By PAUL NATINSKY
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The myriad mass of identity labels and the puzzling potpourri of personal pronouns. Both noble in origin and all overwhelmingly obfuscating when used as self-righteous political and social weapons rather than as clearly focused agents of social change to help give shape and voice to marginalized populations.
If patience and perspective are stirred into these movements, their effectiveness will be magnified. As has long been the case, prior generations are courser, less refined and more exclusionary than the latest rendition of humanity.
Some changes are well defined and easy to understand. Quit making jokes and derogatory comments about gay people. Don’t do anything to people, physically or otherwise that they don’t want done.
But it’s harder to understand and embrace the complex new world of very specific self-labeling. Non-binary, polyamorous, pansexual (and their accompanying flags and symbols) are much more difficult terms to decipher, let alone accept than established groups like the gay community. Regarding the case of newly vocalized and complex identities it’s as important to understand the overarching purpose and effect of these labels as it is to understand the nuances of each.
Regardless of their individual dispositions, people hailing from the Boomer generation, Gen-X and the OG part of the Millennial set need time and a patient educational approach to internalize these concepts.
Becoming angry about misused pronouns or judgmental about ignorance regarding newly articulated gender and sexual identities does not help move the needle forward. Remember, many from prior generations grew up using derogatory terms for the queer community as casual, middle-school insults. The struggle is real.
Popular culture and mainstream media along with denizens of the current generation are fast educating the masses on these concepts. But the broadening of acceptance, understanding and kindness toward the full spectrum of our society would be accelerated by depoliticizing the message. And, after all, isn’t that the purpose of developing and disseminating these messages?