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

Contents:

• CARY GRANT’S DGHTER SLAMS SPECULATN IN WAS GAY: ‘I NEVER SAW A HT OF THAT’
• GLORIA ESTEFAN OFFERED TO 'CARRY' GAY FLAG AT PRI FOR DGHTER EY BEFORE SHE CAME OUT
• WHEN MY DGHTER SAID, 'I'M GAY'
• I N'T FIVE MY DGHTER FOR BEG GAY
• WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHILD SAYS: "I'M GAY"
• HOW CHRISTIAN PARENTS SHOULD RPOND TO THEIR CHILD'S GAY INTY CRISIS
• DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER’S OWN DGHTER SLAMS HIS ANTI-GAY TIRA
• PARENTS OF GAY CHILDREN AND THE ISSU THEY FACE
• MANY PARENTS STGGLE TO ADJT AFTER LEARNG CHILD IS GAY, STUDY FDS
• MARIE OSMOND TALKS GAY MARRIAGE, LBIAN DGHTER JSI IN NEW INTERVIEW
• RORY FEEK STGGLED TO ACCEPT THAT DGHTER IS GAY: 'MY JOB IS TO LOVE HER EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD'

CARY GRANT’S DGHTER SLAMS SPECULATN IN WAS GAY: ‘I NEVER SAW A HT OF THAT’

Jennifer Grant ni that the Old Hollywood screen star was homosexual. Now, Grant’s dghter, Jennifer, is shuttg down allegatns that her famo dad was really gay. Jennifer shut down mors that her father was homosexual.

GLORIA ESTEFAN OFFERED TO 'CARRY' GAY FLAG AT PRI FOR DGHTER EY BEFORE SHE CAME OUT

While Grant — who died 1986 — fashned a persona for himself where he was a ladi’ man, njecture that he was a homosexual still spun throughout his life. Jennifer also touched upon the age-old talk about her dad her 2011 memoir, “Good Stuff: A Remiscence of My Father, Cary Grant” — which ments that she ma rulted hate mail allegg that she was homophobic.

“When the qutn aris, generally speaks more about the person askg … Dad somewhat enjoyed beg lled gay. The “Philalphia Story” actor even had to battle the gay mors jt a few years before his passg. “Homo.

WHEN MY DGHTER SAID, 'I'M GAY'

"I remember beg my bedroom and tellg you, 'Mama, are you gay? "'Do you want to rry the gay flag, bee if you want I will get on that para float and I will rry that flag? "You said to me, 'Mom, I'm not gay, '" Gloria says.

The note said, "I am gay. Now, she has e out as gay and I look at her - wh her short hair and mascule cloth, - and wonr where did we as parents go wrong?

If I'm hont, I probably felt a twge of relief that she was settlg down bee I had harboured fleetg ncerns that she might be gay. I'd known gay people the past at work and had never been prejudiced towards them - had never bothered me. It wasn't that I had anythg agast homosexuals: was simply that wasn't what I wished for my own child.

I N'T FIVE MY DGHTER FOR BEG GAY

I thk every parent wants their child to have a smooth passage through life, and I felt that beg gay would always be a problem. It seems trendy the days for parents to claim they 'accept' their children's sexualy if they are gay.

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

After all, he om a generatn when beg gay certaly wasn't somethg ever discsed.

HOW CHRISTIAN PARENTS SHOULD RPOND TO THEIR CHILD'S GAY INTY CRISIS

I do tell people that Sarah is gay - and they only have to see her to gus.

When I tell people that my other dghter Heather is married, people n ask about whether she has children and how old they once you've told someone your dghter is gay, you n see them flailg around, sperately searchg for the right words. Perhaps 's her way of bbg my nose , or her attempt to make me accept she's gay. Her gay life is somethg I jt don't unrstand.

I have met lots of Sarah's other lbian and gay iends and they are very nice, but I adm she go to gay clubs and is volved a 'scene' that I jt nnot image. Mum may thk she had some fluence over my sexualy, but she needn't feel guilty bee fact I've known I was gay sce I was very young - I jt sperately tried not to be. My belief is that ep down Mum knew I was gay, even when I married Tony, but she uldn't face .

DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER’S OWN DGHTER SLAMS HIS ANTI-GAY TIRA

For some reason, Mum seems to thk that bee I am gay, children are out of the qutn. However, the fact that I'm gay don't stop me wantg children.

PARENTS OF GAY CHILDREN AND THE ISSU THEY FACE

It's only recently I have tly accepted myself as gay.

When parents learn that their child is gay, lbian, bisexual, or transgenr, they n experience a range of emotns. As a matter of fact, you might someday look back and fd that you are grateful for the experience of havg a gay or lbian child. Well, my study of 65 fai of gay and lbian youth for the book, Comg Out, Comg Home: Helpg Fai Adjt to a Gay or Lbian Child, I found that some parents get to the pot where they believe that the experience of havg a gay child actually ma them a better person—more open-md and sensive to the needs of others, particularly those other mory groups.

MANY PARENTS STGGLE TO ADJT AFTER LEARNG CHILD IS GAY, STUDY FDS

If you jt found out your child is gay, lbian, bisexual, or transgenr, you may be thkg that such ias are prepostero.

MARIE OSMOND TALKS GAY MARRIAGE, LBIAN DGHTER JSI IN NEW INTERVIEW

The tstworthy nfidants let them vent but also rrected some of the misperceptns they absorbed om society, such as that gay people are lonely, unhappy, promiscuo, not fay-oriented, unable to have children, or sted for an unhappy life. Contact Parents, Fay, and Friends of Lbians and Gays (PFLAG).

List of Helpful Books for Parents of Gay and Lbian Children. Straight Parents Gay Children: Keepg Fai Together (revised edn).

RORY FEEK STGGLED TO ACCEPT THAT DGHTER IS GAY: 'MY JOB IS TO LOVE HER EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD'

Beyond Acceptance: Parents of Lbians, and Gays Talk About Their Experienc. Somethg to Tell You: The Road Fai Travel when a Child is Gay.

Comg Out, Comg Home: Helpg Fai Adjt to a Gay or Lbian Child. Fortunate Fai: Catholic fai wh lbian dghters and gay sons.

Mom, Dad, I'm Gay: How Fai Negotiate Comg Out. When a child first out to their parents as eher beg gay or havg same-sex attractn, their ial rpons are ually the wrong on, says Chris Doyle, a psychotherapist who specializ York Cy gay pri para crowd this undated photo.