I think this is a big topic, but I'm willing to throw my 2c in. I wouldn't use the world "precious," but in general, I think his comment is valid. But it's nothing new. To me, his comment is less about the young LGBTQ+ generation, but the younger generation as a whole. But isn't that how it is for every older generation -- they think the younger generations are self-obsessed navel-gazers who don't appreciate the path the older folks carved before them? He is an old codger! He needs to embrace that and stand at his front door screaming "get off my lawn!"
I agree that so often the older generation is aghast by the demands that younger generations make of society, even those who fought for similar demands. There’s often a feeling of “I fought to get us this far and you should just be happy with it” instead of applauding those who aren’t settling for the status quo. I know that people want respect and credit for what they’ve done and the sacrifices they’ve made to make the world better but they run the risk of being “precious” about how and when progress is allowed to continue to be demanded.
Also, someone asking you to respect their gender identity isn’t a heavy lift, even if it is “new” vernacular. Dressing like Boy George used to also be called “attention seeking” when really it represented much more like visibility and re-defining who gets to look masculine and who gets to look feminine. Pronouns are about the exact same thing. Calling it “attention seeking” just plays right into bigotry’s hands.
“Kids just don’t understand. I don’t want to sound like an old codger, but they don’t get what people went through for them to be so precious..."
I would be genuinely curious to hear any thoughts on whether there's some merit to George's statement here, or it's baseless.
I think this is a big topic, but I'm willing to throw my 2c in. I wouldn't use the world "precious," but in general, I think his comment is valid. But it's nothing new. To me, his comment is less about the young LGBTQ+ generation, but the younger generation as a whole. But isn't that how it is for every older generation -- they think the younger generations are self-obsessed navel-gazers who don't appreciate the path the older folks carved before them? He is an old codger! He needs to embrace that and stand at his front door screaming "get off my lawn!"
I agree that so often the older generation is aghast by the demands that younger generations make of society, even those who fought for similar demands. There’s often a feeling of “I fought to get us this far and you should just be happy with it” instead of applauding those who aren’t settling for the status quo. I know that people want respect and credit for what they’ve done and the sacrifices they’ve made to make the world better but they run the risk of being “precious” about how and when progress is allowed to continue to be demanded.
Also, someone asking you to respect their gender identity isn’t a heavy lift, even if it is “new” vernacular. Dressing like Boy George used to also be called “attention seeking” when really it represented much more like visibility and re-defining who gets to look masculine and who gets to look feminine. Pronouns are about the exact same thing. Calling it “attention seeking” just plays right into bigotry’s hands.