‘You adults are so difficult about it’
Patricia van Liemt is a radio presenter, writer and mother of Maria (12) and Phaedra (9). Every Friday she writes striking, honest, funny and above all recognizable columns about her life and motherhood.
Today is Purple Friday. This day started in the United States when students started wearing purple in 2010 to show their support for fellow students who are lesbian, gay, bi+ or trans. The color purple was chosen again because it represents ‘spirit’ in the rainbow flag.
The nail on the head
My daughter came home from school this week with a purple newspaper. When I asked her if there were any children in her class who needed this support, she replied “Yes, two”. When I asked her if she was okay with us paying attention to it, her answer was shocking. “Mom, we don’t worry about it. It’s you adults who are so difficult about it.” And with that she hit the nail on the LGBTIQA + head as far as I’m concerned.
Moral princess
Recently I was really quiet again when a friend complained about all the attention that non-binary people get these days. “Why do we have to adapt to such a small group of people?” she said, followed by a deep sigh. Without playing the moral princess here: isn’t that exactly what makes us human beings civilized? That we take care of each other and minorities in particular?
Confusion
What I also often hear is that with these kinds of ‘days’ we make the youth doubt their sexual orientation; that it causes confusion. But isn’t your whole adolescence one big confusion? Even if you’re ‘just’ straight? I used to kiss a girl once and I remember feeling very sinful afterwards. If that happened now, it wouldn’t matter. Just explore love. That’s nice.
Well, maybe you think I’m a huge gender quibble. Because I am also very much in favor of the transgender law that is currently in the House of Representatives. In any case, I am happy that my children can start looking for who they are and who they want to love in this life. I mean love is love.
OK, signing offI’m going to look for a purple sweater to wear today…
Would you rather listen to Patricia’s column? Which can. Every Friday between 2 and 4 pm she reads it on Wild FM.
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