When gay teens e out to their parents, ’s an experience often rife wh emotn and ndor that n’t help but change the kid–parent experts say that procsg a child’s proclamatn of their sexualy is only the begng of the journey for moms and dads. And while there are an creasg number of fai who embrace their child’s homosexualy and are supportive,
Contents:
- SO YOU SUPPORT YOUR GAY TEEN, GREAT: YOU STILL HAVE TO PARENT THEM
- COMG OUT: A PARENTS GUI TO SUPPORTG YOUR GAY TEEN
- WATCH: THIS SHORT FILM ABOUT A GAY TEEN LOVE WILL MELT YOUR HEART
SO YOU SUPPORT YOUR GAY TEEN, GREAT: YOU STILL HAVE TO PARENT THEM
* your gay teen *
When gay teens e out to their parents, ’s an experience often rife wh emotn and ndor that n’t help but change the kid–parent experts say that procsg a child’s proclamatn of their sexualy is only the begng of the journey for moms and dads. And while there are an creasg number of fai who embrace their child’s homosexualy and are supportive, lovg, and even unfazed by the revelatn, ’s a turn of the ti that leav some ncerned about whether or not there is an unrstandg of the nuanc of parentg a gay teen. “The problem for most gay kids is that they n lose their parents whether their parents are hateful or supportive, ” says Dan Savage, thor, sex lumnist and creator of the “It Gets Better Project, ” which helps gay teens rever om bullyg.
”Savage, who has a son wh his gay partner, says that he equently hears stori about parents who are aaid to tell their gay son that they don’t approve of his boyiend for fear of soundg tolerant or who help their gay teen sneak to gay bars by securg them a fake ID — a double standard that he fds tratg. Stephen Rsell, an adolcent psychologist at the Universy of Arizona, says that he and his partner, Stt Neeley, have faced many challeng while parentg their gay son, Enrique, 18. Rsell also suggts that parents of gay teenagers be aware of whether or not the person their child is datg has already e out himself, and of how their parents reacted to the news.
COMG OUT: A PARENTS GUI TO SUPPORTG YOUR GAY TEEN
Savage says that parents of gay teens — pecially boys — should also be aware of the dangers that exist today’s datg world, potg out that bee their gay son is datg men, he fac risks like timate partner vlence and sexual asslt.
[Some] gay men are awful. If you have a gay son, you should be protective of him jt as you would be of a straight dghter who was sexually active and datg, ” says Savage. Rsell also strs the importance of beg faiar wh gay sex and timacy before engagg your teen discsns about sexualy, and says to be prepared for qutns about what nstut sex and where lims lie.
WATCH: THIS SHORT FILM ABOUT A GAY TEEN LOVE WILL MELT YOUR HEART
“It’s the same when you’ve got a ltle gay kid — you realize there are a range of thgs out there that they will experience that don’t even relate to the thgs they hear about sex om their straight iends.
”Acrdg to Rsell, one of the most important thgs for parents of all teens — gay or straight — to remember is the importance of emphasizg to your child that they serve to be treated wh rpect and that they should be rpectful of others.