Because it’s pouring down snow in upstate New York, because his mother-in-law just returned from the Galapagos, and because he is already dressed in his tuxedo for the black tie New Years festivities he attends every year at the fanciest local (rural) nightclubs, the Gay Uncle is naturally thinking of…penguins. Well, also because he recently received the following note from his pal Romi Lassally, genius mom and creator/editor of the amazing site True Mom Confessions:
I gave my son a club penguin membership for X-mas and he just informed me that he’s been married several times since becoming a member. I asked if he could only marry girls and he said “of course.” Any thoughts?
As all recent polling information has proven, young people are much less homophobic than older folks–at the very least, its clear that they oppose gay marriage in much smaller numbers than their more aged cohorts. And research has proven that when homosexuality is normalized instead of problematized–through education, through personal connection with a gay friend or family member–acceptance and understanding increases exponentially. The Gay Uncle recently completed a examination of the new Queer Literature for kids (which will be published later in January) that includes an analysis of the stellar gay penguin book “And Tango Makes Three” as well as instructional sections on how to “queer up” the books and media to which your kids are exposed, a practice he used to implement to great success at the preschool he ran in New York City. (Note: many of his former students are now teenage gay rights activists.)
Club Penguin is one of the most popular sites for kids ages 6-11. Since change often begins with the young, and since the Gay Uncle believes that everyone should be able to marry whoever they want–regardless of whether they’re men, women, or animated imaginary flightless water fowl–he and Romi are starting a campaign. As a kick-off, they’re launching a Facebook Group: Civil Rights for ALL Club Penguin Penguins. Click here to join it. And, please, spread the word.