Mario Lopez Issues Apology For His Take on Parenting and Gender Identity

I’m tired of certain people making it their job to share opinions on things they have no experience with. Mario Lopez is one example. His comments on parenting kid-centric gender identity rightfully got him called out on social media. Lopez has since issued an apology. But then again, I’m not sure how sincere the apology is considering his track record.

Some of you might know Mario Lopez from the show Saved By The Bell. Anyway, the current issue started when Lopez, for some reason, decided to sit down with Candace Owens (who has made a name for herself by supporting President Trump).

I don’t understand people like Owens. Does she not understand that when President Trump’s words encourage racism and bigotry, that white supremacists think of her as “the other,” too?

According to Owens, parents allowing little children to make decisions about their gender is exactly the same as making them believe they can fly or are indeed a dinosaur.

Sigh!

The fact that cisgender people like Owens immediately jump to conflating a kid wanting to play dress up as the opposite gender and actually being trans is where the problem lies.

There’s a difference between boys wanting to play with dolls or girls wanting to act like Superman and realizing that your child is experiencing issues with their gender identity.

It reminds me of how homophobes continue to yell about how allowing homosexuality opens the doorway to pedophilia and bestiality.

Also, gender identity and sexuality are two different things.

Regardless of how people like Owens try to paint it, their opinions are transphobic.

Even Lopez fell into the same group during his interview with Owens.

According to Yahoo News:

Owens added that her experience as a nanny has convinced her that children don’t always mean what they say, explaining “I am trying to understand this new Hollywood mentality where they just think their children now have the mental authority.”

“I am trying to understand it myself, and please don’t lump me into that whole [group],” Lopez responded. “I’m kind of blown away too. Look, I’m never one to tell anyone how to parent their kids obviously and I think if you come from a place of love, you really can’t go wrong but at the same time, my God, if you’re 3 years old and you’re saying you’re feeling a certain way or you think you’re a boy or a girl or whatever the case may be, I just think it’s dangerous as a parent to make this determination then, well, OK, then you’re going to a boy or a girl, whatever the case may be … It’s sort of alarming and my gosh, I just think about the repercussions later on.”

He added, “When you’re a kid … you don’t know anything about sexuality yet. You’re just a kid.”

Considering how trans individuals are the most vulnerable group under the LGBTQ+ spectrum, such opinions are dangerous.

Also, if Owens is really so concerned about kids why hasn’t she invited parents of trans kids to talk about such a topic? Why are cisgender folk (like her) sitting and sharing their opinions about what they might think is happening instead of conversing with someone who has experience?

Again, it’s transphobia and fearmongering.

After making his highly misinformed opinions public, Lopez’s stated in his apology:

“The comments I made were ignorant and insensitive, and I now have a deeper understanding of how hurtful they were. I have been and always will be an ardent supporter of the LGBTQ community, and I am going to use this opportunity to better educate myself. Moving forward I will be more informed and thoughtful.”

Owens has doubled down on her statements, of course, because she knows that’s the only way for her to stay relevant in media.

As for Lopez’s apology, I don’t know if it’s sincere or not. Lopez’s stance on #MeToo isn’t great either.

“God forbid you have a son out there, and a girl may have felt a certain way about a situation—dismissed, hurt, whatever, and is feeling vengeful and just decides to tell a certain story that’s not even exactly true, come back and hurt that individual.”

People like Lopez and Owens still exist. What’s important is to remember not to let them derail others from fighting for what’s right and offering support to those in need.

Call them out! And then amplify the message of love and acceptance. Not because you want Owens and others like her to change their mind, but for showing others in need of support that they’re not alone.

Feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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