If your child 17 or younger told you they were gay or interested in same sex relationships...what would you do or how would you react? How about if you mistakenly found out?
2007-12-17 18:19:15 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
i would tell them that i would continue to support, and love them unconditionally. and i'd let them know i would never want them to hesitate with anything they need help with or just to talk about. coming out is a hard thing to do. im straight, but even as far as our society has come, i can only imagine the things you would have to go through, and all beacause someone disagrees about who you should love.
2007-12-17 18:31:59 · answer #1 · answered by leensi 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Well, I might have already known, so my reaction would be a big hug, an I love you and "I already knew, honey. I was just waiting until you were ready to tell me."
If I mistakenly found something, that confirmed my thoughts and they weren't standing right there, I would probably "pretend" I didn't see it (and again, wait for them to approach me), but if it was a good opportunity to say "I found this, do you want to talk?" (such as an HIV test or something dangerous that they might want to "get off their shoulders") I might, but not if it risked alienating my child. I wouldn't want to embarrass my teen because sexuality can be so tender, but it's not something we always choose, so I would respect this.
2007-12-18 02:29:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
My first response: "Well, duh!" (followed by laughter)
If my child is gay, I'd be daft not to notice before she's 17-years-old.
My second response: "So, tell me about your friend."
I presume my child has approached me because she has found love and wants to introduce me to the person.
Coming from mixed-race parents, it's a given she will have been raised to accept people in all of their various forms -- size, shape, color, gender, ethnicity, beliefs, etc. To draw a line around sexual orientation and say it's okay to treat this one group of people differently would be so contradictory and fearful as to make all of our other teachings false.
I want to know that the person she has found will treat her well -- that she will be happy and healthy with this person.
2007-12-18 02:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by DD 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
When I was 17 I was battling being ahomosexual. Tell your child to wait. If you mistakenly found out, decide if its that big of a deal to you. I personally wouldn't let a gay be sexually active under my roof because it would cause me stress.
2007-12-18 02:30:38 · answer #4 · answered by Tthomp 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
i've never been faced with that, but i hope that i would be supportive and make sure my child knows that i love him/her just as much as before i found out. with kids under 17 they might actually be gay or they might just be curious. if it turned out that my child were gay, i hope that i'd be able to accept their partner or not accept their partner based on who the person is just as i would accept or not accept a straight partner. i've had friends and co-workers in my life at one time or another who were gay and never had issue with it so i honestly believe i'd be ok with my child being gay.
2007-12-18 07:48:55 · answer #5 · answered by 4Xthe fun 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Firstly, I know being gay is DISGUSTING and UNNATURAL. As a mother I would, with love and tact, advise them that being gay is not from the natural order of life. I will always remain patient with them but honest that I dislike their choice.
2007-12-18 08:11:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I would be their parent. I love them unconditionally. I don't think they could do anything to get me to react in a bad way or stop loving them or talking to them. I can't believe parents do that. You don't have to agree with their life choices, but you should still love them and respect them for their lifestyle.
What I would do? I'd probably ask them to invite their lover over for dinner. I don't care either way. They are still my child.
2007-12-18 05:51:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I would tell him I love him, I support him, that he is my son and free to be whatever he wishes to be. I cannot live his life for him nor do I believe he is living my life for me. Some people are born left-handed, it is a condition and we accept natural conditions. Some people are born with a preference for members of the same sex. It is a natural condition and we accept it.
2007-12-18 02:23:52 · answer #8 · answered by judgebill 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Well i'm not homophobic, and i dont think my religion has anything against it either, so i would tell them that its perfectly fine, and i still love them. I'd try my hardest to stop using "gay" as an insult as well. Frankly, i wouldnt see it as that big a deal.
2007-12-18 02:30:32 · answer #9 · answered by M & M 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
personally (being under 17 myself but feeling i can offer advice) I'd let them try it and if they like it let them keep doing it. if it makes them happy and they have no direct risk of dying, you've passed as a parent.
Mistakenly
walk out of the room quickly. shut the door and wait until they would want to talk to you about it.
2007-12-18 02:24:31 · answer #10 · answered by SamC-akaCaysynn 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋