Polydoros, 27, says he feels safer in Canada. But nationwide protests in September over LGBTQ-inclusive school policies disturbed him.
Many demonstrations were held under the same name, “1 Million March 4 Kids.” Organizers say children should not be taught about LGBTQ identities in school, which they say amounts to the “indoctrination and sexualization” of children.
Canada is just America but with “polite” added before every descriptor. In fact, that makes it even worse because polite bigots don’t face any repercussions for their bigotry so can fester and become way more vile than the openly bigoted Americans who would lose friends over it.
Maybe it depends on where you live, but I’ve told off a few people I’ve worked with over the years when they said something awful. Only 1 got really defensive and angry about it, the others were just older guys who needed a reminder to change their vocabulary and were apologetic.
That’s just it. “Change their vocabulary” None of the underlying racism gets challenged, it just goes on the down low.
I know what you’re saying, but sometimes it is just the vocabulary.
I remember a conversation with an older woman remembering fondly going dancing with her gay friends.
The words she were using would be considered slurs today (even if a bit dated) but they were not meant maliciously.
It’s easy to assume bad intentions, but it does happen that it’s just someone that’s not informed of the current “correct” vocabulary, and that’s okay as long as it’s addressed.
It’s been my experience that for every 1 genuine mistake there’s like 20 people who just don’t do it around you. I take a noninterventionist and moral neutrality stance when interfacing with people, and you wouldn’t believe how many people think that means they have carte blanche to drop all kinds of slurs around me in private when they think nobody else is listening because they think my lack of pushback is because I agree with what they’re saying, not that I vehemently disagree but would rather they be open about their vile views than just mask them up.
Listening then pointing out contradictions in their reasoning goes a lot more to actually tackle the racism than telling them to shut up does.