Former US President Barack Obama has encouraged young men to diversify their friend groups by befriending gay people so that they learn about “empathy and kindness”.
Appearing on the IMO podcast, hosted by his wife and brother-in-law, Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, the former US President stressed the importance of having a wide range of role models in order to raise “emotionally intelligent, competent men”.
One example Barack used was a gay professor he had back in college, who was openly gay during a time when LGBTQIA+ people weren’t out, and the reason why this professor made an impact on the former president was because he held him accountable for problematic behaviour.
“One of the most valuable things I learned as a guy was — I had a gay professor in college at a time when openly gay folks still weren’t out, who became one of my favourite professors and was a great guy and would call me out when I started saying stuff that was ignorant,” Barack shared on IMO.
“You need that. To show empathy and kindness.”
Furthermore, Barack added that young men need to diversify their friend groups by befriending gay and non-binary folks so they can learn empathy, kindness and community, which would contribute to and nurture their emotional intelligence.
“By the way, you need that person in your friend group so that if you then have a boy who is gay or nonbinary, or what have you, they have somebody that they can go, ‘Okay, I’m not alone in this,’” Barack continued.
“That, I think, is creating community. I know it’s corny, but it’s what they need.”
Barack has always championed the LGBTQIA+ community. In his inauguration speech in 2013, he mentioned gay rights, becoming the first president to use the word “gay”, and highlighting the importance of equality.
“… our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law — for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well,” he said at the time.
Following IMO’s latest episode, in which Barack urged young men to befriend members of the community, viewers expressed their respect for the former president.
“President Obama’s voice has always been meditative and calming… but in today’s climate of constant shouting and division, it feels even more soothing than ever,” one person wrote.
“This warms my heart. Normal conversation. Real people,” another penned.
“It’s such a joy to hear my president’s voice. I love this man,” wrote a third.
The full IMO episode is out now on YouTube and all streaming platforms.
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