Talking LGBT with family
Disclaimer, I am cis hetero male and I support LGBT rights.
When I arrived at my (moderately conservative) family's home yesterday, I was jokingly asked if I identified as male or female that day. So I answered with my gender.
Then I told them the "son day" dad joke to make them laugh about something wholesome.
Talking LGBT with family
Today, someone in a group conversation asked why trans people didn't just pick the opposite gender of their old name (for example, Donna instead of Don). I explained that many trans people weren't just cutting ties with their previous gender, but their previous identity as well, and that they referred to their old name as their "dead name".
The group was floored. I don't think they'd ever heard that term or realized how seriously many people take it.
Talking LGBT with family
I guess my point is, sometimes it just takes a little understanding and patience to win people over. People are more complex and compassionate than they often let on.
It's the small victories that count.
re: Talking LGBT with family
@faoluin Unfortunately, there's also the fact that many people just won't take it straight from the horse's mouth - folks like you are vital in helping others understand, if only because many if not most people will only trust people sufficiently "like them" to really take in new information and change their minds.
re: Talking LGBT with family
@Thaminga Exactly. Humans are tribal, as we always have been, and are more willing to accept information from their "tribe" as fact.