Ray Fordyce

It doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is: You are worthy of love. You are deserving of respect. You are valued. And as a government, we’ll continue to have your back – this Pride season and all year long. Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Liberals, this is the problem. I don't have an issue with Pride month. I'm a straight married man with kids. I have gay friends. I've been to Pride parties and events. I'm comfortable in who I am. I even laugh along when my gay friends make fun of my masculinity. It's ok to poke fun at ourselves- we should do it as often as possible. You can have Pride months, years, decades- whatever you choose. If you want to celebrate your sexuality every day for the rest of your life, be my guest. But what I am not ok with is the expectation that I should throw my kids into the celebration just because you believe it's the virtuous thing to do. I'm not obligated to expose my children to anything I don't feel is appropriate for their level of understanding and maturity. It's my job as a parent to decide when they're ready to learn about the more complicated aspects of human life, and if I don't think the time is right then that's just what it is. You don't have the right to make that decision for me and you certainly don't have the right to sneakily introduce them to confusing concepts around sex and gender when I'm not present. That's called grooming and it's tantamount to luring a child for sex. I will educate them on these matters when I feel they're ready. That sentiment is not equal to hate or bigotry, it's just called being a responsible parent. Furthermore, I deeply resent this postmodern view on gender being forcibly thrust upon the gay community as if they now have to carry the mantle for transgenderism because liberals just assume they're the same thing. They're not the same thing. At all. Most gay men and women bear as much connection to transgenderism as heterosexual society does. Your proclivity to add a letter to an ever growing acronym because you discovered some new sexual identity you don't understand is showing us what you really think... They're a freakshow. Toss them into the circus tent with the other absurdities. I don't believe in that. Nor do I believe that I should be encouraging my kids to take part in it either. They will learn about the world as they grow, and as they learn I will be there to explain the more difficult concepts. That's my job. That's what I do. LEAVE MY CHILDREN OUT OF YOUR FUCKING POLITICS.