Reader Response Essay Brainstorm: All Boys aren't Blue

Support Systems

Highlights the importance of a strong support system

Johnson's relationship with their family

Nanny's unconditional love and acceptance provided them a foundation for them to explore and embrace their identity

Johnson's brother

Having a good role model or mentor

Subtopic

Friends

Being surrounded by people who share similar struggles and achievements

allows for mutual support, allowing you to help one another to navigate your issues

Johnson's "brothers" within their fraternity

Johnson's friends

“Many of us connect with each other through trauma and pain: broken people finding other broken people in the hopes of fixing one another

Racism

As an Asian individual who has grown up in a predominantly Black neighborhood, my community consisted of various diverse cultures.

Because of this I've had the privilege to never had experience such racism as the author has

Homophobia

Both Johnson and I grew up in an environment where discussions about sexuality were not welcomed

My group of friends mainly consist of people belonging of the LBTQ+ community

Because I am a straight cis female, I never had to go through as much as my friends to be accepted in society

However, I've witnessed firsthand how harmful homophobia can be and even gone through similar experiences

My father is homophobic and he has always adamantly expressed that

He has made assumptions about my own sexuality, insisting that I was queer because of my values, friends, music preferences, and fashion style even when I told him otherwise

He was angry that I was apparently gay, but somehow he was even more angry that I didn't tell him

He wanted me to be able to trust him but never provided an environment where I felt like I could

This is a reality that many queer people have to face everyday

This was incredibly frustrating as my whole identity was being misunderstood

made me second guess my choices and hide myself from him to avoid having him make assumptions about me

This created a fear of being judged and critcised

Despite Johnson's family being loving, they often perpetuated harmful stereotypes and expressed disapproval towards LGBTQ+ people

This atmosphere made it difficult for Johnson to feel safe discussing their own sexuality

Fearing rejection and disappointment from their family

This led to internalized shame and a constant need to hide their true self

They often make assumptions about their sexuality based on his interests and the way he presents themself

This is shown through casual conversations and offhand remarks

Identity

‘The thing you are hiding the most is usually the thing you give off the most”

Representation

Personal growth

Predjudice

. “I learned that kids who saw me as different didnt have an issue until society taught them to see my differences as a threat”

Kid aren't inherently mean but it's the education system, their parents, and overall environment who teach them how be as such

This is a sentiment I agree with heavily

Coming from a family with traditional values, my parents were not very open minded. They would push their beliefs on me and for a short period of my childhood my behaviors towards others would reflect their discriminatory beliefs

Specifically that Black people are less deserving than other races

They would judge, criticize,

Education system

Sexual Education

Society often marginalizes gender queer individuals by excluding them from mainstream narratives and resources, including sex education

“There is so much danger in not providing proper sex education to kids, especially for those who are having sex outside of heteronormative boxes”

Situation with his cousin

In many immigrant families such as mine, sex is a touchy topic so parents will often neglect to educate their children about it

Without proper education, children might turn to unreliable sources for information

This may cause them to develop misconcpetions about sex and sexuality

May see sex as taboo, shameful, or soley for procreation

History