One of the most common arguments you hear against LGBTQ+ visibility is that bigots feel it’s too difficult or inappropriate for children to learn about the existence of people who don’t fall into the norms of a cisgender, heterosexual society. Of course, there doesn’t seem to be anything to back this up, other than hatred and a pearl-clutching fear that simply learning about something can coerce a child into becoming that themselves, which is an absurd proposition that falls apart under the slightest scrutiny.
Still, bigots banging that drum makes it even sweeter when children prove them wrong by embracing love over fear far more easily than adults frequently seem able to do.
A recent video from a trans TikToker explaining her intention to transition to her little brother is driving that home, as he manages to go from confusion at the prospect to easy acceptance in the course of 94 seconds.
@bigsnoww__ first asked her brother, who is never shown on screen, if he knows what “transgender” means.
“It means transgender to a new gender,” the kid replies.
The TikToker follows it up by asking how he would feel if she transitioned, and his reaction is one of pure shock.
“I would be confused as heck!” he admits. “‘Cause you’re a boy and want to transgender into a girl… Why would you transgender into a girl if you’re already a boy? You’re already one gender.”
His older sister patiently explains that she’s sad and doesn’t “feel right” as a boy, and asks if he’s noticed how much happier she is wearing wigs and makeup.
The apprehension seems to fall out of the boy’s voice immediately as he admits that it might actually “feel kind of normal” after all.
“You gonna still be confused?” @bigsnoww_ asks.
“No,” the boy declares, “because you already told me what you feel like.”
Viewers loved watching the interaction between the two, and seeing how easy it ultimately was for them to get on the same page.
“I LOVE that you let him process that!” wrote @thececilediomi. “That you didn’t demand that he be okay with it. Letting him admit his confusion was beautiful.”
“Kids are so understanding it’s the adults seriously,” @kingveee_ pointed out.
Another viewer called attention to how “this literally all it takes on educating children to love people no matter who or what they love.”
It really is that simple.
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