Barack Obama has once again proven why he’s a favorite ally in the LGBTQ+ community—this time by calling out the need for young men to form inclusive, emotionally intelligent friendships that include queer friends and role models.
In a heartwarming and deeply needed episode of the IMO podcast—hosted by Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson—the former U.S. President joined to respond to a question from a young mom wondering how to raise boys with the same emotional strength and compassion typically emphasized for girls.
Obama didn’t hold back.
He shared a personal anecdote about a gay professor from his college days who became one of his favorite teachers and an early moral compass.
“I had a gay professor in college, at a time when openly gay folks still weren’t out a lot, 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. You need that to show empathy and kindness,” Obama recalled, emphasizing the importance of being held accountable by people with different lived experiences.
His point? That young men benefit enormously from having queer people in their circle—because those friendships help build empathy, challenge outdated norms, and create more compassionate communities.
“You need that person in your friend group,” Obama said.
“So if you then have a boy who is gay or non-binary, they have somebody to say, ‘I’m not alone in this.’”
He called this “creating community”—a phrase that might sound corny, he admitted, but is crucial for helping boys grow into inclusive, thoughtful adults.
Michelle Obama echoed his views, recalling how she and her brother Craig were raised by a huge network of extended family and male role models, many of whom helped round out what their parents couldn’t provide alone.
Throughout his presidency, Obama championed LGBTQIA+ rights, helping to pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and backing health initiatives and workplace protections for queer people.
Even after leaving office, his advocacy continues.
He’s been an outspoken critic of Republican lawmakers pushing anti-trans legislation, stating in The Advocate that “some Republicans seek political advantage by pitting us against one another.”
Obama condemned those bills as causing real harm—especially to queer youth navigating a world that can often feel unwelcoming and cruel.
“Growing up is hard enough,” he said, “without wondering if the people representing you believe you deserve equal rights.”
His message was clear: raising strong, kind men in today’s world requires inclusive role models, emotionally diverse friendships, and a community that says to every queer kid, “You belong.”