Librarian with provocative t-shirt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty much as progressive as they come and I'm shocked anyone thinks this would be appropriate to wear in any workplace, especially a public/customer facing job.

Same. But now I’m rethinking how progressive I am bc I would not want to have to explain this shirt to my elementary school student.

We have had two-mom families in our classes, but I did not and would not have explained them as lesbians. We explained as “Larlo has two moms and there’s many types of families and that’s okay.” DC said “oh” and moved on

So yea I think the shirt shouldn’t be worn at school

Why are you afraid to "explain" lesbians to your kid? What is there to explain? These are people married to one another the same way you are married to your husband. When you encounter heterosexual parents, do you feel the need to "explain" to your kid what they do in the privacy of their bedroom?

OP, is this you adopting a less insane persona to see if we'll get on board your crazy train?

No, I’m a new poster who finds this conversation interesting and it is making me think through how I would react in this scenario.

For me, there is a difference between “Larlo has two moms” and “Larlo’s mom is a lesbian” to which my kid would immediately follow with “What is that?” and I wouldn’t want to go into the actual answer “it’s someone who prefers marry women instead of men” (“Marry” just for the kid convo).

To echo my response above, I also wouldn’t describe couples as heterosexual or straight. It seems like an unnecessary qualifier that would lead to conversations we’re not wanting to have right now with a young elementary student.

[Anonymous]

It’s 2025. The tshirt sounds fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty much as progressive as they come and I'm shocked anyone thinks this would be appropriate to wear in any workplace, especially a public/customer facing job.

Same. But now I’m rethinking how progressive I am bc I would not want to have to explain this shirt to my elementary school student.

We have had two-mom families in our classes, but I did not and would not have explained them as lesbians. We explained as “Larlo has two moms and there’s many types of families and that’s okay.” DC said “oh” and moved on

So yea I think the shirt shouldn’t be worn at school

So you think your child can understand the concept of two moms but not that they are called lesbians? Or is it that you think lesbian is a bad word?

It’s a sexually-charged word, identifier, what have you. I also wouldn’t call other couples heterosexual and then explain what that means. To me, it’s unnecessary and a sexual preference conversation isn’t age appropriate.

It's not a sexually-charged word unless you, personally, finding tantilizing. Most people don't. If you do, that's cool, but don't project that onto your child.

Charged meaning would have to further explain to my child. But this made me lol thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yawn.

You need real things to worry about.

Yep.

[Anonymous]

OP, just report it if you want to. You must know that everyone in the administration and every present and future teacher your son has at that school will know that you contacted the administration to object to the word "lesbian" on a t-shirt. Probably other parents will also know (in my experience, children of faculty and staff often attend independent schools and their parents talk to other parents). If you don't mind being that person in this school community (and identifying your son as belonging to "that family") then you should do it, just know what you are getting into. People who work and teach at this school likely have gay and lesbian friends and family (as most people do). They are probably not going to think well of you. The reaction you've received on DCUM is probably representative of how your complaint will be received among the school community. Many teachers, staff, and other families will likely identify you as a narrow-minded bigot. Whether that's fair or not, that's how it will come across. And your son will carry that perception into his own social connections. I have to wonder what you are hoping to gain, given that your son has already seen the t-shirt (and in 4th grade almost certainly already knew what a lesbian is).

But if you think the principle is important enough, then follow your conscience. There's really nothing more to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty much as progressive as they come and I'm shocked anyone thinks this would be appropriate to wear in any workplace, especially a public/customer facing job.

Same. But now I’m rethinking how progressive I am bc I would not want to have to explain this shirt to my elementary school student.

We have had two-mom families in our classes, but I did not and would not have explained them as lesbians. We explained as “Larlo has two moms and there’s many types of families and that’s okay.” DC said “oh” and moved on

So yea I think the shirt shouldn’t be worn at school

Why are you afraid to "explain" lesbians to your kid? What is there to explain? These are people married to one another the same way you are married to your husband. When you encounter heterosexual parents, do you feel the need to "explain" to your kid what they do in the privacy of their bedroom?

OP, is this you adopting a less insane persona to see if we'll get on board your crazy train?

No, I’m a new poster who finds this conversation interesting and it is making me think through how I would react in this scenario.

For me, there is a difference between “Larlo has two moms” and “Larlo’s mom is a lesbian” to which my kid would immediately follow with “What is that?” and I wouldn’t want to go into the actual answer “it’s someone who prefers marry women instead of men” (“Marry” just for the kid convo).

To echo my response above, I also wouldn’t describe couples as heterosexual or straight. It seems like an unnecessary qualifier that would lead to conversations we’re not wanting to have right now with a young elementary student.

But your kid would not assume any sexual connotation out of either of those explanations. You’re doing that. May I offer “lesbians are women who merry other women.” Very likely the kid goes “ok” and moves on. They’re not overthinking it or sexualizing it like you are.

[Anonymous]

Slogans generally aren’t professional dress. I would feel the same about a male teacher wearing an “everyone knows I love women” shirt or an “Everyone knows I love gay men”. I think it’s professional to announce your preferences on a shirt. But I don’t think any slogan on a shirt should be work in a professional workplace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty much as progressive as they come and I'm shocked anyone thinks this would be appropriate to wear in any workplace, especially a public/customer facing job.

Same. But now I’m rethinking how progressive I am bc I would not want to have to explain this shirt to my elementary school student.

We have had two-mom families in our classes, but I did not and would not have explained them as lesbians. We explained as “Larlo has two moms and there’s many types of families and that’s okay.” DC said “oh” and moved on

So yea I think the shirt shouldn’t be worn at school

Why are you afraid to "explain" lesbians to your kid? What is there to explain? These are people married to one another the same way you are married to your husband. When you encounter heterosexual parents, do you feel the need to "explain" to your kid what they do in the privacy of their bedroom?

OP, is this you adopting a less insane persona to see if we'll get on board your crazy train?

No, I’m a new poster who finds this conversation interesting and it is making me think through how I would react in this scenario.

For me, there is a difference between “Larlo has two moms” and “Larlo’s mom is a lesbian” to which my kid would immediately follow with “What is that?” and I wouldn’t want to go into the actual answer “it’s someone who prefers marry women instead of men” (“Marry” just for the kid convo).

To echo my response above, I also wouldn’t describe couples as heterosexual or straight. It seems like an unnecessary qualifier that would lead to conversations we’re not wanting to have right now with a young elementary student.

So OP, you were doing a great job hiding your identity with "I'm a new poster" (totally normal thing to say) until you also said "to echo my responses above." Um. Please seek counseling for this weird obsession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former teacher at a liberal private school in dc. Funny shirt, wrong environment.

Agreed. Farmer’s market on the weekend? Totally fine. At your job in an elementary school? Not okay.

It wouldn’t be acceptable in my office, I don’t know why people think it’s okay in a school.

👍🏻

[Anonymous]

I’m trying to imagine the reaction if a male gym teacher at an elementary school wore an “Everybody knows I love straight women” shirt. Would we really be okay with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to imagine the reaction if a male gym teacher at an elementary school wore an “Everybody knows I love straight women” shirt. Would we really be okay with that?

Not really acceptable. At least in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to imagine the reaction if a male gym teacher at an elementary school wore an “Everybody knows I love straight women” shirt. Would we really be okay with that?

Nobody agrees with you. Let it go. You seem obsessed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to imagine the reaction if a male gym teacher at an elementary school wore an “Everybody knows I love straight women” shirt. Would we really be okay with that?

Nobody agrees with you. Let it go. You seem obsessed.

This is my second post on the thread. Not obsessed, just in wonderment that people are defending this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty much as progressive as they come and I'm shocked anyone thinks this would be appropriate to wear in any workplace, especially a public/customer facing job.

Same. But now I’m rethinking how progressive I am bc I would not want to have to explain this shirt to my elementary school student.

We have had two-mom families in our classes, but I did not and would not have explained them as lesbians. We explained as “Larlo has two moms and there’s many types of families and that’s okay.” DC said “oh” and moved on

So yea I think the shirt shouldn’t be worn at school

Why are you afraid to "explain" lesbians to your kid? What is there to explain? These are people married to one another the same way you are married to your husband. When you encounter heterosexual parents, do you feel the need to "explain" to your kid what they do in the privacy of their bedroom?

OP, is this you adopting a less insane persona to see if we'll get on board your crazy train?

No, I’m a new poster who finds this conversation interesting and it is making me think through how I would react in this scenario.

For me, there is a difference between “Larlo has two moms” and “Larlo’s mom is a lesbian” to which my kid would immediately follow with “What is that?” and I wouldn’t want to go into the actual answer “it’s someone who prefers marry women instead of men” (“Marry” just for the kid convo).

To echo my response above, I also wouldn’t describe couples as heterosexual or straight. It seems like an unnecessary qualifier that would lead to conversations we’re not wanting to have right now with a young elementary student.

But your kid would not assume any sexual connotation out of either of those explanations. You’re doing that. May I offer “lesbians are women who merry other women.” Very likely the kid goes “ok” and moves on. They’re not overthinking it or sexualizing it like you are.

It seems like you are offended but unfortunately you don’t decide how people raise their children or how topics are introduced to them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to imagine the reaction if a male gym teacher at an elementary school wore an “Everybody knows I love straight women” shirt. Would we really be okay with that?

Nobody agrees with you. Let it go. You seem obsessed.

This is my second post on the thread. Not obsessed, just in wonderment that people are defending this.

No, you are the OP. You aren't fooling anyone.