File this under d’awww: A 9-year-old girl handwrote her teacher this letter after he came out during a class lesson on homophobia, and it’s safe to say she aced this one.
Unfortunately there are millions of people in the world who aren’t quite as emotionally intelligent as a little girl. Come on, world, keep up.
Here’s what she wrote:
It reads:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Dear Mr R,
Even though you’re gay, I will always treat you the same way as I do now. I still think about you the same way as I used to. You’re a great teacher and these are just some of the word’s (sic) that I would describe you as: great, amazing, fantastic, brilliant, awesome and brave.
The reason why I say brave is because you shared a personal secret which was very brave.
You don’t have to feel scared because I know that everone in the class feels the same way as I do.
From A x x
PS. We are all proud of you
The teacher told PinkNews:
“As a primary school teacher I’d always worried about mentioning my sexuality, despite the fact that my colleagues talked about their husbands, wives and significant others all the time.
Then, as part of anti-bullying week, I’d asked who’d heard ‘gay’ being used as an insult. Almost every one of my class put their hands up. I was stunned.
Then I asked who thought that people who were gay or lesbian were bad or wrong in some way, again almost every hand went up.
After speaking to my Head, who was very supportive, we agreed I could tell the class that I’m gay so they at least knew one gay person and hopefully explain that when people use that word they’re talking about me.
The reaction was fantastic – there were a lot of gasps and shocked looks and some basic questions – do you have a boyfriend, etc – but after a couple of minutes they were over it and we moved on to the rest of the lesson.
The letter came a couple of days later. The little girl who wrote it gave it to me at the start of the day with all the other slips about dinner money, school trips and doctors appointments.
Reading it brought tears to my eyes and it took me a little while to compose myself. When I thanked her she just shrugged and repeated something one of the boys in the class had said during the lesson, ‘It’s just your life’. Then she went back to her maths.
For my class it was a surprise sure but, to them, it was just something simple and easy to file away as another piece of information. There was no judgement, no follow up, just acceptance.
Now, I can mention my fiance as easily as any other teacher and my class know me a little better. I’ve had a lot of letters and cards over the years, but this one I know I’ll keep forever.”
Related stories:
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Dad Accidentally Discovers His Teenage Son Is Gay And Handles It Like A Real Man
This Kid’s Rap About Transgender Acceptance Is Just Plain Perfect
jkb
Cute!!
cflekken
Those kids were raised by fantastic parents. And this teacher is clearly a phenomenal role model for them. Nothing more to say.
GayDSalinger
SO CUTE AND SWEET.
jwtraveler
Adults could learn a lot from this little girl, including the proper use and spelling of the word “you’re”.
Harley
I’m surprised the religious parents aren’t screening “pedofile” and claiming he gave a blowjob to his boyfriend in front of the class. The right wing can’t see str8 for all the blindness.
Ladbrook
Somewhere, Tony Perkins’ head just exploded. Fantastic.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
You don’t have to feel scared? That was sweet. But he ought to be fired, or flunk that little girl already for not learning her cursive “s”es yet! SHE’S NINE GODDAMNIT!!!
(And that was clearly a joke you anal-retentive douche bags!)
sfbeast
Great letter. But I agree with jwtraveler, so nice to see she actually knew how to spell ‘you’re’. Although she did mess up on ‘always’ and ‘words’ for some reason. (In the printed version, always has been corrected).
Garrett
That’s a lovely letter. We should also be commending her parent(s). She obviously has had great role models at home.
Bauhaus
I want her stationary!
AJAnders
What a very sweet girl. Not only does she have a wonderful and accepting heart, she can actually write. When I was 9, I didn’t know the difference between your and you’re.
Daveliam
This is a great article. Cute kid. Brave teacher. Awesome parents. All around a job well done by everyone.
jwtraveler
@Bauhaus: Actually, I’d like to see her moving around.
JimmyJ
These have seriously gotten quite stale.
Bulls Eye
So cool.
I find that kids really do get it. Sadly, their parents often don’t.
Arconcyyon
My way ! Chilld´s kids teen is love love byby happys ! The schoooll is class is ABC family is the girls byby child´s Mchappys fastffood vogue close the present is home acess is schooll dont´s is no yes ! love byby the girls she she-ra womem-arranha SuperLeauge Desney Pictures TvE . My girls bybyteen is do you is like the you is make is look potter is sttore vittines galery centter is instticcion´s the gov and gov . Good is luck VERY More writte textt is Teacheer Mem GAY .
LadyL
This letter made my day! Good on that teacher for coming out to his class, the school administrator who supported his decision, and most of all that sweet little girl for sending him some love.
I notice lots of commenters are congratulating parents. I think we can take a bow, too, since our coming out experiences have helped change hearts and minds wherever we live, work and play. Cheers!
Bauhaus
@Arconcyyon:
Voce e Brasiliero? O jeito que voce escreve Engles, nao da para entender quasi nada. Voce mora aqui o no Brasil? Si voce quiser, eu posso te ensinar Engles. Eu posso te dar meu email. Boa sorte! Bauhaus.
davenbill
Si.
Saint Law
@I’m Black, and HIV-Positive.: Your jokes are the only moments I stop laughing at your posts.
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@Saint Law: Because you’re the anal-retentive douche bag in question? Own it bitch! Ha ha ha!
I'm Black, and HIV-Positive.
@Saint Law: You on the other hand are the joke that we never stop laughing at! Bitch! A ha ha haaaaaa!