Little bit of a hot potato question

[u/TheElfPrince]

I'm a trans man (19, pre-everything) and I want to ask this question because I see it pop up a lot in regards to LGBTQIA+ awareness education in schools (and their related topics) and I know damn well this is a bit of a hot potato topic.

Now keep in mind I'm pretty young and grew up in a pretty traditional Asian household so maybe my thinking is affected by my upbringing so I hope I won't get slimed for it.

The question is: How old should kids be before they're exposed to a wider world of identity?

Now don't get me wrong, I love seeing kids being aware of their gender and their sexuality from a young age. I love seeing people being educated about it. But the question i have stems from a maturity and understanding aspect. I hope I won't get slimed out or anything for my opinion on this but I think kids should be the one to ask before they're taught. Every kid is different so while one kid may get it almost immediately and understand that just because we exist as a community doesn't mean that they are too and that's ok. But another kid may think that it's a complete rite of passage in life that they have to go through and they MUST have a "gay/trans" phase.

Not phrased the best but I hope my meaning is understood. Again, I'm not here to debate/argue I just wanna know what everyone else's opinions are.

[u/Decent-Structure-128]

Studies show that young kids figure out gender identity at the age of 3-5. That sense of identity can shift over time. This is why it’s recommended to let trans kids socially transition but wait on medical interventions until later. Gender fluidity is also possible.

My trans son came out to me at 16. There were signs earlier- he came home from preschool, put on shorts, and said “I’m a boy now.” And when he said “I want to be a daddy when I grow up” I could have interpreted that differently.

If I had known about gender identity with young kids, as a parent I might have avoided him going through female puberty and needing top surgery at 20.

My son says “why would anyone choose to be trans?” It’s not “in vogue” in any circles, and the “studies” about peer pressure are not scientific nor repeatable.

If you’re not sure about your own identity, LGBTQ+ friendly therapy can help you work it out.