Barack Obama Urges Young Men To Befriend Gay People Who Can Help Teach Them 'Empathy And Kindness'

Former President Barack Obama is offering some fatherly advice on raising emotionally intelligent boys. During a candid conversation with his wife, Michelle Obama, and his brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, he explained why he believes it's crucial for young men to have a more diverse group of friends.

On the latest episode of Michelle Obama's "IMO" podcast, the former President of the United States shared his thoughts on the types of role models young men should look up to.

“I do think as a society, we have to create more structures for boys and men to … be able to meet a wide range of role models so that whatever their inclinations, they can see a path to success that isn’t just sports or money, making a lot of money,” Barack, 63, said.

Barack later recalled how, when he and Michelle first began dating, he was exposed to different models of masculinity through the men in her family.

“That’s one of the things that I think a lot of times boys need, is not just exposure to one guy, one dad. No matter how good the dad is, he can’t be everything. And then that boy may need somebody to give the boy some perspective on the dad," he continued.

Elsewhere in the podcast, Barack reflected on his own life and explained how his relationship with his college professor, who was an openly gay man, helped shape his perspective on a variety of things.

“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 favorite professors and was a great guy and would call me out when I started saying stuff that was ignorant,” Barack recalled. “You need that — to show empathy and kindness.”

During a 2015 interview with Out Magazine, Barack shared more about his professor, admitting he was moved by his authenticity.

"He went out of his way to advise lesbian, gay, and transgender students at Occidental, and keep in mind, this was 1978. That took a lot of courage, a lot of confidence in who you are and what you stand for," Barack stated. "I got to recognize Lawrence last year at our Pride Month reception at the White House and thank him for influencing the way I think about so many of these issues."

On social media, the former President's latest statements clearly resonated with many "IMO" listeners.

"That's my President," one user wrote, while another said he was preaching "straight facts."

Someone else clearly agreed, writing, "This should be the standard, yet President Obama being a normal, decent man is the exception in our current leadership."

And this isn't the first time the former POTUS has shared his thoughts on men and masculinity. During a previous conversation with NBA player Stephen Curry for The Guardian, Barack pushed back against the stereotype of what it means to be a man.

"Being a man is, first and foremost, being a good human," he said, adding, "That means being responsible, being reliable, working hard, being kind, being respectful, being compassionate."

"The notion that somehow defining yourself as a man is dependent on [whether you're] able to put someone down instead of lifting them up ... is an old view," he added.

While in office, Barack Obama made history as the first sitting U.S. president to "endorse the freedom to marry same-sex couples," according to ABC News. He later explained the reasoning behind his evolution on the issue while speaking with Robin Roberts.

“I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married," he said.

In 2015, a landmark Supreme Court ruling legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.