Stereotypical

I am known (among family, friends and co-workers) to be very open-minded and against stereotyping any group of people. However...even I will admit that I find curiosity in seeing multiples of people that fit varying stereotypical types of behavior. That curiosity turned to fascination when I came across this ex-gay video on Towleroad. This guy seems to put no stock in, or give any credence to stereotypical behavior and evidently whatever therapy he went through to become ex-gay did not involve changing his mannerisms (or fashion sense).

Ignorance can be taught (a less personal example)

If the children are our future...this video from ABC News shows that Westboro Baptist Church is doing all they can to ensure that future is bleak.

At such a young age, 'parroting' what you've been taught is understandable, it's the parents who are inexcusably and frighteningly irresponsible and unintelligent. Perhaps this is a naive statement but how does someone get to that age and only advance that far in their thoughts, opinions and beliefs. (OK...even as I typed that I realized it is probably more common than many might think.)

The boy, like his sister, still possibly has a chance. I would love to be able to fast-forward 15 to 20 years and see if he learns to think for himself and use reason and experience to form his own opinions. That said, he does appear to already have some form of hate registered in his eyes.

Ignorance can be taught

I recently attended my niece's dance recital. The recital included a guest performer who was a respectfully accomplished professional dancer. He was male and mainly performed modern dance. I thought he was pretty good and in reading his bio I learned that he was a member of one of the dance troupes that my man and I went to see a year or so ago.

The next evening when having dinner, I asked a question about this guest performer. My sister immediately began to encourage her daughter (my niece) to explain how "creepy" this guy was...

"Show him how he clapped."
My niece then put her hands up to the side of her tilted head and clapped softly in an effeminate manner.

"How did he cross his legs?"
My niece crossed her legs at her knees and then folded her hands on her top knee with a prissy look on her face.

"Tell him about his jeans."
My niece explained that his jeans had a stripe of color below the knee and then were flared at the bottom.

"Everyone was laughing at him and making fun of him."
My niece giggled.

"I didn't like him at all, I don't why he was brought in to perform."

He was gay, and my sister and niece were sharing with me how creepy they thought that was...I was both saddened and shocked...