Support for Parents of Child Who Says He's Gay - Foc on the Fay

YOUR CHILD JT TOLD YOU HE'S GAY. NOW WHAT?

For straight parents, havg a child reveal that he is gay n be a jolt. You might ask how long he or she has known, and why he feels he is gay, bi, or trans, suggts Jonathan Tobk, M.

RPONDG TO ADULT CHILD WHO SAYS HE’S GAY

D., a psychiatrist private practice New York Cy and the -thor of When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need to Know. You n fd one through the Associatn of Gay and Lbian Psychiatrists.

Take the extra step and show your child that you are terted beg the parent of a gay child. Edute yourself on what means to be gay, lbian, bisexual or transgenr. PFLAG, or Parents for Lbians and Gays, which now has a group for transgenr youth, and holds natnwi chapters and meetgs;.

Don’t be surprised if you feel shaken or pelled to qutn or exame your own beliefs on the subject of homosexualy the light of this experience. What led you to believe that you might be gay?

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

There’s no absolute need to foreclose on a label for yourself by llg yourself ‘gay, ’ ‘bi, ’ ‘trans, ’ or anythg else. After all, many people have felt same-sex attractns whout adoptg the ‘gay’ label.

This means enuragg your son to talk openly about the feelgs, wants, hop, and fears he’s gog through whout assigng them to any specific tegory (“gay” or “straight”).

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

When Homosexualy Hs Home: What to Do When a Loved One Says They’re Gay.