What you’re saying is that–FOR YOU–sex and gender is easy. You do not speak for all cisgender people, buddy. Some cisgender people ALSO struggle with their identity, and thus teaching children at a young age about gender identity and sex to allow them the freedom to explore their identities is helpful.

Your argument boils down to: People are too afraid and confused too talk about sex and gender… which is why we should stop talking about sex and gender.

I think you were downvoted for saying you agree with Trump.

While I disagree with your statement about children being asked to question thier gender (i think kids should – and will – just be who they are and how they feel, and parents of a potentially trans kid have a tough job learning how to properly support that) I’m really glad that your mind isn’t closed on this subject and that you are open to new information and points of view.

I’m usually happy to talk to anyone about sex and gender when they ask in good faith. The trouble with being online is that it is often difficult to discern when someone is debating or questioning in good faith, or trying to be mean. Trans people are constantly being attacked online for simply existing, so it’s understandable when they are upset when you say that you support laws that violate their human rights.

As a non trans person, I also have struggled with understanding how it all works. It’s hard to understand and sometimes fully empathize when you have no idea what the feelings and thought process even are for someone that’s trans. I’ve since had lots of conversations and done a lot of learning to better understand it even if I can’t personally relate.

There’s more to sex and gender than genitals and being trans or not trans, and whether we think about it or not, I believe that we’re all affected by it. I’m a straight man, yet I still struggle with it not because of my gender identity, but because of the cultural gender norms surrounding what being a “man” is. I don’t fit nicely into those norms, and I don’t really want to. People get criticized as being more of man or woman or less of a man or woman for lots of reasons because of these norms. I’m not saying you do, but it happens way too often.

Now add someone that beyond not feeling like they fit into these gender norms, they also feel they don’t fit into the gender they feel they’ve been assigned. It’s a lot to take in and the answers are tough for someone to even dare to accept for fear of the vitriol and hate that can come from family and other people.

You might not think of these things or that they aren’t complicated, but you shouldn’t assume that others don’t either. And children aren’t being asked what gender they want to be like it’s a profession or something. It takes a lot to get anything going: conversations with parents, doctor’s visits, and they can only get certain treatments depending on their age.

As for the hate people get for talking about these things, I get where you’re coming from. But I think many people are talking about these issues and joining the conversation when they have little knowledge about everything that goes on, and instead of listening and educating themselves, they come in with preconceived believes about their personal understanding even though it doesn’t relate. These are complicated issues.