“You need that person in your friend group,” Obama told his wife’s podcast.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama says men should have gay friends to help raise more empathetic sons. Speaking on the July 16 episode of the IMO podcast with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, he said boys benefit from seeing masculinity expressed in diverse ways.
Obama reflected on visiting Michelle’s home while they were dating and observing her family’s male role models. “That boy may need somebody to give the boy some perspective on the dad,” he said.
He recalled a gay college professor who challenged his early ignorance. “You need that person in your friend group, so that if you then have a boy who is gay or non-binary… they can go, ‘Okay, I’m not alone in this.’”
Obama also said progressives have at times failed boys while rightly advocating for girls. He noted young men now seek healthier masculinity but have sometimes lost “chivalry and strength” from old models.
“It’s creating that community. I know it’s corny, but that’s what they need,” he added.