New Dad Thinks Baby Might Be Gay

[AiA in Atlanta]

When it comes to supporting his son's unconventional wardrobe, Nils Pickert talks the talk and walks the walk.

The German dad explains in Emma magazine that he wears women's clothes (including nail polish) to help his 5-year-old son feel good about going out in dresses and skirts.

A picture of Pickert and his little boy, sporting matching red clothes -- dad in a long skirt, son in a spaghetti-strap dress -- has been making the Internet rounds, inspiring enough positive feedback to cancel out a thousand sideways looks and gender marketing fails.

Pickert says that in the small town where he lives, his son's dress choices are seen as everybody's business -- and when it comes to standing up for his son, he's determined to show, not just tell. He writes (according to Tumblr user steegeschnoeber's translation):

Yes, I’m one of those dads, that try to raise their children equal. I’m not one of those academic daddies that ramble about gender equality during their studies and then, as soon as a child’s in the house, still relapse into those fluffy gender roles: He’s finding fulfilment in his carrier and she’s doing the rest.
Thus I am, I know that by now, part of the minority that makes a fool of themselves from time to time. Out of conviction.

Pickert is not the only parent to speak up for a child whose dress preferences stand out from the norm. American mom Cheryl Kilodavis, who wrote a picture book called "My Princess Boy" about her son Dyson, went on The Today Show in January 2011 to discuss the importance of accepting children for who they are -- no matter what they wear. "Sooner or later my hope is that the world will embrace the uniqueness that is really within all of us," she told Meredith Vieira.

In Emma, Pickert says that he chose to become the "role model" he knew his son needed. Chances are his actions will set an example not just for kids, but for parents, too.

[Super Nova]

That's just crap.

My daughter doesn't always get her way with what she has to wear.

5 is too young to determine what they should or should not wear.

Sexual preference or identity may be an awareness this child processes however I bet he is not really aware and likes just to wear dresses. My daughter prefers to wear dresses everyday. She wants to be a princess and says they are more comfortable. Not always practical in sunny London.

This will be worth following over the years to see if it is nature over nurture.

He should be made to wear the traditional German cothing which is the Lederhosen. He should then have a choice of these two models. On a little boy they will look the same.



----- OR -----

[Rorschach]

Might be Gay?
This is just a sad travesty.
This parent isn't intelligent he's a dope.
He's forcing some sort of stereotypical behaviour based on his own ignorance, on his son.
DOPE!

Someone should point out the difference between Cross-dressers and Gays. Maybe Dad just wanted and excuse to wear a skirt.

[T.G. of IK]

Someone should point out the difference between Cross-dressers and Gays. Maybe Dad just wanted and excuse to wear a skirt.

Have to agree with the above. Gay doesn't mean wearing female attire, of any discription. I think daddy is a closet cross-dresser. Maybe Monk has an opinion as apparently he knows/has understanding of such matters?? Pardon me if I am mistaken.

[mantra]

The bloke is an idiot. It might seem funny and cute to him, but if he encourages his little boy to wear dresses - he's going to suffer when he goes to school. It's fine to encourage individuality in children, but we shouldn't forget that they still have to make an effort to fit into mainstream society. Bullying and taunting can destroy a child's confidence.

[AiA in Atlanta]

Germans take this kind of thing too far: I know a German man who sits down like a woman to pee because years ago German women started a campaign to encourage German men to do so saying it wasn't fair that the men were spotting the floor with urine.

[Super Nova]

Germans take this kind of thing too far: I know a German man who sits down like a woman to pee because years ago German women started a campaign to encourage German men to do so saying it wasn't fair that the men were spotting the floor with urine.

My wife has tried to get me to do that for years. I refuse. Current running eternal joke/power struggle.

I promise to hit the inside of the bowl most times without hitting the water making a noise at night. There are times that this is not possible as we all know. (too much detailed required)

For my sins, I get to clean to toilet outside the bowl as a trade off on me maintaining my manly right to stand when I pee.

[skippy]

Germans take this kind of thing too far: I know a German man who sits down like a woman to pee because years ago German women started a campaign to encourage German men to do so saying it wasn't fair that the men were spotting the floor with urine.

For my sins, I get to clean to toilet outside the bowl as a trade off on me maintaining my manly right to stand when I pee.

LOL good to see you wear the pants in your house , SN.

[Super Nova]

Only with permission.

[boxy]

The Scots had the right idea. Just call them kilts, and they become manly