We live in a society. And that means interacting with different people on a daily basis. Well, more or less. Not everyone can have a cabin in the woods with a small tomato garden and a few chickens running around, now can they! My point is - most of us have neighbors. Living out their own lives with their own rules.
Some of them get quite snoopy, forgetting to mind their own business when overtaken by curiosity. Yes, I saw you eyeing up my rose bush, Barbara! As long as you’re not stealing it or telling me how to tend to it, we’ll be fine.
But one neighbor decided to give their 2 cents as to what they thought of one man’s parenting capabilities (or lack thereof) just because his kids are both part of the LGBTQ+ community. But the man wasn’t going to let such insolence slide. Let’s dive into the details!
More info: TikTok
A new neighbor decided to say ‘hello’ by stating that the man had failed as a parent for having 2 LGBTQ+ children. The father was gonna take none of that
Image credits: fitxander
One sunny gorgeous day, a man’s new neighbor decided to say ‘hello’ and, also, insult him and his family. Apparently, they disagreed with the fact that his two kids, Xander and Claire, are part of the LGBTQ+ community, stating that it showed the dad’s failure as a parent. But the man wasn’t going to take this ridiculousness.
His son, Xander, posted a video on his TikTok account, showing his dad’s retaliation against the homophobic neighbor. The hedges surrounding his yard became adorned with large LGBTQ+ flags, lighting up the plain day with dozens of rainbows and creating a wall between them and the parenting “expert.”
Large pride flags adorned the hedges, separating the two households with dozens of rainbows in protest to the homophobic remark
Image credits: fitxander
Dad wasn’t always a supportive ally. The conservative Trump-supporting man was once ashamed of the fact that his children were gay
Image credits: fitxander
Dad wasn’t always a supportive ally. Some of the videos posted previously describe a time when the father was ashamed of his children for being gay. The conservative Trump-supporting man could not accept the LGBTQ+ community, or their values, and to be fair, you can’t blame him, especially as the majority of society was conditioned to believe in their threat.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a central theme of anti-LGBTQ+ organizing and ideology is the opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, often grounded in demonizing rhetoric and pseudoscience that portrays LGBTQ+ people as threats to children, society and often, public health.
LGBTQ+ people are often linked to pedophilia, regardless of the many studies showing that child molesters are overwhelmingly heterosexual or simply fixated on children, not homosexual.
However, everything changed when his wife and the mother of his children passed away, leading him to the realization that he’d been alienating those he loved most
Image credits: fitxander
Anti-LGBTQ+ groups primarily consist of Christian Right groups but also include such organizations as the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) that purport to be scientific. They claim that there is an existing conspiracy, called the ‘homosexual agenda’ that seeks to destroy Christianity and society as we know it.
As recently as 1980, the official psychiatric diagnostic manual listed homosexuality as a mental disorder. Both the conspiracy theory and the recent past remain a convenient hook on which to hang prejudices.
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''They see homosexuality as a sign that society is disintegrating and as a threat to their sense of morality,'' said Dr. Bob Altemeyer, a psychologist at the University of Manitoba. ''Their self-righteousness makes them feel they are acting morally when they attack homosexuals.
It overcomes the normal inhibitions against aggression.'' He notes that if a person’s hostility toward LGBTQ+ people is based on religion, their views are hardest to change.
It didn’t end there, as he stepped up to uplift a neighbor who was rejected by his family after coming out in his 70s
Image credits: fitxander
What made this dad overturn his views was a tragic loss in their family. His wife and the mother of his children passed away in 2019. The grief made him realize that he’d rejected and ostracized his family, friends and community, based solely on outdated prejudiced views. He was determined to never make that mistake again and set out to make it right.
He started celebrating his children and grandchildren, and even stepped in to support and uplift a neighbor who came out in his 70s. Because of this, his family rejected him. But the action of planting the pride flag has helped bring forth the message that he’s not alone.
The support of those you love the most cannot be underestimated and, sadly, a lot of children feel as though they've lost their parents once they come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
One such person, named Chris, refers to Coming out as 'the Armageddon.' His mum’s strong Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, stating that men who lie with men shan’t inherit God’s kingdom, alienated him from his family. “I was lonely and depressed,” he told The Guardian. “I prayed constantly to God to ease those crushing feelings. He didn’t.” His story is just one of many.
Not only did he start to support his kids and the LGBTQ+ community, but also celebrate and stand up for them
Image credits: fitxander
Hatred seems to come from misinformation and unjust prejudice. “‘Coming out’ is one of the most powerful strategies for attacking anti-gay prejudice,” said Dr. Gregory Herek, a psychologist at the University of California at Davis.
“This approach is particularly effective on those whose anti-gay attitudes are based on a negative stereotype that has never been challenged by socializing with someone who is gay.”
The neighborhood has tried to stop the man from putting up any pride flags, but the family seems to come out victorious each time
Image credits: fitxander
The innocent yet effective means of protest caught the attention of both the neighborhood and the internet, with some cheering the family on and others protesting against it.
One of the videos stated that the neighborhood watch told the dad that he was no longer allowed to fly the “gay flags.” But the dad checked and his house excluded the zone by two whole meters, and thus, more pride flags were set up.
Hatred seems to come from misinformation. Psychologists believe that ‘coming out’ is one of the most powerful strategies for attacking anti-gay prejudice
Image credits: fitxander
“Although the data might suggest that intolerance is gaining ground, I believe the opposite is true,” explained Kevin T. Berrill, director of the anti-violence project of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “In the years to come, I think that lesbian and gay people will experience both increased acceptance and increased violence.”
If you’d like some more information, here are some resources.
This dad and his two kids continue to support and educate. We wish them all the best and hope that the pride flags instill a sense of hope and inclusivity
Image credits: fitxander
This dad and his two kids continue to support all who belong to the LGBTQ+ community and aim to educate those who might not have had the opportunity to learn. No need to miss out on time together with your own flesh and blood just because of outdated societal norms. Anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, can support LGBTQ+ people.
You can watch the full video here
Affirmative action from parents can mean the world to any kid. It's one thing to support LGBTQ+ kids, but it’s a whole other thing to celebrate it. The pride flag is a symbol of hope and inclusivity, and may it forever flutter in the wind, especially in the face of an increasingly uncertain future.
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