Today, May 17th is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. The Hop Against Homophobia Bi- and Transphobia is just one way to help spread awareness. The Hop has over 100 participants all helping spread the word that Homophobia is NOT okay. That whether you're 1 or 10 or 100 your voice matters and can help turn the tables. To learn more about International Day Against Homophobia, please check out their website: http://dayagainsthomophobia.org/
As a mother I decided I'd take my time on Hop to share a bit what it's like raising my children to not be homophobic. To love and not hate. To understand, learn.
As a parent I face daily challenges. “I can’t find
my shoes,” is a daily struggle in my house. There are homework dramas, friends
not getting along dramas, and the ever popular, I don’t want to eat that
dramas.
However, I’m a lucky person. My children are
amazing. They are kind. Your race, gender, preferences, mean nothing to them. I
am raising my children to love people. Not certain people, but all people.
One topic that has come up in my house is gay
rights. With the wait to hear from SCOTUS and my constant support; my children
hear me… children hear everything.
One day my son asked me, “What are you reading?” I
happen to be reading an article about Matthew Shepard at that time. I told him
exactly that. Of course he asked, “Who’s that?” So, I told him. I told him
because he wanted to know but more importantly I felt he needed to know. He was
appalled. And so the questions came more often.
“Why would someone do that?”
“Were the people who did that gay too?”
“Did Matthew attack them and they were defending
themselves?”
And then came the ultimate one. The one we all ask
all the time… “Mom, I don’t understand. Can you explain to me why they felt
they had to do that?”
Explaining homophobia to my children was harder than
I thought. Why? Because by their logic it didn’t make sense.
“Why are people afraid of homosexuality, Mom?” my
daughter asked. “It’s not like it can hurt you. It’s not contagious.” She’s 7
by the way.
“It’s why in the definition it’s referred to as an
irrational fear, sweetheart.”
“Maybe they should do their homework then. When I’m
afraid or don’t understand I ask you and daddy. Or I find a book and read it.
Maybe they are scared because they don’t understand.”
These are the moments I know I’m raising my children
right. I don’t teach them to JUST love everyone. To JUST respect everyone. I
explain both sides. Let them let it sink in and answer follow up questions for
them.
Children are sponges. Parents, grandparents,
guardians, teachers. They are the ones that influence how they will view the
world. Before they are tainted by social media and ALL of society’s opinions,
these are the people that will shape their views.
When you teach your child to hate. They will hate.
When you teach your child to love. They will love.
Fortunately, times are changing. People ARE
learning. Younger generations are fighting the older generations. And they are
so so smart.
The next time you look in the eyes of a child, of an
innocence and future that is, in that moment, shapeless, realize the power you
have in molding them.
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As I stated above there are many people participating in this Hop. Some with their own personal experiences. Others explaining lessons they have learned, and shared. Many are authors who write in this genre and have something to say. You can check them out, read posts, enter giveaways here: http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com/
| 1. | Erica Pike (M/M) | 2. | Cherie Noel (M/M) |
| 3. | NJ Nielsen (M/M) | 4. | K-Lee Klein (M/M) |
| 5. | Bronwyn Heeley (M/M) | 6. | Chris McHart (Multi: M/M, TR) |
| 7. | Andrew J. Peters (GAY) | 8. | Prism Book Alliance (MM, FF, TR, Bi, Rev) |
| 9. | L.M. Brown (M/M) | 10. | Dianne Hartsock (M/M) |
| 11. | ScuttlebuttReviews (MM,FF,TR,BI,Rev) | 12. | Anne Barwell (M/M) |
| 13. | Anna Lee (M/M) | 14. | Draven St. James (M/M) |
| 15. | Anna Butler (M/M) | 16. | A.L. Wilson (M/M, Bi, TR) |
| 17. | Jacintha Topaz (BI F/F/M, F/F) | 18. | Blaine D. Arden (M/M, TR) |
| 19. | L. J. LaBarthe (M/M) | 20. | Iyana Jenna (M/M) |
| 21. | Kracken (M/M) | 22. | Victoria Zagar/Infinite Love (MULTI, REV) |
| 23. | Brandon Shire (Gay) | 24. | Lex Chase (M/M) |
| 25. | Amanda C. Stone (M/M) | 26. | Stephen del Mar (Gay) |
| 27. | JC Wallace (M/M) | 28. | Lasha's Reviews (REV) |
| 29. | Angela S. Stone (M/M) | 30. | Serena Akeroyd (M/M/F) |
| 31. | Marie Landry (F/F) | 32. | S.J. Frost (M/M) |
| 33. | Raythe Reign Publishing (M/M) | 34. | Susanna Hays (M/M) |
| 35. | Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae (GAY, BI, F/F, TR) | 36. | Kaje Harper (M/M, Bi) |
| 37. | Barbara Winkes (F/F) | 38. | Kat Fletcher (LES) |
| 39. | Moonbeams over Atlanta | 40. | Fever Dreams (Raven J. Spencer) |
| 41. | Kimber Vale (M/M) | 42. | Sexy Erotic Xciting~ Evelise Archer (M/M) |
| 43. | Amelia Bishop (MULTI) | 44. | Shayla Mist (M/M, DES) |
| 45. | Caddy Rowland(Gay)/Sibley Jackson (M/M) | 46. | Thursday Euclid (M/M) |
| 47. | Nic Starr (M/M) | 48. | Anastasia Vitsky (Governing Ana) (F/F, BI) |
| 49. | Blogger,reviewer,author, editor, promotion | 50. | Caraway Carter (M/M, Bi) |
| 51. | Grace R. Duncan (M/M, Bi) | 52. | Elin Gregory |
| 53. | Kade Boehme | 54. | Amberly Smith (M/M) |
| 55. | Remmy Duchene Mantasy (M/M) | 56. | L M Somerton (M/M) |
| 57. | Erin O'Quinn (M/M) | 58. | Lori Toland (M/M) |
| 59. | Tyler Robbins (M/M, M/M/M) | 60. | BFD Book Blog |
| 61. | BFD Book Blog (REV) | 62. | Crystal's Many Reviewers (M/M, F/F, TR, Bi, Rev) |
| 63. | Kenzie Mack (M/M, BI) | 64. | The Novel Approach Reviews |
| 65. | J.P. Bowie (M/M) | 66. | Devon Rhodes (M/M, Bi) |
| 67. | Thianna Durston (M/M) | 68. | Morticia Knight (M/M, Bi) |
| 69. | Bryl R. Tyne (M/M, TR, MULTI, F/F) | 70. | M.A. Church (M/M) |
| 71. | Books A to Z Book Blog | 72. | Catherine Lievens (M/M) |
| 73. | James Lee Hard (MM) | 74. | Eva Lefoy (M/M) |
| 75. | Matthew J. Metzger (MULTI) | 76. | Andrew Ashling (Gay) |
| 77. | Charley Descoteaux (MM, Bi) | 78. | Michael Mandrake |
| 79. | Kate Aaron (Gay) | 80. | DiverseReader (REV) |
| 81. | Hans M Hirschi (Gay, TR) | 82. | Aeryn Jaden (M/M) |
| 83. | Alex C.Clarke (M/M) | 84. | Louisa Bacio (M/M F/F Bi) |
| 85. | Talon ps & Princess so (MM, Bi, Poly, DES) | 86. | Tasha's Thinkings (M/M, Bi) |
| 87. | Christa Tomlinson (M/M) | 88. | Alexa Milne (M/M) |
| 89. | IndiGo Marketing & Design (DES) | 90. | Eva LeNoir (M/M) |
| 91. | A.V. Sanders (M/M) | 92. | B. Snow (MULTI) |
| 93. | Alexis Duran (M/M) | 94. | Dean Pace-Frech (M/M) |
| 95. | Lily G. Blunt (M/M, REV) | 96. | Joelle Casteel (MULTI) |
| 97. | Sage Marlowe (Gay) | 98. | Author Susan Mac Nicol (MM) |
| 99. | Sloan Johnson (M/M, BI) | 100. | Cody Kennedy (GAY) |
| 101. | Lea Bronsen (MULTI) | 102. | Brina Brady (M/M) |
| 103. | WindWhisperer (Erotica Whispers) (F/F) | 104. | Bey Deckard (M/M, BI) |
| 105. | Andrew Jericho (Gay) | 106. | NSBeranek (Gay) |
| 107. | Freddy MacKay (MM, BI, Queer Fic) | 108. | Mischief Corner Books (PUB) |
| 109. | Angel Martinez (Gay/Bi) | 110. | Catherine Dair Cover Designers (DES) |
| 111. | Toni Griffin (M/M) | 112. | Carly's Book Reviews (M/M, TR, BI, MULTI, REV) |
| 113. | Rory Ni Coileain (M/M) | 114. | M.LeAnne Phoenix (M/M) |
| 115. | Lucy Felthouse (Multi) | 116. | Bottom Drawer Publications (PUB) |
| 117. | Tempeste O'Riley (M/M, BI, Genderfluid, TR) |
GIVEAWAY
As a participant in the Hop I am doing a giveaway. One winner will win this awesome NOH8 tote bag And a $10.00 donation to NOH8 in their name.
Simply enter below!!! Since the Hop runs until May 24th, so does the contest :) Good luck to you all and remember your voice matters. Your guidance to our youth is vital!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
