What to Do When Your Child Says: "I'm Gay" | Psychology Today

proud of my gay son

Danny Cortez, once a Southern Baptist mister, did do more than accept his gay son: He cid to talk to his ngregatn about homosexualy, even though ultimately meant his leavg the church.

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JT BEE HE BREATH: LEARNG TO TLY LOVE OUR GAY SON

Out Canadian rad host Mrie Sherman says his dad "took a giant leap for gay kd" this Pri Month. * proud of my gay son *

For him to not jt to accept that he has a gay, married son but also to want to wave the flag proudly support is a big al.

Needls to say, I was so proud of my dad for this one giant step for gay kd.

DEAR PARENT OF A GAY CHILD

Fdg out Oliver is gay was big — and no big al. And he ma me face my own straight privilege. * proud of my gay son *

I hope this photo of a proud dad and his gay son raisg the Pri flag to kick off Pri Month brgs others as much joy as brought, I am so proud of you for acceptg me for who I am and for welg Matthew as part of the fay wh you, Kyle, Daniel, and you for makg unndnal love and acceptance a prry. By now u probably have an ia of what i am about to says: I am gayRyan says: i n't believe i jt told youMom says: Are you jokg? Ryan says: i know i amRyan says: i don't like hannahRyan says: 's jt a ver-upMom says: but that don't make you says: i knowRyan says: but u don't unrstandRyan says: i am gayMom says: tell me moreRyan says: 's jt the way i am and 's somethg i knowRyan says: u r not a lbian and u know that.

BYU VALEDICTORIAN'S POWERFUL SPEECH GO VIRAL: "I AM PROUD TO BE A GAY SON OF GOD"

Patrick Haggerty didn't know he was gay, but spects that his father did when he told him not to hi his inty. Haggerty was 15, and his dad told him to be proud of himself. * proud of my gay son *

Ryan says: i am jt gayRyan says: i am thatMom says: I love you no matter whatRyan says: i am whe not blackRyan says: i knowRyan says: i am a boy not a girlRyan says: i am attracted to boys not girlsRyan says: u know that about yourself and i know thisMom says: what about what God thks about actg on the sir?

Not that we didn't know and love gay people; my only brother had e out to several years before, and we adored him. The feelgs you've had for other guys don't make you gay. So please don't tell anyone that you are gay.

'DON'T SNEAK': DAD'S UNEXPECTED ADVICE TO HIS GAY SON IN THE '50S

Shemsije Ma-Cerki surprised onlookers when she took to the stage at a Pri para Kosovo's pal to clare support for her gay son and other members of the LGBT muny the socially nservative untry. * proud of my gay son *

Your inty is not that you are gay; is that you are a child of love you. He read all the books that claimed to know where his gay feelgs me om, dove to unselg to further disver the whys of his unwanted attractn to other guys, worked through paful nflict rolutn wh my hband and me and built strong iendships wh other guys -- straight guys -- jt like the reparative therapy experts advised. And we lost the abily to love our gay son, bee we no longer had a gay son.

KOSOVO MOTHER DECLAR: ‘I AM PROUD OF MY GAY SON’

* proud of my gay son *

What we had wished for, prayed for, hoped for -- that we would not have a gay son -- me te.

WHEN HIS SON CAME OUT AS GAY, THIS PASTOR DELIVERED A SERMON OF SUPPORT

Unique Proud Of My Gay Son stickers featurg lns of origal signs created and sold by pennt artists. Derate your laptops, water bottl, notebooks and wdows. Whe or transparent. 4 siz available. * proud of my gay son *

But not at all the way we had, when I thk back on the fear that erned all my reactns durg those first six years after Ryan told he was gay, I crge as I realize how foolish I was.

PROUD OF MY GAY SON STICKERS

In a Yale Daily News edorial, Will Portman explas how he me out to his parents and how Sen. Rob Portman's views on gay marriage evolved * proud of my gay son *

Now, whenever Rob and I jo our gay iends for an eveng, I thk about how much I would love to be visg wh Ryan and his partner over dner. 14, 2013, which would have been Ryan's 24th is now posted, along wh other blog posts, at sonGay ChildrenLGBT kidsParents Of Gay kidsgay kids. Fay Life Dear Parent of a Gay Child, You are not alone.

You may have grown up thkg that gay people f to a certa five mold, and your child acted “straight” through the years, only to seemgly sudnly reveal their same-sex attractn.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHILD SAYS: "I'M GAY"

Most of have heard of the LGBT words: lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr.

Others entst only their parents wh their secret until the timg is right to tell may feel happy, relieved, sad, sred, angry, nfed, or all of the above when you fd out your child is gay. As a parent of a gay child, you may be surprised how many people react wh love and unrstandg. I reached out to my lol PFLAG — a natnwi group that holds regular meetgs for parents of gay children (no matter the age).

THIS IS HOW I REALLY REACTED WHEN MY SON TOLD ME HE WAS GAY

It's also where I learned about Tvada, a daily pill aimed at batg HIV wh high-risk groups (gay men, for example).

It was a wonrful experience to meet all the other fay members and hear their stori and learn om a parent n be very sry, pecially today’s tumultuo a parent to a gay child n often add an extra layer of worry and fear. The good news is that gay rights have e a long way sce we were young. Whether you are gay, straight, bi, pan, asexual, or everythg parents, ntu to be our job to love and protect and support our children.

11 CELEBRI WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR LGBT KIDS"THEY NEED YOU TO SUPPORT THEM. BEE IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT THEM, WHO'S GOG TO?"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}CELEBRIBY SAM MANZELLAMARCH 28, 2018/9:41 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:1997PX;WIDTH:3000PX;}KEV WTER/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGLOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 27: ACTRS SALLY FIELD AND SON, SAM GREISMAN ATTEND THE 19TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS AT THE SHRE AUDORIUM ON JANUARY 27, 2013 LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY KEV WTER/WIREIMAGE) BY SAM MANZELLAMARCH 28, 2018 / 9:41 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"11 CELEBRI WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR LGBT KIDS","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-03-28T13:41:24.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-03-28T13:41:24.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"SAM MANZELLA","ARTICLESECTN":"CELEBRI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GROWG UP QUEER IS HARD, BUT SUPPORTIVE PARENTS N MAKE G OUT AND LIVG YOUR TTH THAT MUCH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELOW, WE CELEBRATE 11 AMAZG CELEBS WHO'VE EMBRACED THEIR LGBT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SALLY FIELDLTER COHEN/WIREIMAGEHOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24: SAM GREISMAN (L) AND ACTRS SALLY FIELD ARRIVE AT THE OSRS AT HOLLYWOOD & HIGHLAND CENTER ON FEBARY 24, 2013 HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY LTER COHEN/WIREIMAGE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THIS HOLLYWOOD LEGEND IS A HUGE ALLY TO HER GAY SON, SAM GREISMAN, AND HIS WG LADY: DURG THE 2018 WTER GAM, SHE TRIED TO SET HIM UP WH OUT OLYMPIAN ADAM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2012, FIELD RECEIVED HRC'S ALLY FOR EQUALY AWARD—AND GREISMAN TRODUCED HER TO THE CROWD WH A TOUCHG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MARCIA GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE 50 SHAS OF GREY STAR IS A CHAMPN FOR HUDSON, HER 13-YEAR-OLD GAY SON. "I JT WANT TO MAKE SURE HE GETS TO HAVE A FAY WHEN HE WANTS ONE," SHE TOLD US WEEKLY AT THE FAY EQUALY COUNCIL'S IMPACT AWARDS MARCH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ANTE BENGSTEVE GRANZ/GETTY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BENG AND HBAND WARREN BEATTY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR TRANSGENR SON, STEPHEN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I’M SUPER PROUD OF HIM," BENG TOLD THE OBSERVER LAST YEAR. "I LEAVE TO HIM TO SAY WHAT HE WANTS ABOUT HIS LIFE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MAGIC JOHNSONEJ JOHNSON/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MAGIC JOHNSON IS PROUD OF HIS GAY SON, 25-YEAR-OLD EARV "EJ" JOHNSON. "[MY WIFE] AND I LOVE EJ AND SUPPORT HIM EVERY WAY," MAGIC TOLD TMZ 2013. "WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN ASKED WHAT HIS ADVICE WOULD BE TO OTHER PARENTS OF LGBT KIDS, THE FORMER NBA STAR WAS EARNT: "IT'S ALL ABOUT NOT TRYG TO CI WHAT YOUR DGHTER OR SON SHOULD BE, OR WHAT THEY SHOULD BEE. IT'S ABOUT LOVG THEM AND FOR WHO THEY ARE [AND] WHAT THEY CI TO DO."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THEY NEED YOU TO SUPPORT THEM," HE ADD. "BEE IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT THEM, WHO'S GOG TO?"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CHERKEV MAZUR/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGWASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: CHER (L) AND CHAZ BONO ATTEND THE RALLY AT THE WOMEN'S MARCH ON WASHGTON ON JANUARY 21, 2017 WASHGTON, DC. (PHOTO BY KEV MAZUR/WIREIMAGE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TODAY, THE POP DIVA SUPPORTS HER TRANSGENR SON, CHAZ BONO. BUT SHE ADMS ACCEPTG HIS GENR INTY WASN'T ALWAYS EASY: "I HAD A HARD TIME," CHER TOLD THE SUNDAY TIM 2013. "I DIDN’T HAVE A HARD TIME THE BEGNG WHEN CHAZ ME TO SEE ME AND TOLD ME, 'THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.' BUT THEN AS WAS STARTG TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, ’S A STRANGE CHANGE FOR A MOTHER TO GO THROUGH."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"IT’S STARTG TO BE NICE BEE WE’RE CREATG MEMORI NOW," SHE ADD, "AND WE’VE ACTUALLY HAD THE MOST FUN TOGETHER LATELY THAN WE’VE HAD FOREVER."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BARBRA STREISANDBERTRAND RDOFF PETROFF/GETTY IMAGBARBRA STREISAND AND SON JASON - BARBRA STREISAND IS MA OFFICER OF THE LEGN OF HONOR BY NILAS SARKOZY, THE NEWLY ELECTED PRINT. BARBRA STREISAND AND HER SON JASON - (PHOTO BY BERTRAND RDOFF PETROFF/GETTY IMAG){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BABS LOV AND SUPPORTS JASON GOULD, HER SON BY EX-HBAND ELLT GOULD. VOL CHOPS N THE FAY: THE PAIR RERD A MOVG DUET OF "HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN" TOGETHER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JASON NFS THAT DATG WH A GAY IN FOR A MOM IS A B DIFFICULT: "WELL, DATG IS CHALLENGG, PERD, ISN’T ?" HE TOLD BILLBOARD."BUT I’M PRETTY FORTABLE MY OWN SK NOW."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ISIAH THOMASZEKE THOMAS/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE NBA LEGEND LOV ZEKE, WHO ME OUT 2008. "MY PARENTS LIKE TO SAY THEY ALWAYS KNEW I WAS GAY," ZEKE, WHO OPENED UP ABOUT BEG A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSLT, TOLD OUT. "I ME OUT TO THEM, AND THEY WERE VERY ACCEPTG. I ALWAYS KNEW THEY WOULD BE ACCEPTG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALLY SHEEDYALLY SHEEDY/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ACTRS IS AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOTE FOR LGBT RIGHTS—EVEN MORE SO AFTER HER SON, BECKETT LANSBURY, ME OUT AS TRANSGENR. LAST NOVEMBER, THE DUO RERD A PODST ABOUT BEG A BETTER ALLY TO TRANSGENR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"YOU HEAR HOW BRILLIANT MY KID IS?" SHEEDY ASKED THE HOST. "MY KID IS BRILLIANT!"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MARIE OSMONDMARIE OSMOND/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OSMOND IS A VOUT MORMON, BUT HER RELIG NVICTNS DIDN'T PREVENT HER OM EMBRACG HER LBIAN DGHTER, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I THK THAT MY DGHTER SERV EVERYTHG THAT SHE SIR LIFE," THE ACTRS AND SGER TOLD ABC NEWS. "YOU KNOW, ON THOSE TYP OF THGS I’M VERY SUPPORTIVE. WHEN TO MARRIAGE... I THK THAT CIVIL RIGHTS NEED TO BE FOR ALL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELDA CARLISLEJAM DE MASON/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE GO-GO'S SGER IS PROUD OF HER GAY SON, 25-YEAR-OLD JAM DE MASON. HAVG A GAY CHILD HAS MA HER MORE AWARE OF LGBT ISSU, SHE TOLD THE DERT SUN LAST MAY: "MOST OF MY IENDS SCE HIGH SCHOOL HAVE BEEN GAY OR LBIAN... SO I WAS ALWAYS AWARE OF ISSU. BUT I THK WHEN YOU HAVE A SON OR A DGHTER OR A RELATIVE OR SOMEONE FAIAL, BRGS EVEN CLOSER TO HOME."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JAM IS CURRENTLY NNG FOR CY UNCIL WT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ANNE RICEAMANDA EDWARDS/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGLOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 02: AUTHORS CHRISTOPHER RICE (L) AND ANNE RICE SIGN PI OF THEIR BOOKS "THE HEAVENS RISE" AND "THE WOLV OF MIDWTER" RPECTIVELY AT BARN & NOBLE BOOKSTORE AT THE GROVE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2013 LOS ANGEL, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY AMANDA EDWARDS/WIREIMAGE){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THIS ACCLAIMED NOVELIST AND LONGTIME LGBT ALLY SUPPORTS HER GAY SON, FELLOW THOR CHRISTOPHER RICE. "I HAVE A GAY SENSIBILY," SHE JOKED TO THE DAILY BEAST 2016. "I GET TEASED A LOT BY MY GAY IENDS BEE WE HAVE A RAPPORT ON THGS WE FD EXCG OR TERTG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe CycleFdg out Oliver is gay was big — and no big al. “Mom, I’m gay, ” he said. “Gay people n unload the dishwasher, too.

Fdg out that Oliver is gay was no different than fdg out my other son is obssed wh “The Lord of the Rgs.

”) He is so proud of beg gay that I stggle to thk of a personal tra that mak me siarly proud. But even if we didn’t, there would be no pot tryg to keep Oliver and I speak a lot about g out and what means for him to be gay, thanks large part to everyone who has e out before him. I reassured myself that even if he did wre a qutn about beg gay, he was already out to all of his iends, and only 20 children a middle school of hundreds would get a chance to actually ask their qutn.

MY GRANDSON IS GAY… AND I LOVE HIM VERY MUCH

The odds he would be picked seemed, but not that’s how Oliver, age 13, stood up ont of his whole middle school and said, “I’m gay. I also hear about gay slurs and jok on his school grounds and elsewhere (“that’s so gay” as a put-down is a mon one), primarily om boys and ually when they are groups of two or more.

THIS IS HOW I FELT WHEN MY SON TOLD ME HE WAS GAY

It’s never “jt a joke” to a gay teenager middle school. There are the sophomoric jok about gay sex by edians (Jimmy Kimmel, who recently lled Sean Hanny “a bottom” on Twter, and Chelsea Handler, who said the same of Jeff Ssns; Mr. Children, but they also face social excln, stigmatizatn and bullyg, bee early adolcence is also a time of greater prejudice and homophobic behavr.

Many children — gay or straight — are bullied middle school and high school.

JOHN BISHOP SAYS HE’S ‘MASSIVELY PROUD’ OF HIS GAY SON DURG TOUCHG SPEECH AT LGBT AWARDS

What happens at this velopmental time is more likely to have a lastg effect, and not jt for the gay kids, but also for their bulli. Middle school adolcents who engage homophobic name-llg, some rearch dit, are more likely to engage sexual harassment high school. Bulli, seems, may cut their teeth on gay is possible to change thgs.

Studi tell that schools that have a Gay Straight Alliance and other polici aimed at fosterg a safer environment for L. Workg to make thgs better for gay kids helps all kids.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* PROUD OF MY GAY SON

'Don't Sneak': Dad's Unexpected Advice To His Gay Son In The '50s : NPR .

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