I had a deep discussion with my 18yo granddaughter about her feeling on various LGBTQ issues. She’s cis hetero and absolutely loves the freedom her generation has to be whatever they want to be. She’s had gay friends, trans friends and non-binary friends. They exchange clothing with each other and love experimenting without rules.
My 17yo grandson…the same. He’s cis hetero also and his best friend is gay. He says they laugh at how stupid some people are in getting bent out of shape over gender expression and homosexuality. They just don’t care and accept people for what they say they are and are happy for them when they find love or new friends.
We live in Northern Colorado in a rather Republican area even though the state runs true blue. Our city is about 100,000 people surrounded by farming.
This is what keeps my hopes up when I hear the distressing news. This generation also likes the idea of contributing their voices in voting. My granddaughter and grandson will both be voting age in the next election. While they both said some of their friends are wishy washy on voting, most are excited to be able to finally vote. I don’t think we can compare the last generation to this one. Their experiences were very different and their political savvy amazes me. We have hope for the future!
I just retired from teaching high school after 38 years. I noticed around the late 1990’s that the students in general became kinder and more considerate of others. But if someone was bullied or mistreated, most of the students would be irate at the aggressor. They insisted that everyone be treated fairly.
These young people grew up in a time when our visibility, struggles, and victories as gay people became daily news. Almost everyone found out that they had LGBTQ family, friends, and acquaintances.
Now that Gen Z has reached voting age and tuned out well in the 2022 election, I am encouraged.
The kids are all right.
They’re on the right side but in the right sort of area for that. Kids growing up in corn country are brainwashed to hate and praise gun-toting jeebus, and there are far, far too many twentysomething men who are adherents to Andrew Tate and that brand of toxic masculinity.
We don’t know who will win yet.
Many of these open minded kids are from these farm and ranch families. Will some become their fearful parents, yes. But, not all of them. They go to school in the cities. They aren’t growing up in the cocoon their parents did. They refuse to hate who their parents say to hate. I refuse to give up hope. The pandemic had more of an influence on them than their parental upbringing.
kids brainwashed the same way in the trailer trash states of NC,and esp. SC,but its alll ok ’cause jaysus….
Sadly, that demo is irrelevant to current events because of two reasons: they don’t vote and they don’t donate Dark Money. Those who do both know precisely what’s coming up to vote in larger numbers over time… and they’re pre-empting their power. Right. This. Second.
And yesterday was National Donut Day!