Articles
What Can I Tell My 11-Year Old Son Who Is Afraid He is Gay?
I am having a problem with my 11-year-old son. He had a crush on this little girl in school until Christmas. Then he stopped liking her. Now he fears that he is turning gay. I have spoken to him in a very calm and rational matter but I cannot convince him that his fears and the changes he is going through are all normal for his age. What else can I tell him?
Youth Allies
In junior and senior high school, straight students are able to show support for their GLBT classmates by joining a gay-straight alliance (GSA). A GSA is a student-run school club that works to create a safe and accepting school environment for all young people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Parents as Allies
It has been said that when gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender children come out, their parents go in the closet. However, most parents, once they are more comfortable with their gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender child, take their next step and come out to others.
Coming Out to Oneself as Transgender
Those who express a transgender identity while young face some unique challenges. As minors, young transgender people are likely to be at the will of their parents or primary caregivers, who do not always understand their experiences.
Language and Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos
The Spanish language is spoken by many GLBT Latinas/os, and if they don’t speak it in their daily lives, it may still be spoken when they visit home, go to church or attend community events. This presents two challenges for GLBT Latinas/os: The Spanish language itself is limited for discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity issues, and there’s a lack of GLBT resources that are printed in Spanish.