Saying Gay Because Society Says Straight.

Saying gay so that others don’t ever have to feel like they have to conform to who society tells them they “should be”.

"We sip the poison our minds pour for us and wonder why we feel so sick." -Atticus

Saying gay so that kids can have the education and representation that many of us were never exposed to be able to feel seen, associate their identity, and establish a true sense of normalcy to instead of only seeing, being educated, and having heteronormativity constantly forced on them making them think that there are no other ways to exist or be.

Saying gay so that kids don’t have to be raised in ignorance not understanding what it means to be gay or feeling gay, but left thinking they have to live only one way because they don’t know any other way to identify.

Saying gay so that kids can be informed enough to know how they identify with their feelings, feel safe, and normal to express them while being able to grow into their own truth.

Saying gay to provide kids the chance to find identity that you didn’t get to simply because you weren’t educated to even know what it was or that it was an option for you.

Saying gay is about exposing kids about all identities and love so that they may find a voice that resonates with them instead of feeling like they have to embrace a voice that doesn’t sound like theirs.

Saying gay isn’t about changing or “influencing” any kids to “catch the gay” it’s about allowing kids to be seen for who are.

Saying gay isn't about changing who anyone is or who anyone is going to love. It's about providing kids with the space to safely be able to "say gay" if that is how they feel.

Conservatives who raise their kids to be anti-gay and forcibly "straight" don't understand that there is a big difference between conditioning someone and taking off the blind folds that were put on them.

There is a big difference in someone feeling seen living their truth and someone being conditioned to be and feel a certain way.

Saying gay so that kids feel comfortable enough to find their identity without being forced into another identity simply because they aren't exposed to any representation.

Saying gay so that kids are able to see all the norms that exist whether they identify with them and be able to healthily develop what their feelings and attraction mean.

Saying gay so that no matter how they’re raised they never have to fall into a way of conditioning and being that makes them think they have to be that way.

Saying gay to teach queer kids to be proud of who they are and love their authentic selves. Saying gay so that kids feel safe to come into finding their identities.

Saying gay is about building a sense of normalcy amongst peers that being queer is equally as valid and normal as being straight. That having two moms, two dads, or a mom and a dad are all normal. That kids that are queer or have queer parents are normal and not weird. That they need to respect however their peers want to identity.

Saying gay by educating kids about these things allows them to grow into adults who know themselves better, will be more accepting, and be more respectful to others while treating each other the same stripping many layers of stigma away that we learned when we grew up. It would create a more understanding society as a whole.

Saying gay so that kids are educated on all types of identities and sexualities so that they have a safe space to come into their own identity through seeing representation in others & so that all kids grow up learning many different types of “normal.”

Saying gay to create a place for kids to grow up in learning to be comfortable in their identity especially if it is very different than what they were raised to think.

Saying gay so that kids understand that it is perfectly normal and okay to feel how they feel and that it does not make them any less than anyone else no matter what the world may try to tell them.

Saying gay so that kids grow up with a culture of inclusivity rather than exclusivity.

Saying gay so kids get to see all types of representation being proud and fearlessly who they are and feel free to be confidently who they are.

Saying gay so kids grow up full of curiosity and open rather than narrow-minded and with an inherent dislike for anyone who goes against "their sense of identity."

Saying gay so that when kids decide to identify as gay they embrace it and don’t run from it. They love themselves and don't hate themselves having to learn how to come to terms with it. They know they're normal and don't feel "wrong."

Saying gay so that self expression is encouraged rather than discouraged.

Saying gay so that kids grow up in a society that welcomes and accepts everyone with as much love as the LGBTQ+ community does.

Saying gay so that it no longer becomes about tolerance but acceptance.

Saying gay to shift the mentality of regression to progression views when it comes to identity and acceptance for all.

Saying gay so that they can grow up in a world that doesn't tell them that "it's a phase" or to "pray the gay away."

Saying gay so that kids understand being queer is limitless rather than limiting.

Saying gay is stopping the mentality that homophobia creates in making people think being negative, hateful, and talking and acting derogatively about the LGBTQ community is okay.

Saying gay so that kids can grow up in a society who doesn’t talk badly about the queer community and treats them equally. To change the cycle by changing the attitude and mentality of how the community is viewed, talked about, and treated. Teaching people it’s unacceptable to be disrespectful and intolerant towards gay people. It’s desensitizing people to the feelings and to respect queer people as people, as equals.

Saying gay so that people understand that slandering and slurring the queer community is not okay. That making it seem like a joke is acceptable. That making fun of someone else's identity and sexuality is not okay.

Saying gay to teach all kids what being gay actually means so that they don't grow up saying something is "gay" as if it is a descriptive synonym for something stupid.

Saying gay so that people start to understand that it’s not okay to treat queer people as less than them and use slurs that are disrespectful to the community.

Queer identity is about a lot more than just sex just like being straight is. Anyone seeing identity as the same as sex doesn’t understand the complex concept of identity.

But then again, why would someone straight who has never felt out of place or struggled to find their identity know what that feels like?

"If you think kids are too young to learn about LGBTQ+ people, it's because you think that being LGBTQ+ is only about sex, it's not."

- @mattxiv

Conservatives are saying that this "don't say gay" bill is about teaching kids about sex because they don't understand that identity is about so much more than sexuality.

Sexuality is only a part of someone's identity that is made up of finding yourself, identifying your feelings, feeling safe, and comfortable in it which most queer people never had growing up versus the experience of straight people whom the world and media has done everything to make them feel normal, comfortable, and condition to think that is how everyone is or should be.

Saying gay because no one ever has to say straight.

But, nobody cares or says heterosexuality is only about sex because it’s hetero and not homo and so no one thinks even twice. Because everyone sees straight culture and heteronormativity as “normal” and “comfortable” except for all the gays. And that is why we need to say gay.

Identity is about way more than sexuality. Saying gay is about allowing kids to find their identity so that when it comes time to figure out who they’re attracted to they know who they are. Identity is about how someone chooses to express themselves in how they act, how they talk, how they dress, how they see the world, and who they choose to love.

What it looks like. What it feels like. How any attraction is normal. What representation of different normalcies may look. Teaching all the different ways that people can feel and express themselves in terms of sexual identities, gender identities, different types of families so that everyone can feel seen and identify with what feels right for them without being forced to be one way. And everyone learns to respect all the differences even if they don’t feel or identify in the same way.

Educating kids on different genders, sexualities, families, pronouns etc. isn’t a sexual thing until people make it one by assuming those things are all about sex and seeing it through that lens which kids don’t even understand the concept of at that point.

By refusing to educate kids on identity is making it all about sex when it isn’t. It is also reinforcing the wrongful mentality that being gay and queer is a choice that happens later on and not something that people are born with as part of who they are.

Saying gay so that the social stigma surrounding sexuality stagnates.

Heterosexuals conditioning their kids and pushing their lifestyles on kids without giving them a choice is harmful and traumatic.

Teaching kids to grow up by fitting into one specific identity is detrimental to their growth as individuals. It teaches them that it is not okay to be any other way. It teaches them that if they color outside the lines they should feel bad, that they should feel wrong, and that anyone else who is different from them is bad. It encourages them to stay closed, it encourages them to stay small. It teaches them that it is not okay to change or step outside of the norms set before them.

It is saying that sexuality is the whole identity of someone who identifies as gay which isn't true.

Identity is about figuring out who someone is and who they want to be. Someone’s identity does not revolve around sex. Someone's value should not change as a person does not change by who they choose to love. Someone's value should not change by the gender that they identify as.

Sexualization is something that society makes everything about when it doesn’t need to be. Life is about so much more than sex and straight people understand that but somehow can’t understand how gay people live just as normal lives as them just with added prejudice, judgement, and hate from society.

Saying gay so that kids feel comfortable enough to find their identity without being forced into another identity simply because of there being no representation.

Conditioning someone to live in an identity by hiding the world and making them be someone else will never change them or make them happy if that isn't who they are. Even if they fake it because they don't know any better, they will be settling for a life that they deserve to live to the fullest and freest being the most authentic version of themselves.

The fact that people are trying to making saying gay about not wanting kids to learn about sex clearly don’t understand that identity is a lot more complicated than who they will choose to love. Which kids at that age only understand a surface level version of love.

There is inherent heterosexual sexualization that happens to kids by the media and world around them but they don’t care or see it as that since they think that’s normal because it’s straight and not gay so it’s okay.

The books, the clothes, the verbiage people use, the toys, the movies, the music, even the social attitudes of adults all reinforce a heterosexual lifestyle with no representation of any of way to be.

Kids are so indoctrinated and “groomed” if you will, to turn out “straight” to the point where it is such a big deal and source of stress for queer kids to choose to “come out.”

Straight parents put so much pressure on them to fit into their dreams of who they wanted their kid to be without stopping to ask their kid about their dreams.

Saying gay so that kids feel like they are valid no matter who they choose to be and that you will love them the same, so that they never have to question "if you'll still love them."

Saying gay is about educating kids to know what actually exists because so many kids spend much of their lives wondering why they don’t fit in or feel “right” because they don’t know what else exists other than the straight norm and because they’ve seen nothing representative of anything different.

People say that the “don't say gay” bill is about sexuality but it’s about being homophobic and not wanting their kids to be anything other than just like them. It’s about them not understanding, no wanting or even trying to understand because it makes them uncomfortable.

Saying gay so that kids never have to feel like they "let their parents down" because they aren't straight as if they failed as a kid.

Parents are prioritizing their comfort and happiness over allowing their kid those things by letting them choose for themselves. Because no “conservative” wants to be the parent whose kid “ended up” gay.

Not saying gay is toxic for society. Not saying gay is detrimental for society. Being gay and queer is nothing new. It just seems like this to some people because they’ve been hidden in every way from any sort of exposure to their existence in the world.

It is damaging to not expose kids to all the ways that people choose to identify and express themselves that could help them feel like they fit in. The trauma that’s caused later from all the years they weren’t able to find themselves and figure out their identity because they were forced to be someone else, some other identity that they will have to heal and unpack.

Saying gay so that your kids are educated to know what to even relate and identify their feelings as.

Saying gay so that it doesn’t take kids years into their adult lives to figure out their identity simply because no one ever exposed them to know any different. So that queer kids won’t have to spend their adult years unraveling their past traumas and conditioned ways of existing trying to find their sense of identity.

Saying gay so that all the confusion many of us felt and went through, they are able to see more clearly and find their way through.

Saying gay is about teaching the existence of queer culture to kids so that they can find themselves in the world knowing they have more ways they can identify and express themselves than one.

Saying gay so that kids don't grow up into adults with internalized homophobia that are finding their queer identity and trying to process that at the same time.

Saying gay so that kids don't grow up with the negative perception that the "gay community" is bad, sinners, or are trying to make everyone gay too.

Saying gay isn’t about changing or “influencing” any kids to “catch the gay” or "turn gay" it’s about allowing kids to be seen who are. It’s about allowing kids to feel seen and giving representation.

Saying gay isn't about any "gay agenda." Because there is no gay agenda, it is the straight agenda that everyone should be worried about.

The queer community never tries to force anyone into any identity.

Saying gay so that kids don’t have to feel vulnerable because they know they will feel safe, accepted, and normal around their peers.

Saying gay so that kids grow up not worried about coming out because their friends might think that now they want to kiss "every single girl" because they don't understand that your attraction still is selective the same as if they were straight.

Saying gay isn't about convincing your straight kids to adopt a "homosexual lifestyle." Again, making being gay seem like a choice and sexualizing it because it makes people feel uncomfortable because they don't understand it.

Saying gay is about creating a healthy way for kids to learn about the LGBTQ+ community in the same way that kids have always been raised to learn about being straight.

Saying gay is about redefining the narrative that us a kids who are now LGBTQ+ adults grew up with, but with the only motive being to create a safe space for kids to find themselves in.

Saying gay to stop the stereotypes, misconceptions, and sexualization that happens about being gay when all the exposure and representation seen is skewed from straight education, opinions, and views.

Saying gay so that kids can learn about being queer without straight stigmas and stereotypes.

Saying gay so that queer kids understand that they don't have to fit into any one way of being "queer." So that they see the representation of all the different types of people who identify as queer.

Saying gay so that queer kids will be able to live rather than just exist, thrive rather than just survive.

So they don't downplay their own feelings just because they never saw or heard about anyone like them or so they don't think that they have to fit into one way of looking and acting to be queer.

Saying gay to show kids that there is so much between identifying between straight sexuality, cis gender, and fitting into the binary that society tries to tell them to be.

The spectrum of how people choose to identify and express themselves. Those who identify as femmes, non-binary, bears, transgender, pansexual, studs, gender fluid, queens, drag queens, etc. or simply identify as queer.

It is about creating a world where "all" kids can feel seen. A world where "ya'll does mean all."

Saying gay so that if it resonates that they can feel seen.

Saying gay so that kids don’t have to grow up in a homophobic society thinking they have to fit into straight norms.

Saying gay is giving them permission and freedom to express themselves, be whoever the fuck they want to be, and love whoever they want to becoming their most authentic selves.

Saying gay so that kids don't write off their own feelings and crushes by "hetero-normal" terminology like "girl crushes" or "just want her to be my best friend" just because they don't know how to correlate that their feelings are queer attraction.

Saying gay is putting your kids first by allowing them to find their own identity while creating a safe place for them to be educated about it and having open conversations at home.

Saying gay is about creating a culture for kids to grow up in full of love and acceptance for kids who are gay, straight, and everything in between.

Saying gay so that kids don't have to experience the same things we did growing up because we were forced to wear an identity and sexuality that wasn’t yours to wear before finding their true sense of identity.

Saying gay so that when kids decide that they are gay they can say it without feeling weird about the word "gay" or "homosexual."

Saying gay so that when they choose to identify that way that they can proudly be comfortable in being gay and unapologetically embrace that part of themselves.

"We don't want your straight kids to be gay. We want your gay kids to survive." - @deafqueer

Saying gay so they get to see representation to feel free to be authentically who they are, identify with what resonates, and fearlessly love who they want to.

Saying gay because life is hard and fitting in is hard enough for kids that they should never have to feel like they have to fit into a mold or live up to their parents expectations for who they should be.

Saying gay so that they confidently grow up knowing that they can be themselves and don't ever have to try to be someone else.

Saying gay so that no kid has to feel guilty for being who they are and loving whoever they decide to love.

Saying gay because after all that we've learned and have taken to heal and discover ourselves, it is our job to create a better world and society for the next generation to grow up in by moving forward and doing better than those before us.

Saying gay because it is something we had wished someone fought to say for us earlier to help us feel seen and understand.

The voice that our younger selves needed, we have to say gay so that kids get the representation they deserve to find their own identity.

Finding a way to belong and a sense of self is a different journey for us all but if we can help make that an easier path for kids that is our responsibility.

Saying gay because everything in society says straight whether it is apparent, inherent, or and understood attitude.

Saying gay is just as much for the straights as it is for the queer community. To learn how to do better and be an ally. To encourage each other to be different and love each other for those things. To support each other's happiness and validate each other. To understand better. To be a better human.

Saying gay is about saying it for our younger selves who weren't able to so that our future generations know gay without having to fight to say it.

Saying gay is about changing the narrative of the world that our kids get to grow up in, the world we continue to live in, and the world that we had to find our own identities in.

Saying gay is standing for kids to feel seen.

Saying gay is about creating a culture in society where we all can freely thrive instead of just surviving living as our most authentic selves.

Saying gay so that kids can feel safe to say that they’re gay.