They talk of freedom,
but force restrictions on
whose voices can be heard,
whose books can be read,
whose love can be legal.
They ask how a person can know their gender identity,
but don’t think about when they knew who they were.
They talk of safety,
but want adults
to look at children’s genitals
to determine which soccer team
they should play on.
They ask what the definition of a woman is,
but don’t think about defining a man by his reproductive role.
They talk of protection,
but storm into bathrooms,
their phone recording,
to catch a stranger
shitting in a stall.
They ask where all the old trans people are,
but don’t think about where all the old sequoias are.
They talk of innocence,
but never teach their kids
what love looks like,
what abuse looks like,
what the difference is.
They Talk of Safety
Published
M. Espinosa 
I’ve mentioned this elsewhere but in Thailand where I teach, kids are all over the map with their identity and no one cares. There’s no rules, no restrictions and little disrespect. I asked some of the female stupid about a boy who goes with them to the girls bathrooms and they said they don’t feel uncomfortable at all because he is actually more female than them. It’s been an experience! I’m sure there is discrimination and some bullying that I am not aware of but in general I don’t see or hear anything about it. Kids gossip but not usually about sexuality.
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I appreciate your perspective so much! It’s nice to know things can be mellower/more accepting somewhere. In the US, things have gotten much dicier, even if there was a time that seemed to be moving toward more acceptance.
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Hear! Hear!
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