Going back to what PJ said in her original post…
Yes, labels have something to do with it. But I think the issue(s) goes deeper than that.
There’s this somewhat obsolete psychological term: “cognitive dissonance”. Basically it means that someone believes two mutually exclusive or contradictory things at the same time.
Your average liberal American will say something to the effect that they have no problem with gay marriage, with transsexualism, or a number of other issues related to gender and/or sexual preference. That does not mean, however, that they want their children to participate in such activities!
While their ideological side says, “that’s all good” they still have dreams, goals, expectations, or what have you that are turned on their heads when faced with certain issues. “My son, the high school football star and Marine demolitions expert, now has tits and wears a dress” is one of them.
Okay, the way I worded that sounded crass, but I did it on purpose to make a point.
And it’s not just parents who face these issues. Friends, neighbours, co-workers, doctors… Anyone who has any sort of significant relationship with an individual who ‘crosses over’ is subject to these issues, albeit from different perspectives. Consider what the cheerleader who dated the high school football star thinks whenever she finds out!
Feelings are not logical. Reactions come from feelings. Sometimes the reactions aren’t all that pleasant. Sometimes we just have to suck it up and move on.
~~Steve