Teaching Kids About Being LGBT
NEW YORK — A cohost, producer and writer emphasized the importance of teaching kids about gender and sexuality at an early age.

Lindsey Amer, CEO of Queer Kids Stuff, an educational web-series about being LGBT, spoke at a TED talk in June 2019.

“Talking to kids about gay stuff is actually crucial,” said Amer. “The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that children have a solid understanding of their gender identity by the age of four.”

As a result, Amer and their stuffed teddy bear have made several videos teaching kids. Amer said that the show is specifically made for kids aged 3–7, but everyone is welcome to learn from them.

Still, Amer said that suicide/homicide are still common among members of the LGBT community. “Lesbian, gay and bisexual teens are more than three times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, and transgender teens are almost six times more likely,” says Amer. Commentator Frances Martinez, mother of three children, added: “Hearing the statistics around suicide is really hard to hear because of [my child] recently revealing her true self, but it had a strong impact on me.”

Yet, despite Amer’s best efforts to teach inclusivity they said that the channel has a lot of negative comments and people who wish Amer was dead.

Despite the negativity in the world, Amer has said that they choose to be positive and happy.

“It’s OK to be gay,” says Amer in a singing voice with their ukulele. “We are different in many ways. Doesn’t matter if you’re a boy, girl or somewhere in between, we all are part of one big family. Gay means ‘happy.’ Queer Kid Stuff. You are enough here at Queer Kid Stuff.”

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['Cameron Martinez']
['Queer', 'LGBT', 'Education', 'YouTube', 'Gay']