonsense at the camera!

You say that as if there is no such thing, of course it seems a common belief nowadays that there isn't.

Well at the very least, there's none happening in that article.

[Dakini]

Quick, everybody, scream "HETEROPHOBIA" or some related nonsense at the camera!

You say that as if there is no such thing, of course it seems a common belief nowadays that there isn't.

No, there pretty much isn't such a thing as heterophobia.

[Christainville]

No, that's pretty much what the article is. Someone's turning molehills into mountains.

Quick, everybody, scream "HETEROPHOBIA" or some related nonsense at the camera!

Look, if you want to go at this point, fine, I can go there.

If this was a straight parent that was sure how to approach the questions a gay child would come through, and they felt uneasy about their response, we would call it homophobia. In fact, I wish the world homophobia didn't exist, just because some one doesn't like to guys kissing doesn't mean they sit in a closet scared stiff over it.

If this mother wasn't sure how to deal with a straight child, we have to be understanding; other way around its homophobic. When they both may not understand, we just normally take the politically correct version, which makes the gay one truly non understand, and the straight just homophobic and mean.

[New Stephania]

You say that as if there is no such thing, of course it seems a common belief nowadays that there isn't.

Well at the very least, there's none happening in that article.

I'm not saying there is, but I can see why people would be uncomfortable with someone making a point out of writing this article in the Washington Post.

You say that as if there is no such thing, of course it seems a common belief nowadays that there isn't.

No, there pretty much isn't such a thing as heterophobia.

As a member of the LGBT community I see it on a regular basis nowadays, so I have to disagree.

[Ashmoria]

it doesn't matter because her daughter is 6 and she is what she is. all kids need is to be loved and supported. she is getting that from her mom who will adjust to reality before her daughter reaches double digits in age.

[Christainville]

You say that as if there is no such thing, of course it seems a common belief nowadays that there isn't.

Well at the very least, there's none happening in that article.

yeah, there is no thing, especially if your a male, since you came from, well you get the point.

[Christainville]

Quick, everybody, scream "HETEROPHOBIA" or some related nonsense at the camera!

You say that as if there is no such thing, of course it seems a common belief nowadays that there isn't.

Not really?

I mean, if buying your kid a bunch of stories featuring a man and woman falling in love and feeling a bit awkward when your child has a crush on a schoolmate of the same gender at any point was homophobic, then probably all straight parents of gay children (even the most loving and supportive ones who like gay people) would be giant homophobes.

If a straight parent made a point of writing an article in the Washington Post about trying to influence their children away from playing house with two mothers/fathers, and ending the article the way this one did, Tumblr and Twitter would lose their collective minds and I'd have to hear about it from all my LGBT friends.

Identity politics is a big thing at the moment.

you hit the point right on the head, well done.

[Cannot think of a name]

This mother, who happens to be gay, wants her child to be as well. Her daughter is 6, and in play her mothers try's to enforce a acceptance of gay relationships. For a example, when her daughter played with toys, using one as a mother, and one as a father; her mother enforced that there can be 2 dads, and 2 moms.

There is nothing wrong with teaching her that there are acceptable alternatives. You keep saying 'enforcing' because you want us to think 'forced', but parents teach their children norms. It's like most of what parents do aside from begging them to eat.

Seriously, have you ever watched a parent try to feed a kid? How the hell did we survive as a species? Wait...I'm getting off topic...

Look at what she said:

When my daughter plays house with her stuffed koala bears as the mom and dad, we gently remind her that they could be a dad and dad. Sometimes she changes her narrative. Sometimes she doesn’t. It’s her choice.

You translated "gently remind" to "enforce." You loaded the words. Don't think we didn't notice.

In her own words, "Time will tell, but so far, it doesn’t look like my 6-year-old daughter is gay. In fact, she’s boy crazy. It seems early to me, but I’m trying to be supportive.". So, the child already has shown her more straight leanings in the mother eyes, and to the mother, its hurts. Her daughter is straight and not gay, but no matter the mother says she will be supportive.

Like a straight parent who comes to terms with a gay child, but the key part here is "no matter the mother says she will be supportive."

My View

Forcing your child to be something because you are is bad, and that goes for both straight and gay viewpoints.

Good thing that she's not doing that...you know as you yourself just wrote. Remember that part, you typed it out and everything like a whole one sentence ago: "no matter the mother says she will be supportive." Remember that? Does that sound like anyone is forcing anyone to do shit? No...no it does not.

1st off, a 6 year old making a sexuality is dumb as it is, they want to play, have fun with friends; not decide who they love the most and be with 14 years from now. This mother will drive the girl insane because one day she will have to decide rather her love for her mother makes her do things, or her own desires may hurt her mom, who she loves.

Again, she is doing no such thing. You are making this up.

One thing I wish more gay sides would open up too, every child is built to love both sexes already. You can love a parents, which are male and female, or you love a brother or sister. We all have had relationships with people of both sexes in one way or another, so we need to stop forcing kids to accept something they already have.

What?

Second, its bad when a parent has issues that their child is gay, but its no issue when you raise a child to be gay. Its not abusive to force your child to be something unless what you want is against the current political viewpoint of the time. Its sad how much of our private lives are controlled by public views.

What? And again, all she's doing is gently reminding her kid that there are other combinations, opening her to the possibilities of the different kinds of couples like the one that is raising her. What the hell are you on about?

My third and final point, a six year old already getting into dating........and then we talk about teen pregnancy.

She is 'crushing' on another kid. She's not dating. She's being a weird little six year old. Stop getting ahead of yourself.

Already this mother has put her daughter in a spot she is too young for and doesn't understand. we have turned being playful and having friends, into already picking marriages and this will drive anyone mad.

No, seriously, what the hell are you talking about? Look at what she wrote:

In fact, she’s boy crazy. It seems early to me, but I’m trying to be supportive. Recently, she had a crush on an older boy on her school bus. She was acting as any precocious, socially awkward child would, which is to say not very subtle. I confided in a friend who has an older daughter. “She wants to give this kid a card and presents,” I e-mailed. “The other kid is so embarrassed. It’s painful to watch. What do I do?”

What part of that led you to the conclusion that she was 'putting her daughter in that spot'?

Did you just read the headline and just keep adjusting the words to fit some outraged fueled notion of what you think she'd say or something?

So, tell me what you think. Is it good or bad, abusive-non abusive, crazy or just being a parent, that this mother wants her child to be gay, because she is, and bit by bit its tying to learn her child to that side, before the kid even knows what sexuality is?

I think parents want their kids to be like them and over time to greater or lesser extent learn to accept that they are not. I think that she is ahead of the curve because she knows that she will but acknowledges that she does. Self awareness is a good thing. I think you read things into the article that weren't there. Perhaps you thought we'd just read your summary and take your word for it. Perhaps you genuinely misread the article in some sort of self-righteous outrage based on the headline. I don't know. But I do know that this is an entirely disingenuous critique based on elements you made up and not on the article itself.

Bad show. No gold stars, see me after class.

[Tyrandel]

From that title, I thought this would be about homosexuality spreading genetically or something. I was excited. Anyways, moving on.

Sexual orientation doesn't seem like something that can or should be focused on by parents. I can understand wanting them to be your religion, wanting them to agree with your politics or wanting them to go into your career field. Those are all cultural and social qualities that have an influence on or are influenced by a person's personality. (Individuals in occupations focused on the international rather than the local are more likely to understand foreign cultures, for example. Parents may see this as desirable.) But unless a parent is planning an arranged marriage, sexual orientation is not really worth focusing on. It has no effect on intelligence, no real influence on a person's likes and dislikes, and only really has an effect on politics because conservatism currently tends towards homophobia and a history of discrimination has caused the formation of a distinct gay subculture.

The article itself seems more focused on the parent feeling awkward though, so the above is more of a general comment. The article itself seems like it used that title for shock value more than anything else. Probably the editor saw that line, said 'this'll get us views for sure!', and made it the title.

The actual article, if I am reading it right, has a point. There may be a lack of current memes/ideas on how a homosexual parent would raise a heterosexual child. (The opposite, heterosexual parent raising a homosexual child, seems to have a good amount said about it.) I myself am not sure what should actually be said, but I am not a parent or a writer of parenting guides anyway so I can only say that something needs to be done rather than actually do anything myself.

[New Stephania]

The article itself seems like it used that title for shock value more than anything else. Probably the editor saw that line, said 'this'll get us views for sure!', and made it the title.

I think you're right. As I said in a prior post, identity politics in a big thing at the moment, it seems like an easy powder keg to light if you want clicks.

[Ifreann]

Compare the title of this thread and the title of the article.

I'm gay, so my child must be as well.

vs

I’m gay. And I want my kid to be gay, too.

Compare the OP's summation or part of the article with the actual text.

Her daughter is 6, and in play her mothers try's to enforce a acceptance of gay relationships. For a example, when her daughter played with toys, using one as a mother, and one as a father; her mother enforced that there can be 2 dads, and 2 moms.

vs

When my daughter plays house with her stuffed koala bears as the mom and dad, we gently remind her that they could be a dad and dad. Sometimes she changes her narrative. Sometimes she doesn’t. It’s her choice.

The OP is making this out as though Sally Kohn is trying to force her daughter to be gay, when what she's doing is combating the perception that being gay is a bad thing, a perception held even by gay people, by explaining how she wants her daughter to be gay because she feels that being gay has improved her own life and could improve her daughter's.

[Dakini]

Quick, everybody, scream "HETEROPHOBIA" or some related nonsense at the camera!

Look, if you want to go at this point, fine, I can go there.

If this was a straight parent that was sure how to approach the questions a gay child would come through, and they felt uneasy about their response, we would call it homophobia. In fact, I wish the world homophobia didn't exist, just because some one doesn't like to guys kissing doesn't mean they sit in a closet scared stiff over it.

Do you also get upset about "xenophobia"?

If this mother wasn't sure how to deal with a straight child, we have to be understanding; other way around its homophobic.

No, it's really not. Homophobic is throwing your kid out of the house or treating them badly because they have a crush on a classmate of the same gender. Homophobia is not being awkward and not knowing what to tell their kid when the kid faces rejection from a classmate of the same gender.

When they both may not understand, we just normally take the politically correct version,

Ah, now we get to the "it's the PC police!!1!" line.

which makes the gay one truly non understand, and the straight just homophobic and mean.

What does this even mean?

[Stagnant Axon Terminal]

Quick, everybody, scream "HETEROPHOBIA" or some related nonsense at the camera!

Look, if you want to go at this point, fine, I can go there.

If this was a straight parent that was sure how to approach the questions a gay child would come through, and they felt uneasy about their response, we would call it homophobia. In fact, I wish the world homophobia didn't exist, just because some one doesn't like to guys kissing doesn't mean they sit in a closet scared stiff over it.

If this mother wasn't sure how to deal with a straight child, we have to be understanding; other way around its homophobic. When they both may not understand, we just normally take the politically correct version, which makes the gay one truly non understand, and the straight just homophobic and mean.

No, it's NOT homophobic the other way around. A straight parent can be the most supportive, loving person in the world to their gay child, but if they aren't that way themselves it is normal to feel unease when thinking about how to best care for your child, because you might not have all the answers that child is going to need to grow up happily. She's not saying "I wish my child was gay because fuck straight people" she's saying "I don't know how to help, this isn't my sexuality, and it would be easier for me personally to have a gay child so I could give them the help they need but I support her either way."

[Libacur]

This. THis. THIs. THIS. Is by far the stupidest thing I have ever heard, and I was once told Fox was a trustworthy source.

[Cannot think of a name]

Compare the title of this thread and the title of the article.

I'm gay, so my child must be as well.

vs

I’m gay. And I want my kid to be gay, too.

Compare the OP's summation or part of the article with the actual text.

Her daughter is 6, and in play her mothers try's to enforce a acceptance of gay relationships. For a example, when her daughter played with toys, using one as a mother, and one as a father; her mother enforced that there can be 2 dads, and 2 moms.

vs

When my daughter plays house with her stuffed koala bears as the mom and dad, we gently remind her that they could be a dad and dad. Sometimes she changes her narrative. Sometimes she doesn’t. It’s her choice.

The OP is making this out as though Sally Kohn is trying to force her daughter to be gay, when what she's doing is combating the perception that being gay is a bad thing, a perception held even by gay people, by explaining how she wants her daughter to be gay because she feels that being gay has improved her own life and could improve her daughter's.

Don't you love the smell of disengenuiety in the morning?


It's a word. Now.

[Dakini]

This. THis. THIs. THIS. Is by far the stupidest thing I have ever heard, and I was once told Fox was a trustworthy source.

Yeah, the way the OP misinterpreted and presented the article was pretty stupid.

[Christainville]

Compare the title of this thread and the title of the article.

I'm gay, so my child must be as well.

vs

I’m gay. And I want my kid to be gay, too.

Compare the OP's summation or part of the article with the actual text.

Her daughter is 6, and in play her mothers try's to enforce a acceptance of gay relationships. For a example, when her daughter played with toys, using one as a mother, and one as a father; her mother enforced that there can be 2 dads, and 2 moms.

vs

When my daughter plays house with her stuffed koala bears as the mom and dad, we gently remind her that they could be a dad and dad. Sometimes she changes her narrative. Sometimes she doesn’t. It’s her choice.

The OP is making this out as though Sally Kohn is trying to force her daughter to be gay, when what she's doing is combating the perception that being gay is a bad thing, a perception held even by gay people, by explaining how she wants her daughter to be gay because she feels that being gay has improved her own life and could improve her daughter's.

if I wanted to force the point of her forcing her child to be gay, I could do much better then this for the record.

With this article, you have to read into, it really shows how the media gets our attention, to a conservative this is a war statement, to a liberal its a statement of love for her daughter and a hope that she can properly raise her on all ideas. I always find it interesting how the same thing can create so many views on all sides.

My issue is, I can look right past all the I want, but never forget I do accept parts. Its kinda of like a, yes I want this and that, but to ensure no one puts a hit out on me, I need to say this and that, kind of write up. She references people being born gay, how she teacher child about gay through play, to be frank, does it matter? The child will be what it is, this was just a typical media political statement to get views, and then promote the, I can force something in soft matter people will love idea, politics, especially in certain sectors, have always done this.

[Ifreann]

Compare the title of this thread and the title of the article.
vs

Compare the OP's summation or part of the article with the actual text.
vs

The OP is making this out as though Sally Kohn is trying to force her daughter to be gay, when what she's doing is combating the perception that being gay is a bad thing, a perception held even by gay people, by explaining how she wants her daughter to be gay because she feels that being gay has improved her own life and could improve her daughter's.

Don't you love the smell of disengenuiety in the morning?

If I'm not very much mistaken I also detect a hint of hypocrisy. I dare say that this Christainville person is a Christian. I wonder what they have to say about the Christian tradition of inducting one's children into the Christian religion when they are still newborns. My money's on him not having a problem with it.

It's a word. Now.

I'll allow it.

[Mondoncon]

It's a little in poor taste on the presentation. I think the author wanted a provocative article, but that's really because that gets the story out there. The voice isn't passive, or aggressive, it's just slightly-less-than-totally-placated-to-heteronormative-standards, which is apparently a bad thing. Okay, maybe some parts read ignorant. But at least the recognizes that she's able feel this way because she's a rich white lesbian, and not one of the majority of LGBT. And she doesn't force it on her child. She just doesn't enforce gender roles.

[Dakini]

Compare the title of this thread and the title of the article.
vs

Compare the OP's summation or part of the article with the actual text.
vs

The OP is making this out as though Sally Kohn is trying to force her daughter to be gay, when what she's doing is combating the perception that being gay is a bad thing, a perception held even by gay people, by explaining how she wants her daughter to be gay because she feels that being gay has improved her own life and could improve her daughter's.

if I wanted to force the point of her forcing her child to be gay, I could do much better then this for the record.

With this article, you have to read into, it really see how the media gets our attention, to a conservative this is a war statement, to a liberal its a statement of love for her daughter and a hope that she can properly raise her on all ideas. I always find it interesting how the same thing can create so many views on all sides.

So by "read into it" you mean "totally invent new meanings for everything so you can get angry about something"?

'Cause that's what you seem to have done here.

I don't think this is a "statement of love". I think it's a different perspective on parenting (one that doesn't get heard much in mainstream press) and that makes it a somewhat interesting article, but other than pointing out that she'll love and accept her daughter no matter what is pretty standard parenting stuff (for good parents, anyway).

My issue is, I can look right past all the I want, but never forget I do.

This sentence doesn't make sense. What are you trying to say here?

Its kinda of like a, yes I want this and that, but to ensure no one puts a hit out on me, I need to say this and that, kind of write up.

What?

She references people being born gay, how she teacher child about gay through play, to be frank, does it matter? The child will be what it is, this was just a typical media political statement to get views, and then promote the, I can force something in soft matter people will love idea, politics, especially in certain sectors, have always done this.

Dude, I really cannot think of a single situation in the English language when the word "the" should be followed by a comma. Basically all you seem to be getting at (sort of) is that you have added an agenda to an article that didn't really have one and you seem to be trying to pretend that it was there all along.

[Desperate Measures]

Compare the title of this thread and the title of the article.
vs

Compare the OP's summation or part of the article with the actual text.
vs

The OP is making this out as though Sally Kohn is trying to force her daughter to be gay, when what she's doing is combating the perception that being gay is a bad thing, a perception held even by gay people, by explaining how she wants her daughter to be gay because she feels that being gay has improved her own life and could improve her daughter's.

if I wanted to force the point of her forcing her child to be gay, I could do much better then this for the record.

With this article, you have to read into, it really shows how the media gets our attention, to a conservative this is a war statement, to a liberal its a statement of love for her daughter and a hope that she can properly raise her on all ideas. I always find it interesting how the same thing can create so many views on all sides.

My issue is, I can look right past all the I want, but never forget I do accept parts. Its kinda of like a, yes I want this and that, but to ensure no one puts a hit out on me, I need to say this and that, kind of write up. She references people being born gay, how she teacher child about gay through play, to be frank, does it matter? The child will be what it is, this was just a typical media political statement to get views, and then promote the, I can force something in soft matter people will love idea, politics, especially in certain sectors, have always done this.

Don't pay attention to what the words are actually saying? Everything is doublespeak? The tinfoil hats are fashionable?

[Christainville]

Don't you love the smell of disengenuiety in the morning?

If I'm not very much mistaken I also detect a hint of hypocrisy. I dare say that this Christainville person is a Christian. I wonder what they have to say about the Christian tradition of inducting one's children into the Christian religion when they are still newborns. My money's on him not having a problem with it.

It's a word. Now.

I'll allow it.

I am a Christian, and I was never inducted into the church. First off, it works every salvation for every man, so you can be introduced to something day and night and never personally except it. So, I was never inducted to it, I haven't been to a church in ages, but I still keep my faith, so its lots of us that were never inducted to this as babies, and are a part of it for the record.

I would love to know how these 2 tie into each other. Because parents forced stuff on their kids? Because parents want things for their kids? At lest our views didn't get political and take over the world to win elections.