I think you nailed it, Josh, when you said that the problem is heterosexual people have been raised to be grossed out by gay people having sex. But young kids can also be grossed out by the mechanics of any kind of sex. I remember when my son and daughter-in-law had a talk with my grandson about sex with the help of an age-appropriate book meant to help with info and facts. My grandson was appalled that people would do such embarrassing things to each other, and said, "People walk around KNOWING this?? Does (named his older, favorite cousin) know about this???"
My point is that when you actually think about the mechanics, it's not hard to imagine being "squicked out", until you do it yourself and find out it's pretty fun. And who the fun is with is in the eye of the beholder, or, I guess, the doer.
When that blast of hormones hits and you start looking at the people around you in a different way.
In general a lot of what people are delicate about with kids is what they themselves are unsettled on. Generation upon generation of humans grew up in shared hovels and shared beds and somehow managed to function. We have socialized taboos in America and the west over bathrooms when prior generations had their morning socializing in the outhouse.
Every society has their share of 'we'll talk about this when you're older', it's normal. But again it's generally a reflection of adult taboos and not the delicacy of children.
I think you nailed it, Josh, when you said that the problem is heterosexual people have been raised to be grossed out by gay people having sex. But young kids can also be grossed out by the mechanics of any kind of sex. I remember when my son and daughter-in-law had a talk with my grandson about sex with the help of an age-appropriate book meant to help with info and facts. My grandson was appalled that people would do such embarrassing things to each other, and said, "People walk around KNOWING this?? Does (named his older, favorite cousin) know about this???"
My point is that when you actually think about the mechanics, it's not hard to imagine being "squicked out", until you do it yourself and find out it's pretty fun. And who the fun is with is in the eye of the beholder, or, I guess, the doer.
When that blast of hormones hits and you start looking at the people around you in a different way.
In general a lot of what people are delicate about with kids is what they themselves are unsettled on. Generation upon generation of humans grew up in shared hovels and shared beds and somehow managed to function. We have socialized taboos in America and the west over bathrooms when prior generations had their morning socializing in the outhouse.
Every society has their share of 'we'll talk about this when you're older', it's normal. But again it's generally a reflection of adult taboos and not the delicacy of children.