Raising Emotionally Intelligent Boys? Barack Obama Says The Answer May Lie With Queer Friendships
Former US President Barack Obama has recently shared some advice for growing boys, particularly on the importance of developing emotional intelligence. The candid conversation took place during the July 16 episode of the IMO podcast, where Obama sat down with his wife, Michelle Obama, and her brother, Craig Robinson. The trio reflected on how their parents had raised them with limited resources. From there, the conversation naturally shifted to the unique challenges of raising boys and girls.
It is no surprise that the former president has long stood as an ally of the LGBTQ+ community. His recent statements on the podcast further affirmed his enduring support for the queer community. In his view, boys should be taught empathy, and one effective way to do that, he suggested, is by encouraging friendships with gay individuals. He believes boys need more male figures in their lives than just their fathers. Obama also took a trip down memory lane, recalling the early days of dating Michelle and visiting her house. Among her male relatives, he observed that each exhibited his own unique form of masculinity.
'And that's one of the things that I think a lot of times boys need — not just exposure to one guy, one dad, no matter how good the dad is. He can't be everything," Obama said.
In his view, LGBTQ friends teach kindness and empathy, serving as valuable role models as parents, especially for children who may identify as gay or non-binary. He also emphasised that non-binary individuals help others become more inclusive and better at embracing diversity.
Recalling one of his formative experiences, Obama said, 'One of the most valuable things I've learned, as a guy, was I had a gay professor in college — at a time when openly gay folks still were not allowed — who became one of my favourite professors." The former president noted that the way his professor called him out when he acted unfairly or made ignorant remarks helped him grow into a kinder, more empathetic person.
Obama's statements have been widely applauded for their inclusive message. However, some criticism has also surfaced. As reported by The Root, one TikTok user said, 'Barack Obama is a disgrace to the Black race."
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