American Morning
Photo of preschool boy dressed as Daphne goes viral
Sarah's 5-year-old wanted to dress as Daphne from Scooby Doo for Halloween this year.
The only problem?
Her preschooler is a boy.
When Sarah's son showed up at a preschool Halloween party dressed in a purple mini dress and red wig, the kids had no problem, but the moms weren't so thrilled.
Sarah, the Missouri mom, took to her blog "Nerdy Apple Bottom": "My son is gay. Or he's not. I don't care," she posted. It got over a million hits in two days and currently has over 19,000 comments.
This morning on American Morning, she tells Kiran what happened at the Halloween party. Dr. Jeff Gardere, clinical psychologist, weighs in and addresses if sexuality is a factor here.
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You know, this Halloween, I had this kid ring my bell dressed as Darth Vader.
I did not think he was really Darth Vader, nor do I believe that the kid thought he was Darth Vader.
It was like he was wearing some sort of... costume?
I am a woman. As a child I dressed up as a mexican man, with a large sombrero, poncho and curley Q mustache on Halloween. I don't think I want to be a man now, nor am I a lesbian. The holiday is to have fun. Let the kids have fun. Have we all forgotten how fun this holiday was for us, getting to dress up as something we are not? Gays, stop trying to further your own agenda by using this innocent little boy.
Way to go Mom & Dad for supporting your son ! Society needs to lighten up. Your son is a human being, not a monkey to be trained to abide by either a male or female role. Let your son express who he wants to be, do what he feels, let his creativeness come out. Supporting him means loving him for who he will become in life, he will recognize your love & support as he grows up, and over time you will have developed a bond that you will all cherish together.
kudos !
@Momof3:Please, the whole gays and HIV thing has been harped on since the 80s. Guess what, straight people get it too. The depression/suicide rates among homosexuals are because of people like YOU, who have antiquated views on what makes a man a "man" and what makes a woman a "woman," and force these hurtful stereotypes on their kids and perpetuate the cycle of ignorance and hate.
As long as my son grows up to be a good person, that's all that matters, not whether he ends up marrying a man or a woman. As long as he's happy, I will be happy for him and support him. Sarah's kids have a good chance of growing up to be well-rounded adults who are not only strong-willed and stand up for themselves and others, but compassionate and open-minded. If you, Momof3, are passing on your own narrow world views to your kids, you are doing them more a disservice than Sarah is for letting her adorable little boy dress up as his favorite cartoon character.
Dr. Jeff Gardere, clinical psychologist, actually said on camera that "it is the worst nightmare of both the heterosexual and the gay couples, to have to fathom that their child may be gay".
Really? Even gay parents are more worried about their kid being gay than they are about their kid getting an incurable illness, or getting hit by a car, etc. ?
Dr Gardere thinks that the negative response was "a normal reaction." He thinks the photo is "outing" the kid, as if years from now the kid will be ashamed of what costume he chose as a five-year-old. Projecting much, Doctor?
This psychologist is ridiculous! His facial comments were offensive while the mother spoke and his comments about 'outing' her son make no sense. Please do not have him on your show again! Her blog title was a pun as she said ... and she makes her points in the blog itself. At the end of the day she is standing up for her child and supports him no matter what. At this point, it's just regarding his costume choice, but it is indicative of how she will support him later in life, whether it be his choice on where to attend college, his career choices or with whom to spend his life.
The reason she got mostly positive responses is that those of us who see that the mother did this for attention, and to make a political statement... feel like making any comment would be giving her exactly what she wants. Our job as parents is to raise our sons to be men, and our daughters to be women. Look at the depression rates among Homosexuals, and the HIGH prevalence of HIV. Why are we pushing this on our youth, when it is so dangerous? It's just not okay.
@Texas Pete
"That kid is going to get the stuffing beat out of him for the next 15 years if there are any pictures."
Probably by people like you. (sigh)
Haydi Klum got dressed this halloween as Iron man, Harrison Ford got dressed as a nun, little girls often disguise themselves as Charles Chaplin, Robin Hood, or Peter Pan which by the way has been played by a woman, and countless times I have seen guys disguised as Mother Theresa, the statue of Liberty, Sara Palin and just recently Gloria Allred on TMZ.
When my husband showed me the picture of this ADORABLE little boy in Daphne's costume the only thing I saw was an amazing array of colors and a great costume for Halloween, I absolutely loved it and understood why any kid, boy or girl would choose it, IT IS ABSOLUTELY GREAT. It was only when he showed me the sad morbidity that characterizes and appeals to abnormal and unhealthy people that I realized there was something wrong....but it wasn't the kid, the kids mother, or the costume.
I have three daughters, one of which wants every toy she gets to be "boy" color. She would prefer a spiderman bike rather than a princess. She was a pirate for Halloween. Does this mean she's going to be "gay". This is just absurd, let the boy dress how he wants – it doesn't mean anything. My nephews love to come over and play barbies with my daughters. I just tell their parents that playing with babies or baby dolls is going to make them better husbands and fathers. Don't children need to be well rounded? Why don't people mind there own business!!
I honestly can't believe CNN would use someone like Dr. Jeff.
The child is 5 years old and has no understanding of gender hatred and racial prejudices (something learned from ADULTS) nor sexual preference.
I will echo what others have said, if a 5 yr old girl dressed in a masculine costume, a sports costume, as a guy no one would bat an eye at it. Highschoolers dress in drag during powder puff football events and so on...No one worries about their sexuality.
Kudos to this mom for standing up for what is right, for allowing her child free expression not be be smothered by ignorance and intolerance. She is among the few that comprehend the notion that sexuality isn't a choice its by design...so gay or not...he her child and loves him no less.
Way to go Mom!
I think that's its despicable that a mother would let their male child dress like a girl. What kind of a example are you setting. One question I ask where is the dad and how could he have allowed this.
I find it ironic, the number of comments that say "why is this in the news?" Let's be honest here, if it wasn't new-worthy, then why are you taking the time to post your comment at all? The power of peer pressure, and the understanding of it's consequences IS news.
This is so stupid, why is there even a need for this ? A little boy wants to dress up as his favorite cartoon character that just happens to be a female character – WHO CARES ?? OH MY GOODNESS, is this where our society has gone, he is a little boy, let him be a little boy. To the Doctor on this clip, people like you are the problem, you have a "degree" so people think what you say it "right" – WRONG this is a little boy that is purely a little boy, his mother is a mom that loves and supports her son, (kudos to her) – you said "she outed him" she simply said that IF he was gay she would love him as should be the case. A boy dressing up as a girl, why should anyone care, let him be a child and enjoy his childhood without putting a label on him, especially something that is as innocent as a little boy dressing up like a female character.
Really?? I'm 47 and 2 years ago dressed as "Shaggy" since we did the Scooby Gang....oh and I'm female?? Apparently some underlying problem with me??? Hello world.... it was Halloween...the one day a year you can get away with being whatever you choose!! Enjoy life and mind your own business!!
I don't see the problem, I think hes 5 yrs old and want to be Daphene for Halloween. I believe that the adults that are complaining about this have nothing better to consume there time. They should be more consurned with there own life then how a child chooses to dress for Halloween. It is attitudes like this that cause kids to bully. Parents should see there was no harm with this child dressing as he did and the consequences of their reactions.
What difference does it make what he dresses as it is Halloween. Halloween is about dressing up. I am 49 yrs old & I remember dressing as a Hobo in 5th grade & as a Mailman for Halloween. My father was a mailman & I didn't turn out to be a lesbian. I remember a movie called Some like it hot with Jack Lemon & Tony Curtis who dressed up as women & they were not gay. He is a 5 yr old little boy!!! Whatever he is I pray that he is an outstanding person when he grows up!!!
I appreciate that the mother is supportive of her child, and I celebrate the individualism/uniqueness of my own kids. I'm just not sure whether I'd post a picture of my 5 year old, with a heading that says, "My son is gay". And then hope the readers take the time to read the entire article.
I think the psychologist was simply making the point that he questioned whether posting the picture and headline on the blog was the wisest decision, and in the best interest of her son.
I remember many years ago dressing up as Aunt Jemina for halloween. Perhaps the headline in my parents blog should have said, "My son is an African American woman...or maybe he's not".
First of all, I strongly agree that the "experts" views and actions were completely unprofessional as well as dis-respectful. CNN should be embarrassed that this is their source for clinical information, when he did not give one bit of information that was not a biased opinion. Also, the little boy wanted to be a CARTOON character, not a woman wearing booty shorts with a push-up bra and tons of make-up. I think this boy is very lucky to have parents like this and when he grows up, he will look back at this whole thing(along with the pictures to laugh at), and think "my parents kicked a**!!!!". Most importantly, he will thank them for being so supportive, not just in his choice of holloween costume, but also in EVERY aspect of his important life decisions.
good for her!!! kids love to dress up. as a former daycare teacher & nanny, ive seen it all. boys in dresses, high heels, playing house, etc., & girls playing with blocks, legos, & cars. for little kids there are no gender boundries. some of my boys now are 12yrs old playing football and have girlfriends. my own 3 yr old loves his little sisters stuff. disney princess stuff is his favorite. but he also loves to hang with his big brother playing legos & g.i. joes. C'MON, LET KIDS BE KIDS!!!
But Doctor Gardere, Daphne seems to be straight, and not especially liberated at that, based on her constance deference to Fred. Now I could understand your being concerned if the young man had wanted to dress like Velma...
The people who are saying she's using her child or "outing" him obviously didn't read the original blog. The people saying "where is the father" obviously didn't watch the whole video. The people who are saying she was wrong or needs to have her child taken away are the same ugly, hateful people who are perpetuating the problem. He's 5 YEARS OLD for god's sake. You have nothing better to do than tear down a 5 year old for having fun and being creative? It makes me physically sick, it's abhorrent. There is NOTHING wrong with it. It's not unmanly, it's not going to "make" him gay. It's make-believe, dress-up, having fun, it's called being a kid. Seems like it's the adults around here who need to grow the eff up and go by the old saying: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
I have noticed reading through the comments here and in other places this story has been posted that 99.9% of the negative comments seem to be coming from folks who 1)never bothered to read past the bold title and the picture, 2) seem to have not noticed that the boy has a male role model in his cop father, so the concern trolls moaning about horrible mom and her influence are blowing air, 3) believe that posting your kid's pic with a funny title on a blog that is mostly viewed by friends and relatives was calculated to gain her 15 minutes of fame/ exploiting her child for fame. Excuse me? Mom's title is rather generically parsed by 'net standards.... many comment sections have a title line which is usually used for the start of a comment,finishing it in the first line of the body of text. MY SON IS GAY, or not. If folks read past the first three words,outing him is non-issue nonsense. Learn to read before posting and looking like fools.
Did you nay-sayers read her entry? Or run off half cocked in outrage at mom "forcing" her son to dress as a girl? She tried to talk him out of it, he said he was certain. When he realized that he might get teased (whether being dressed as a girl, or as someone as un-cool as Daphne rather than Shaggy or Scooby, who knows?) she talked him in to going thru with it...not to force him, but to show him that 1) you live with your choices, 2)how to face fears- and she went with him, she had his back. Precisely what my parents would have done, and what I do with my sons. My sons both have long hair-their choice (and to tell the truth,his aging hippy mom's) and we constantly politely correct strangers as to correct genders. The oldest used to cut his hair right before going to day-care for the summer because there were some teasing prone bullies there. Or he'd just get tired of being called a girl. Now he doesn't let it bother him. His hair,his choice. For you conservatives out there...Jesus had long hair,a beard,and wore sandals,so I don't want to hear it.
And folks....Mom had no clue that her post would be shared freely across facebook. She let off steam about the phobic gender police busybodies at her son's school on her personal blog. Someone shared it on facebook because 1) the picture is cute as hell, 2) the story of grown-ups trying to ruin a child's delight and mom's response was worth repeating. In just my circle of friends, I've seen it shared 6 times- including me. Mom did not ask me to share it, I did because I thought a lot of my friends would appreciate it. SHE is not exploiting anyone.
And as for the so-called "Doctor" on this segment.... if his clients' worst fear is that their children turn out gay, they really have some deep seated issues. My fear is losing a child,second to that, having them NOT be happy adults secure in being themselves. Strike that-my biggest fear is failing as a parent, which could result in either of the above. As for their sexuality.... I hope they find someone to love and who loves them, I only ask they keep it to their own species.
Halloween is a chance to explore being the other. My best 2 costumes were as an adult, one an old lady who had everyone at work trying to figure out why she'd been hired (I changed my days off specifically to be there Halloween), the other was a pirate complete with luxuriant mustache made from my own hair....I was the spitting image of a co-worker's hubby and kept scaring the pee out of her. While 30 years later I'm getting old, and starting to grow the old lady mustache, neither costume reflects anything at all about me or my proclivities-sexual or otherwise- except my love of dress-up and a good joke. Nor thinking back at school age costumes.... Cousin It from Addams' Family, a hobo (male), cow girl, ghost, mummy, Batman, vampire (male). Grown-up- clown, witch, wizard, slave girl, vampire, gypsy, warrior maid, domitrix (the last 3 I was single and looking for male attention). It is a costume.
Dr. Jeff Gardere? He's got a PhD? Really? He's an expert in ... completely missing the point.
See, when I was a kid, I preferred to play with "boy" toys; I had GI Joe, Stretch Armstrong, etc, etc. Nobody was bothered much with a little girl playing with little boy things. However, if my little brother (he is 9) were to play with dolls or "girl" toys, I'm sure parents would speculate that he is gay. Double standards are depressing.
Really? This matters? He wanted to be someone he thought of as a hero. She wanted to support her son. Done deal. Sheesh.
I'm pretty sure that "psychiatrist" hasn't even taken a basic psychology course.
I mean, unless they were put on the spot and this was a completely last minute endeavor, there's no reason he should have reacted in such an unprofessional manner.
Making faces about a view that shouldn't be surprising to anyone, nevermind a psychiatrist, certainly doesn't scream "I have experience being a psychologist" to me!
Also, to the idiot saying that the mother is horrible abusive to "destroy her child's right to privacy..." Did you even bother to read the blog itself? She refers to him as Boo and he's pictured in a costume.
People post photos of their children on Facebook and other less-private websites all the time, both embarrassing and not. If you honestly think she has a psychiatric problem because of this, you may want to reevaluate whatever you think you have learned.
It's a pretty piss poor analogy to describe her as someone that could potentially maim or kill her child for attention. What's wrong with you?
@Dave – you and the others who rant and rave and rail about 'manly men denouncing gays' and such are kinda outing yourselves. It's only hidden gays who are afraid to have their true nature known, who speak so stupidly about homosexuality. Really, Dave, we like you despite your being gay, but you need to grow up about it and quit spewing your filth about how harmful it is for kids to dress like the opposite sex. It just shows how fearful you are about your own homosexuality. Hope you come to grips with it some day.
Oh, for crying out loud. A five year old kid? Why is it no big deal if a little girl decides to dress as Robin Hood or Peter Pan or Elvis but there's some problem with a little boy being a female mythical character? Those moms who got their shorts in a wad need a big serving of MYOB and should get a life.
where can i buy this costume? i will wear it with the awareness that it may make me gay. er...or am i choosing it because i am unaware that i am gay? wait a minute...or is it that i know i'm gay so i wanna wear it? or maybe i wear it because i hope i'm gay but i really don't know so it will decide for me. hey, if i'm a capitalist, i could create a gay costume corporation. but if i did, would it make me a gay capitalist? or, am i gay so i have an idea about corporate gay costumes? and if the costume is worn by a person of the costume's representative gender, will the person be assured they are straight? omg!!!! what happens with fairy and vampire costumes?!!??? the world is so complex...
Ok CNN, you need to fire the good "Doctor", not because what he said was un PC or anything, or because it contained offensive subtexts, though it did. But because he sucks at his job. Both as a doctor and as a pundit. DId he bother to read the blog? It's outing the kid by posting a photo of him at 5 in a goofy costume? As what, a silly 5 year old? COMMON! Regardless of what sort of sexual identity he has as an adult he's going to be amused/embarrassed/love this silly child hood photo just as much as i do ones of me running around with a towel on my back sining the batman theme song. GET A GRIP! If posting this photo online is intrinsically an invasion of his adult privacy then so is posting ANY photo online of a child. Regardless of context. And in context? This is proof when he's an adult, just how much his mom stands behind him no mater what.
Roll your eyes and agree to disagree?
You sir are a buffoon and a terrible psychiatrist.
Someone should ask Dr. Jeff Gardere how he feels about all the parents who “out” their children as heterosexuals. I would be interested in his response to that question. Would he still be as critical? I definitely agree with several points made in this mother’s blog-especially her comment that it is not ok to bully, even if you disguise it as concern.
The psychologist missed the point and missed an opportunity to educate. This child isn't "outed." Get real. Outed at 5 for wearing a costume. Good grief! It is idiotic to think wearing the costume makes this child anything other than adorable.
The issue of sexual orientation aside, the real story here is that this sad excuse for a mother violated her own child's right to privacy because of her own need for attention. Clear and simple! If someone had plastered her child's photograph on the Internet and “outed” him as being a homosexual, she would have had every right to be incensed and to sue their boots off. But this woman did it to her own 5-year old son. There is a well known syndrome called Munchausen By Proxy, where mothers physically injure or kill their own children out of their own need for attention. This situation is every bit as serious as that. If this young boy has a father who cares about him, I hope he is arranging for some professional help for his son because this boy is going to need a lot of psychological help for a long time thanks to his mother. The scariest part of this story, though, are the thousands of numb-skulls who are praising this despicable woman for her courage, etc., and practically nominating her for Mother of the Year. Those are the very nuts she should have been trying to protect her child from. Instead, she has made him a target for every serial pedophile out there. I hope Missouri's Child Protective Services will be called in to investigate this serious matter. The harm to this child has already been done. It is time someone started advocating for him. I believe CNN may be complicite in harming this child due to their coverage of it.
I am deeply offended that Dr. Gardere chose to focus on how a cross-gender Halloween costume might indicate homosexuality in a five-year-old boy. Shouldn't we allow for children to be children, and to not sexualize behavior that is innocent childhood play? Why does our culture have an unfair prejudice when a boy dresses as a girl, but not when a girl dresses as a boy? Aren't these the core issues that should really be discussed on a news program? Why isn't there more of an uproar from the public when Dr. Gardere (I'm hoping he misspoke) said that it's every parent's worst nightmare to discover that their child is gay??!! I expected to hear insightful analysis from a child psychology expert, and instead I was astonished and outraged at his defense and perpetuation of our cultural homophobia and sexualization of children.
Dr. Gardere and other critics bring up a valid point in questioning the wisdom of the mother allowing her son's picture and story to be broadcast throughout the world. Otherwise, I'm hugely disappointed in Dr. Gardere and CNN's coverage of this story.
It is inconceivable that a clinical psychologist that appears as a so called "expert" on your show, would say what he did in the clip. His comments regarding outing etc. are so assenine when talking about a five year old in a halloween costume it hurts. America is to be pitied. Ouch
Way to go, Sarah!
Dr. Jeff: Thanks for supporting Sarah's unconditional support of her child, but:
"Whatever he wants to be in life"???? It's not a choice to be gay.
"outing" him?? It's a cute Halloween Picture!
Being gay may make some aspects of life harder than being straight, but it certainly isn't a person's "worst nightmare" for their child. At least not most educated and tolerant persons.
Dr. Jeff is way off base and his remarks are somewhat offensive. The child is 5. If this is the worst thing this child or the other children in the classroom or the narrow minded mothers have to deal with in their lives, they are very fortunate, indeed. Kids are fun. Do not stiffle their childhood adventures.
Putting a photo on your blog of your child in a costume is NOT "outing" him; you are celebrating your child (with safe limits in place of not identifying him by last name).
What's REALLY happening is that Dr. Gardere wants to put this child in the CLOSET.
SHAME on YOU, doctor .... not the child. You're worse than the bully parents, because you hide your prejudice behind your clinical veneer.
She has not outed him. There is usually nothing to out at that age. There certainly isn't in this case. A clinical psychologist should have taken the opportunity to educate people about this. (He certainly has no business saying twice that she outed him.) Some children do show some characteristics, and sometimes it's not a complete surprise to their parents when they discover their identity later in life, but none of this behavior is a definite predictor. Also, cross-dressing is a completely different issue to homosexuality, and since apparently people are so clueless about this even in this day and age, someone should have mentioned this.
Dr. Jeff is a douche. His non verbal communication ran completely counter to his words. I'm thrilled that little boy's photo on the pumpkin is immortal on the web. It's safe where douche's can't get it.
Is there any wonder a boy would want to dress as a girl in a culture that vilifies maleness and masculinity of any kind?
Dr. Gardere is a dangerous and unprofessional idiot. CNN needs to drop him from their roster of on-air analysts IMMEDIATELY. The body that oversees his profession should really look into him to. Nobody who talks and behaves like this should be allowed to work with kids.
"Dr. Jeff" needs help. A nightmare to have a gay child? What a clueless jerk.
The doctor was not condemning her for his costume or her accepting his costume. He was condmning her for putting his picture on the internet. She is exploiting her child.
This mother should be turned in to the Dept. of Social Services, Kansas City, MO, for exploiting her child.
@talan7
Its very nice to hear that you "tolerate" homosexuality. Much like I "tolerate" foul odours or "tolerate" frigid winters. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Nobody wants your tolerance. What the world needs is less people like you who think that they are better than other people. People who suggest that some races, religions, genders or sexualities are inferior to their own, yet offer their "tolerance" like its some kind of consulation prize for not being "perfect".
I sincerely hope you have kids. Because some day you will realize that they are not "perfect" and they will not fit into your ideal model of what a boy or a girl will be. However, they will open your eyes and teach you that love knows no gender, no religion, no sexual orientation, no colour of skin... True love is unconditional and doesn't know what it means to "tolerate"
I can't believe the comments the psychologist made. What a crock, where did this guy get the idea that the kid was "outed". HE is ONLY 5. Did you see the look on his face when the mother said that she doesn't feel that she outed her son. He's cocky and arrogant. The kid is only 5, and where the HELL does he get the idea that a parents worse nightmare is for their kid to be gay. Is this guys practice in the boonies?!? My worse nightmare is my kids being snatched away by a stranger and never to be seen/heard from again. My kids father and I agree if our sons turned out to be gay so be it.
He dressed up as Daphne, instead of Velma. Obviously it means he wants to be stupid when he grows up.
Of course, if he had picked Shaggy, that would mean the kid wants to be a stoned, dirty hippy.
what is utterly baffling to me about the reactions to this whole thing is that the focus is on the costume choice and the little guy and his mom, rather than on the totally lame and damaging behavior of the other parents and sarah's grace while standing up to them. this should be put into the context of how parents can work together to prevent bullying (on whatever point of difference it's happening), not on the "sexuality" of a small child!
I believe a parent who dresses their son as a girl is only trying to get attention. They probably would be happy if their son was gay because then they would receive long-term attention. Sounds like another liberal lunatic to me.
This doctor is clueless. How can you "out" a five year old child who doesn't even know what sexual orientation is. It seems that in a world that needs less judgement, he, in his "expert opinion", is pretty quick to pass judgement.
And why is it so horrendous to speculate that a child may be gay? Is it equally horrendous to speculate that a child might be straight? No, and that is clearly a fundamental societal issue that we need to address.
He's just a child and she's just a proud mother. They're just people, let them be.
*as a girl.
I believe a parent who dresses their son as a boy is only trying to get attention. They probably would be happy if their son was gay because then they would receive long-term attention. Sounds like another liberal lunatic to me.
Jeff Gardere sounds like a Bigot to me. Probably he isn't, but just has bigoted views around gay and lesbian issues. I'm certainly glad I'm not part of one of the gay and lesbian couples that he councils. It seems like they are not being treated in a manner that respects who they are if he isn't challenging an assumption that there is something terrible about having a child who isn't 100% heterosexual. I agree with those who say my nightmare as a parent would be my child being injured or having a life threatening disease.
Good for the mom. She loves her son and supports him for whatever he wants to be – Halloween and any other day of the year. I am totally for her! All the other "mothers" that were upset – homophobic perhaps...will not be rearing well adjusted children.
She a #1 Mother in my book!!
My daughter went through a spiderman and hulk phase from age 2 – 5. her whole room was spiderman. she had superhero theme'd b-day parties, she wore spiderman clothes and shoes. i even bought her boy underwear because they don't make spiderman undies for girls. I did these things because i wanted to her to be happy. Not force clothes and toys that "i" thought she should like. Today, at age 7, she is all about Zhu-Zhu pets, stuffed animals, playing house, art projects etc... I describe her as a tom-boy who accessorizes and all though i am the biggest girly-girl and would love to still dress her up with bows and dresses (the only dress she wears is her school uniform) it simply isn't her thing. Recently, we donated all of her spiderman stuff to a 4 year old boy living in foster care. It made me and my family happy to see spiderman go to another spiderman-loving child.
When I was a little girl, I used to dress up as Mario from Super Mario Brothers fame for Halloween. No one really bothered me about that, and honestly, it's sad that there's a double standard! It's not like he's dressing up like this every day, and it's not like me dressing up as Mario turned me into a lesbian (yes, I am straight).
Let's just leave this kid and his poor family alone. This should be a non story!
It is okay if kids dress up like monsters, etc.... but everyone gets all upset because a boy dresses as a girl! WOW. My brother and I are 18 months apart in age. I am the oldest. One year I dressed as a boy and he dressed as a girl. We went to a party at our church. No one could figure out who we were!! No one made a big deal of it either. Halloween is all about "dressing up".
CNN should be ashamed of seeking out an anti-gay psychologist specifically to condemn this poor Mom and her son. Shame on you CNN for making everything a hateful debate.
Outed the kid? Get another psychologist!! A real psychologist would know this child is too young to be anything but a kid. CCN, please choose your experts more carefully!
Go mom! You’re the BEST!
Why is this mother putting a picture of her 5 year old son on the internet with the label Gay over his haed. This will never go away. She should be ashamed for exploiting her child.
Sarah, you rock. Tell your son I love his costume. Oh, and, Dr. Gardere, you need a little time on the couch to resolve your issues around sexuality. DUDE! He's FIVE!!!
Oh, and as a parent, a gay child ain't my worst nightmare. It's not any kind of nightmare at all.
I commend this woman for allowing her child to dress up the way he wanted! It's rather sickening the way society today thinks everything has to mean something! REALLY?!?! Halloween is about dressing up and if that means as a girl then so be it! Geez people CUT THE STEREOTYPES!!!!!!!! If that was a 18 year old boy wanting to dress as Daphne then I'm sure noone would say anything....It is our "job" as a parent to do what makes our children happy and allow them to be who they want to be...NOT WHAT SOCIETY SAYS THEY SHOULD BE! Kudos to you mom!
People read into things WAY to much. At that age, you don't even know what "gay" is. Nor do you have a FULL grasp on the difference between boys and girls.
I applaud this mother in letting her kid express himself. And shes right. Gay, straight, or what have you.. You should always support your child.
Heck.
One of the ladies I work with has a 4 year old grandson who went as Alice in Wonderland. Blue dress, blonde wig, and all! He was adorable, had a blast, and no one said a word... Except for how cute he was.
I can't take it anymore. Who the F*** cares!? I'm gay and I am so sick of this BS. You can't do this; you can't say that; we need awareness; we need to protect our kids, blah blah blah.
You want people to accepts gays for who they are? Stop trying! Organizations, like GLAAD, don't help; they make matters worse by pressing an agenda. I couldn't beleive it when I read they were being hard on Ron Howard for his gay joke. Leave it alone.
If you're gay, stop hiding it and come out. Your friends don't like you afterwards? Guess what? They're not your friends; you should get some new ones.
I give up. F*** America! I'm moving to Canada...
I'm the father of a 7yo son who loves ballet – is dancing now with his mother and sister with a professional dance company. A parent of a fellow 2nd Grade student told their boy that my son was a sissy – that "only gay boys dance ballet." My son brushed it off – said to the boy, "Well, that's his opinion." Teachers and other students support my son – by the way, our school is supported by a VERY traditional Lutheran church. For one thing, at 7yo, he is quite good – and people recognize this. He's not quite Baryshnikov (who is not gay, by the way), but he's working on it. My point is this – don't you dare project your barbaric sexuality fears and idiosyncratic babble on kids who are joyfully creative and genuinely unafraid to express themselves. This boy – kudos to the mom by the way – has an age-appropriate imagination and is YEARS away from establishing his sexual awareness. My son – by the way – says that he likes being one of the few boys in the dance troupe because, "all the girls like me."
Kid will get owned when gets old.
This is sad come on put the boy in the a transformers or batman costume. Where is the dad. Obviously not there this lady is using her son to get 15 min.
so what. its halloween and he's 5 years old. its not newsworthy at all.
Hmmmm, he's only five, and at five most little boys are pretty androgynous...they'll play with dolls, cars, trucks, anything, just as long as they are having fun they don't care. I've got three boys and if any of them wanted to dress as a "girl" for Halloween, I wouldn't have a problem with it. It certainly doesn't make them "gay". I used to dress up like a Marine back when there weren't any female Marines, because I liked the uniform and I wanted to be just like my dad when I grew up. Not because I wanted to BE my dad.
Poor kid! He picks a silly Halloween costume and people start LOSING THEIR MINDS. I hope his parents manage to protect him from having these neuroses thrust on him by others.
The comments of those that find this causes no harm is truly frightening. No wonder boys are being screwed up. We need to stop emasculating boys and men.
Looks like mama finally got the little girl she always wanted.
F**kin s**t. really?
Kids used to dress like girls for halloween all the time.sure maybe some kids take the gay jokes a little too far(with either the being gay or the anti gay part)but other than those few kids most people just saw it as harmless fun.A kid is a kid,and things arent a big deal until dirty minded people make a deal out of it.
The problem isnt with the kid wanting to wear a girls halloween costume.the problem is with the thousands of adults who feel the need to analyze and pervert what is nothing more than children having fun at a party made for children.
It seems the adults are the ones who need to grow up
the only problem I see here is where CNN gets these EXPERTS...who obviously know nothing...including not knowing when to shut up
What a cute ending to this story. With the exception of the ridiculous psychologist needing to zip it with the "outing this little boy" comments, I thought this showed the point of Sarah's blog was supporting your child's creativity, even when it doesn't fit inside everyone else's expectations.
Oh for crying out loud ITS HALLOWEEN
How naive and foolish are people, i can't count the number of cross dressers i saw out, who cares?
Mom's are the ones who actually need to grow up in this situation
Oh and as far as the kid being gay or straight goes, HE"S FIVE
I was expecting different reactions / comments from the readers, very refreshing to see that pretty much we all agree on something!!!
CHILD ABUSE.. she should have her 5 year old taken from her and given to a REAL parent.
Holy crap... what is wrong with people? I think it's a pretty clear sign of where the real problem lies when the kids don't think twice about it and it's the parents making a big deal. If I sat down and tried to remember all the times I've seen little boys and grown men cross dress on Halloween I couldn't possibly remember all of them. For the sake of humanity PLEASE find something meaningful to be "concerned" about. This is just ridiculous! Maybe if these mothers had things to actually DO they wouldn't spend so much time being worried about how a little boy chooses to dress on Halloween.
It is clearly something wrong, when people start to think, that cross dressing is ok. That's a child, your responsible for his decisions. He should be taught right from wrong. This is not ok, and its not funny. What if he went to school, and the kids made fun of him. To the point, that it really did something to his self esteem...I'm so done this world needs help. People are going to burst hell wide open!!!!!!
We adults can sometimes be ridiculous. This is a child, who happens to like a character. After all Halloween is about dressing up as weird as possible.
To the moms who were offended by the by the choice of costume, GET A LIFE.
He's a kid– let him act like one for heaven's sakes!!!
I'm a girl and I dressed as Harry Potter. Big flippin' deal.
The kid saw a character he liked, and wanted to dress like that character. It's HALLOWEEN.
Maybe he'll turn out to be gay, maybe he'll turn out to be straight, maybe he'll be a straight cross-dresser. It doesn't matter, as long as he's happy. I'm glad his mother is open-minded. And I hope he had a fun Halloween.
Bullying affects everyone, adults as well as kids.
Too bad those few mothers didn't remember their golden rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. "Be a Friend– Not a Bully" : http://www.beafrienddontbully.org/
the so called doctor is a quack. she didnt out him. who cares if the picture will always be around i have had plenty of straight male friends dress as women for halloween. its a time to have fun and the whole point is to dress up and have costumes that people will pay attention to. i applaud sarah in letting her son have his choice in selecting his costumes.
Go Mom, and can't agree more your child is five and has very little concept of the meaning or idea of being a homosexual.
Its just a costume whats the big deal. The kid who wore it didn't have an issue with it so why should anyone else. Its dress up for Halloween thats what people do. I think people should Mind their own business that are having issues with it. Personally, I think hes a brave kid to dress like a girl and take flak from people for it. People should find fault with the REAL issues that need complaining about, how about creeps raping and killing kids??? That needs ALL OF OUR COMPLAINTS.THE SENTENCES DON'T FIT THE CRIME. LETS SCREAM ABOUT THAT!!!!!!
I did that at 5 too along with my 3 brothers that were 6-7 and 8, only one of us is gay today...dressing up dont mean a thing...let kids have fun...
So, it's okay for a little girl to dress up in what would be considered a typically "male costume" if she wanted to, but it's not okay for the little boy? There's more to this than gay or straight. It's about the perception of what it means to be male and female. Kids had no problem with it until the ignorant adults got involved. THAT is typical. Let the kid wear what he wants. Good for his mom.
I don't believe you people only see and hear what you want. It's not the fact that the boy dressed up as a girl on Halloween, it's the fact that the mother puts the photo of the 5 yo boy on her blog dressed as a girl with a big headline, MY SON IS GAY. If he was a 16 yo boy who just happened to be gay then that would be ok. She is forcing her political views on a 5 yo boy who isn't old enough to make those kind of decisions. Does she want her son to be gay? What kind of parent would make that type of claim about their 5 yo child.
I have a 3 yo boy. If he turned out to be gay i wouldn't support that. I don't agree with homosexuality. I would love him still the same but I would tell him I don't agree with that lifestyle but it's ultimately his choice. I wouldn't disown him. We don't have to support what we don't believe in, that's the problem with gays. They are trying to force some of society to support what they believe is wrong.
My question is why did the other mother's question this? It was none of their business. It was a creative from the boy's part. Looks like the other mother's at this party just liked the gossiping of others.....look in the mirror ladies.....look what you would do for YOUR children! Oh but wait, you would be too embarrassed or ashamed to be a great parent to do that.
There was a tv show where, Jim, the dad, did not want his young son to dress as Cinderalla for Halloween, turns out, the little boy actually taught the dad a big lesson and they BOTH went as girls for Halloween.
Men dress like ladies or Nuns for Halloween and NO ONE thinks anything about this all the while their spouses and friends think it is so funny and go along with it.......
Leave this mother and her son alone. It is none of anyone's busy......It was Halloween for sakes alive!
I sure hope Sarah, the Missouri mom and her son have the last laugh and word on this.
Sarah, thanks for being the great mom you are! Your son will always love you for that! God Bless from Texas!
If I were managing the station doc, I'd have fired you already.
This mother did the right thing: the worst thing you can do is shame your child. Making a child feel shame will affect them for the rest of their lives. This kid is no more likely to be gay or transgendered as the kid who dressed up as Harry Potter is to be a satanist wizard. It's Halloween. The worst thing to do is make this into a bigger deal than it is (too late I guess).
To all the people saying that this is "encouraging" the boy to be gay: I'd like to see you "encourage" your kids to be straight. Because that always works with gay teenagers (yeah right...)
How ya doin' doc? You counting the comments? I don't see a single comment supporting your incredibly ignorant point of view.
Go back to school and get a real degree!
This "expert" is an idiot. The kid is FIVE. WhatEVER.
Let the kid dress up however he wants! And if he's still dressing up as Daphne at eighteen, who CARES?!?
God forbid, a 5 year old dressed up as a cartoon character. What exactly is the problem here? It's Halloween, get over it. I'm sure he had fun.
What is sad is that this poor kids costume choice is being debated on a national news network. Poor kid. Who cares what he wants to dress as – now get him out of the news!!
Another 5 year old boy was showing off his spiderman costume when he was shot (and later died) in a gang related shooting (a case of mistaken family identity).
Let's put things in perspective, shall we...