LGBT people have made significant strides in recent decades.
Much of the community is lucky enough to be themselves openly, with few people mistakenly regarding them as abnormal in most of the western world.
So why do so many feel the need to shield children from their existence?
This question arose after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)'s political debate program Question Time posed a question of its own on Twitter.
Our final question is about learning about relationships at school. #bbcqt https://t.co/QgVKWjiXnw— BBC Question Time (@BBC Question Time)1553815485.0
The question hinges on the presumption that LGBT people are abnormal, since no one questions whether or not it's "morally right" for young children to be fed fairy tales with heterosexuals in love or jokingly asked by adults if they have a boyfriend or girlfriend.
No one pontificates on whether or not straight couples on billboards and magazines should be shielded from young eyes.
This is likely because heterosexual relationships are seen to have more facets than sex. LGBT relationships—and people—aren't always granted this presumption of nuance.
As many pointed out, LGBT people exist and their existence alone isn't inappropriate for children.
@cutesnoot @AnaMardoll @bbcquestiontime Nailed it. I’m so tired of people acting like our existence is somehow up f… https://t.co/h2cgMTMUVA— Danielle Eadie (@Danielle Eadie)1553820808.0
@_Gmannn @bbcquestiontime Too young for what? My 5-year-old son asked why one kid in his class had two dads, so we… https://t.co/orlD3u0OMq— Pete,Rat Race Cycles (@Pete,Rat Race Cycles)1553816875.0
@bbcquestiontime Shame on you for this phrasing. Morally right. WE EXIST. WE’RE NOT GOING AWAY.— Tom [PositiveLad] (@Tom [PositiveLad])1553849188.0
Children are perfectly capable of understanding that two people of the same sex can love each other and have a perfectly healthy relationship.
@bbcquestiontime My best friend is gay and my children have always known this. This has made my children accepting… https://t.co/lEHGsm5lzh— karen kenyon (@karen kenyon)1553816071.0
@DrRanj @bbcquestiontime I don't think they've ever had a conversation with a 5 yr old - they are the most magical,… https://t.co/Ok32bNzE4l— Mrs W Tutus (@Mrs W Tutus)1553891043.0
@bbcquestiontime My granddaughter came out of school today and pointed out her teacher , she made a point of pointi… https://t.co/i70krYXdK1— Gord#FBPE (@Gord#FBPE)1553820885.0
@Unclearengineer @_Gmannn @bbcquestiontime Yes, of course. Far better that kids learn at 5 years old that it's norm… https://t.co/WtHw8rVpeW— Pete,Rat Race Cycles (@Pete,Rat Race Cycles)1553818353.0
@bbcquestiontime I mean, my three-year-old is mature enough to both explain to other kids that she has two mommies… https://t.co/3qoKAkmZcT— The Ineffable Em Grace (@The Ineffable Em Grace)1553881165.0
Turns out, the question sounds bonkers when 'LGBT' is replaced with 'heterosexual.'
@bbcquestiontime Is it morally right for 5 year old children to learn about heterosexual issues in school? Why do s… https://t.co/K2VJJ2dgiB— Dr Finn Mackay (@Dr Finn Mackay)1553846472.0
@bbcquestiontime Imagine if society had a moral mandate to hide the existence of heterosexual relationships from ch… https://t.co/gQFDaUt0I9— Alexandra Erin (@Alexandra Erin)1553857295.0
Soon, people were asking Question Time some questions of their own.
@bbcquestiontime is it morally right for whoever chose this question to be fired? hint: this has the same answer as the original question— Luna Brekke (@Luna Brekke)1553893531.0
@bbcquestiontime Question: in what way was it morally right to pose this as a question?— Elliot Vaughn (@Elliot Vaughn)1553879597.0
@bbcquestiontime Is it morally right for the BBC to peddle homophobia?— Jordan Raskopoulos (@Jordan Raskopoulos)1553891614.0
@bbcquestiontime Is it morally right for five year old children who have gay parents to feel that their families ar… https://t.co/HUhgehxnYm— MichaelT (@MichaelT)1553843645.0
Do better, BBC.
