"But it will confuse the children!"
When marginalized people exist unapologetically in public, some bigoted people say things like âBut it will confuse the children!â
This is about as ridiculous as saying âDonât pour water there! It will get the fish wet!â
Most of the world is confusing to children, because they havenât had time to learn very much about it yet. Kids have to learn even really basic things. Some examples of stuff kids arenât born knowing and often find confusing:
Door open *and* close.
Light switches can turn lights on and off.
Some things belong to you and some things do not.
Not everything that looks appealing is edible.
When youâre in public places, you have to wear clothes.
Some people are relatives and some people arenât.
Everyone has a name.
People like different things.
Holidays exist.
Not everyone celebrates the same holidays.
It is possible to read books.
If you let go of a ballon outdoors, it will almost always float away.
Even when you are very upset, it is possible to communicate without screaming or hitting anyone.
Youâre not going to break children by existing in public as a marginalized person. Even if they are confused, nothing terrible will happen. Children are good at thinking about things they donât understand and learning new things. Kids are confused a lot; thatâs part of being a kid. They are learning, and itâs ok.
