Straight Parent, Gay Kid
Book Review for Steven Petrow’s Complete Gay and Lesbian Manners
Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue share a happy moment with Marlo’s niece Tracy (left) and her new spouse Tracey.Dilemma: You’re invited to a same-sex marriage. What do you call the two brides?a. companions (sounds as if they are in their “twilight” years)b. partners (remind you of a stuffy “white-shoe” law firm?)c. lovers (rings of pre-legal…
Discussing Homosexuality With Your Kids
My guest blogger today is Leslie Penkunas, editor of nola baby and family magazine in New Orleans. Leslie has two children, ages 8 and 10, and blogs about parenting on her blog: theparentinggig.com Conversation Starter As editor of a parenting magazine, I review books or assign articles tackling myriad parenting topics—how to have a happy,…
“You’re Too Pretty To Be A Lesbian”
I hear this statement constantly from parents who can’t believe that their cutie daughter, who held the white patent leather pocketbook in nursery school, and is donning makeup and short skirts in high school, is gay.When your “girly girl” daughter “comes out” to you, please don’t deny her sexual orientation! Lesbians come in all shapes…
Privacy vs. The Right to Know
If you are suspicious your child may be gay, do you, as a parent, have the right to ask? I believe your kid will tell you she is gay when she is ready. You shouldn’t “out” her to others until she wants you to; after all, it’s her story that she may want to hold…
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…
Modern 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…
What 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…
“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…
“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…