My Loves,
No amount of superstition, legislation, or public opinion could separate me from loving you and protecting you and providing you with a life that makes you happy, free, kind, and non-violent.
Every day of your life since you were old enough to go to school I have told you to be good and do good—to be kind, helpful, generous, gentle, awesome, and excellent.
You know that I love you no matter what and this applies to every situation there is.
So whatever you feel that you are, whatever you choose to be, and whatever you appear as to those who look on with judgment, I will be there to help you walk tall, be proud, and live your truth.
There are plenty of people out there in the world who—given the chance—would gladly stop you or protest the means of you becoming who you really are and reaching your full potential.
Are they bad people? No. They’re just misguided and don’t mind saying hurtful things. In fact, some of them are really nice people when you get to know them. Some of them live in our town, and some of them are in our family.
And if they got to know you—really know you for the amazing kids you are—they might not be so loud and hurtful about other kids just like you who are just trying to be the best kids they can be.
Because we know better.
And there are plenty of kids just like you who need friends who know how to be loving, compassionate, and understanding. The world is full of people—you never know who you’re going to meet and befriend.
You’re going to meet different types of classmates and neighbors who might dress or act differently, and you must always try to be a friend and get to know who they really are inside their brains and hearts.
So it’s up to you, kids.
Not a world full of protestors can change my mind on this. And trust me, they try and try.
But we know better.
Love,
Dad
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Photo: Meg Bitton Photography 2015, With Permission
Read Jeremy’s column every week on The Good Men Project, and thanks for sharing this!
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This is one of many #ThisIsHowSexismEnds prompts, essays, podcasts, memes, interviews, reviews, and articles over the next month that will focus on sexism, gender bias, misogyny, and ending prejudice against women as well as ending toxic hypermasculinity against men (and the overlap attitudes against all of us).
Please visit our page here for updates of who and where to read next! And join our #StopSexism group for weekly discussion and phone calls.
Now that’s fair, and a great way of being! Given the changes of our times, from his, I still live by MLK’s words, albeit a bit changed. Do not judge any human, by the dress they wear, the color of their skin, the manner in which they choose to express any and every part of the human existence, but by the strength of their character. That works for me.