Catching up about gender and sexuality

Kathleen Anderson

I recently discovered a “new” newsletter from AARP called The Ethel, a free, weekly lifestyle newsletter inspired by  AARP's amazing founder, Ethel Percy Andrus. And I must say I have found it to be very interesting. It has enlightened me on some subjects and piqued my interest in others.

Some of the articles I have enjoyed so far have included:

“It’s Time to Stop Using the Term 'Senior Citizen,'” “Learn the Language of Age Discrimination,” and my personal favorite, “The Grandma’s Guide to Gender and Sexuality in the 2020s” by Amanda Robb.”

Two of my grandchildren are gay and the younger gay population’s use of their correct language has left me feeling out of the loop.

I have had several gay friends during my lifetime, but they were primarily in my age group. Perhaps I was just years behind others in my understanding but it seems to me the younger LGBT generation has transformed pronouns and definitions.

There are now terms I was completely unfamiliar with. For instance, people referring to themselves as non-binary, gender fluid or pangender.

People who prefer to be described as they or them,  I always thought of as a couple rather than an individual. The difference between transgender and transexual also left me in the dark.

Also very helpful was a list of questions not to ask.

My grandchildren, gay and straight, are not particularly patient with me when I ask questions. I think they think, as their grandparent,  I should be better informed, and I have to agree with them.

That’s why this particular article was so helpful to me. My gay granddaughter and her wife have two children, and I want them to be comfortable with any subject they might ever want to discuss with me.

Like many other parents and family members, the only concern I ever had about their sexuality was their safety and acceptance.

Would they be able to attend the church, club, or other organizations that interested them and be hired for jobs based on their qualifications, talents and educational background?

Would their children be discriminated against by other children, parroting what they hear at home?

I want them to be able to live in the neighborhood or state of their choice and have friends outside the LBGT community. I want them to be comfortable wherever they are, and with whomever they are with.

We have come a long way toward understanding what this special population has had to conquer to live a “normal” life. Articles like the one in The Ethel can be a giant step toward bridging the gap of understanding and acceptance of good people with different lifestyles, along with physical and emotional challenges.

If you would like to take a look at what else The Ethel has to offer, click here.

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia.  Contact her at  kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.