Twitter users love a tweet challenging the notion of kids being ‘indoctrinated‘ into gay lifestyles. Although the tweet doesn’t state anything that most of us in the LGBTI community don’t already know, it’s always worth reminding people about. Especially when expressed so eloquently.
Twitter user Senthorun Raj is based in Manchester, England.
He posted Sunday: ‘Heterosexuality must be so fragile if kids are ‘indoctrinated’ into ‘gay lifestyles’ by just seeing gay people kiss in public. I’m very glad homosexuality is far more resilient. As a kid, I endured years of seeing straight people kiss (on TV, in public, etc) and still stayed gay!’
Heterosexuality must be so fragile if kids are ‘indoctrinated’ into ‘gay lifestyles’ by just seeing gay people kiss in public. I’m very glad homosexuality is far more resilient. As a kid, I endured years of seeing straight people kiss (on TV, in public, etc) and still stayed gay!
— Senthorun Raj (@senthorun) September 23, 2018
At the time of writing, the tweet has received 14,000 retweets, 65,000 ‘likes’ and prompted hundreds of comments.
The vast majority have agreed with, and praised, the message.
Response
‘I think people believe if the kid never knows it exists they won’t be gay,’ comments @OneCosmicLove. ‘But all that does is cause a lot of confusion & upset for them when they start having feelings toward the same sex & don’t understand it or feel it’s wrong.
Image: Twitter
Others joked about the promotion of ‘gay lifestyles’. User @sgraIRL responded, ‘I remember UK Section 28 debates in the late 80s and wondering, how can you ‘promote’ a sexuality? Like a 20% off coupon might make people gay? Like it was a product to be marketed or something. Baffling!’
Image: Twitter
‘It’s so tense being straight knowing that just seeing two men hold hands might turn me at any moment,’ offered @ChumpanZeee. ‘No wonder we drink so much.’
Image: Twitter
Others posted about how children see the world. Mom @cesca_uk commented, ‘Walking about with my 11 year old daughter, we noticed in passing, two ladies holding hands. Molly and I exchanged smiles with the two lovelies and as we passed them. My daughter smiled at me and said “isn’t that great, they looked so happy.”‘
Image: Twitter
Nature vs Nurture
Predictably, amongst the many supportive comments, there had to be some dissent.
‘The difference is that heterosexuality is natural and productive,’ believes @ammar_cel.
‘With homosexuality, unnatural ways are used, but without heterosexuality, you would never be existing, so it’s horrendous to compare this with that.’
However, another user was quick to challenge. ‘Homosexuality is also natural…’ said @Hoyendk. ‘It’s normal with animals also… also bisexuality… maybe it’s natures way of trying to keep the population down.’
Image: Twitter
Not in front of the children
Although the tweet prompted many funny responses, issues around kids and LGBTI representation are often in the news.
Just this week, the UK government has been criticized for focusing on ‘traditional marriage’ in a draft of its updated Relationships and Sex Education curriculum. Campaigners say the government risks allowing ‘another generation of LGBT students slip through the cracks’.
In the US, religious lawyers last week launched a lawsuit against Lafayette Public Library in Louisiana. They say the library’s ‘Drag Queen Story Time’ for kids is ‘endorsing secular humanism.’ Drag Queen Story Time sees drag queens reading children’s stories to kids aged 3-6 years. In the process, they help them understand about diversity and difference.
GSN has reached out to Senthorun Raj for further comment.
See also
We deserve more LGBTI representation in family-friendly media
Evangelical college overturns ban on LGBTI relationships on campus
