Gender Identity

Hello everyone! I’m normally very excited to share my thoughts here, but this week I’m very nervous. I was even nervous for the discussions in class because the topic this week is something that has become very controversial. Everyone has their own opinion and then you add religion to it, it can get a little heated sometimes. I hope that I am able to express my thoughts in a way that is respectful and honest. I want this to be a safe place for me to share my opinions as well as any of you who feel inclined to share any thoughts that come to your mind. Now with all that said let’s get into it! Over the past few years anything surrounding the LGBTQ+ community has become a very hot topic and extremely controversial. For a long time, I avoided any news articles or discussions about it. I was so conflicted with my own beliefs and I knew that some of them wouldn’t align with my friends. I watched many of my friends cut people out of their lives because their opinion wasn’t the same as theirs. I didn’t want to be the next person, so instead I kept my thoughts to myself. This past week I think I have gained a better knowledge and understanding of what I believe in and I think I’m finally ready to share it. As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and that children benefit greatly when they are raised by a mom and dad. Before I move on to the next part, I just want to make it clear that I do not dislike or look down upon people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. Personally, I believe that we should all strive to love everyone, even if their life isn’t what we believe it should look or be like. Last week a family member shared her thoughts on raising her children in a home where they can be what they chose to be. I thought it was really cool that she shared this right before we started discussing the same thing in class. I want to share some of her thoughts that have really stuck with me. She said, “A choice we made a while ago was not to make assumptions about our kids. They’re still growing up and figuring out who they are… We have said we will love who you love. I have no idea what paths my kids’ lives will take, but wherever they go, we want them to be safe, happy, and loved.” This post made me think about how I want to raise my children in the future. I know people believe very different things about this, but I personally don’t think people who are gay or lesbian choose to be attracted to their same gender. I didn’t choose to be attracted to men, so why would someone who is gay or lesbian any different? I want my future children to feel comfortable and safe in our home and feel accepted for who they are. The home is the one place that they should be able to be who they truly are without the harsh criticism and judgement of the world. I don’t want to force them to be who I want them to be. Parents have a really powerful impact on their children and have a responsibility to help them feel loved and discover who they are. Every day I am striving to better inform myself on important issues in the world and I think this was the first step for me.