Archive for February 2012
Is it Depression, Teenage Angst or Suicidal Thoughts?
Tyler Clementi, a gay Rutgers University freshman jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge in 2010. Halyee Fentress and Paige Maravetz, two lesbian 14-year old girls, took their lives in sleepover suicide pact in Minnesota a year later. Eric James Borges, a gay filmmaker in California, killed himself last month. It seems as…
Read MoreModern Family Redefined: How and When to Tell Siblings of GLB Teens
It’s hard to know what to tell the sibling of a gay/lesbian teen. Should you or your gay teen divulge the news about his/her brother’s orientation? What should the sibling hear first? and from whom: his parent or the gay brother or sister? How should you approach the subject? While some parents may regard this…
Read MoreWhat Do You Say to Your Child’s Coming Out?
I recently wrote a guest post for the Radical Parenting site. Here’s an excerpt: As a straight parent, you probably will find his announcement shocking, painful, and off-putting. Try not to respond with volcanic anger, silence or remarks negating his/her same-sex orientation. Remember that it is a supreme compliment that your child has revealed his…
Read More“Love you, Always” Love, Mom and Dad ox
It’s not always easy to love unconditionally, especially when your lifelong dreams for your child have been shattered. Like most straight parents, your child’s coming out has probably precipitated intense uncomfortable feelings in you such as anger(Why our family?), denial(how could she know?), guilt(what did I do to cause this?), shame(I can’t tell anyone), fear(what…
Read More“The Child is the father of The Man” – William Wordsworth
Question: What causes · parents and teens angst? · religious organizations to consider it a “choice”? · 9 million U.S. citizens under age 20 and 9% of high school students to identify with it? · Its lack of acceptance accounts for 20-40% of runaway and homeless youth? · Is the leading cause of suicide among…
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