In need of sex education

Oh Monica, the test to my intellectual capacity is that I was always clear on what it means to be male or female as I was socially programmed from an early age to understand and relate to people in a binary manner. No sex education at school, but in the woods behind the park we learnt what little boys bodies looked like and they learnt what little girls looked like. So far so good. Now it is my imagination that is insufficient to know what the unclear would look like. However, I can imagine that it might be awkward, uncomfortable or distressing to not fit in with societal norms. Likewise, we gossiped about what our parents had done in order to produce us, and we needed the factual information. I don’t feel comfortable with trying to think about what other people do in the privacy of their personal relationships so I choose not to.
Having said all that beating people up in public places for the sexual orientation, gender or agender, performance or lack of it is very clearly unacceptable and suggests that I’m not the only one who doesn’t fully understand the issues involved

I'm with absent - who does what to whom in the privacy of the bedroom (or wherever|) is no business of mine as long as they do no harm to anyone.

But I guess there is something to be said for being up to speed on current thinking so that you can keep up with the GC and what they are being taught, so you can say the right things and not seem ignorant! - mind you I don't understand the maths they are being taught, nor the English!!

Thank you Bradfordlass, I’ll go and look at the link you suggested now. And, good point Doramarr, it might become relevant in the future or even be more relevant than I realise.
Either way, it occurs to me that maybe, with so many more possibilities than I was aware of, people will be having relationships with other people rather than with genitals.

I think it is so sad for people who feel they have been born in the wrong body. At least now it is more acceptable and they can be helped.
I heard of a baby born recently whose parents were told to choose whether it was a girl or a boy. The baby did not have predominant features of either sex.
Sexuality has so many facets and hopefully we are becoming more open.

I'm with BlueBelle.

I am not quite sure what is testing your intellectual capacity, given that you have written a clearly thought out post and done research.

All but a very small number of people are born with bodies that are clearly male or clearly female. However sexuality is a line from totally heterosexuality to totally attraction to own gender and all of us are somewhere on that line. Separately some people are born with a body of one gender and mind of the other.

It has always been thus, though only recently has this been understood as being the result of nature not nurture or personal choice.

Apart from that I had a religious upbringing and was taught that all are equal in the sight of God. This means I am really not interested in people's gender, hair colour, sexuality, race, religion or anything else. What matters is not what they are but who they are and how the behave to others.

I agree with Bluebelle too.

I know DD feels the same when it comes to her sons.
She has several gay male friends, both couples and singles, they seem drawn to her

What bluebelle said.

No Doramarr I do not need understanding of complex titles to love and accept someone Anyone in my family can be what they feel they want to be and they will always be accepted by me I do not need to know more than that

It may not relate directly to you now, but it might in the future. You may have family members who are not straight, and your understanding may be needed then.

Totally agree absent I don’t want to know what others feel, love, do, I think huge mistakes are being made by shouting about what you are want to be or do from the high hills

Just get on with it, it doesn’t need to be announced people are people accepted for how they behave with others not what they feel they should or shouldn’t be called

I don't care who has a sexual relationship with whom, who loves whom, who marries whom, who lives with whom, so long as no one damages and hurts children and no one forces an unwilling adult.

A gay marriage has nothing to do with my marriage – it doesn't make it better or worse; in fact, it doesn't change or affect it in any way. Two women passionately kissing each other at a bus stop might make me feel slightly awkward in exactly the same way as a man and woman kissing each other passionately at a bus stop.

Maybe we would be better keeping our more passionate moments private whatever our sexuality.

First of all, whilst it may seem as if there were "only two genders" when we were at school, there wasn't.

Since time immemorial there have been many shades of sexuality and asexuality - but they were ignored, scorned or, as you say, judged by the ignorant, to be illegal.

We've learned better in modern times.

I have many wonderful friends in the theatre who are not 'just' male and/or female, so I have learned a great deal about gender diversity over the years.

So naturally, I would encourage you to learn too but what you do about it, or if it has any impact upon your life, is your choice.

Unless you know any gay, lesbian. bi, trans, asexual etc., people, I can't see that it will matter to you, other than that you are more informed and therefore understand the complex situation a little better.

Personally, I think the changes have come about because people have begun to learn more, realise what difficulties are encountered and been supportive of the rights of people outside the very narrow male/female spectrum.

You might start with this:
teara.govt.nz/en/gender-diversity/page-1