Advice for gay teens

How to support a teen who's appear out as gay

When my son, Winston, came out as gay, I was ready.

My face was ready. My embrace, my loving and supportive words were ready. (To be honest, they always are. I'm his number one fan.)

More recently, Winston has wanted me to write about his identity; he doesn't want it to be a classified in any way. At just 13, he's gay pride personified.

I realised that as a parenting writer, it would be almost disingenuous not to recognize myself as the proud mum of a gay fresh man — and secrecy, which is the opposite of what Winston wanted, would send a terrible message to my son.

So, I 'came out' on social media.

We received a lot of support, and Winston is so haughty of me. It was a parenting nail (among plenty of parenting fails).

One may think the right thing to do from here is to cure my kid as though he were straight, or, as some might utter , "normal". I don't think it's as, ahem, straightforward as that.

Like it or not, Winston is part of a minority group — the LGBTQI community — and even though i

Coming Out: What Every Teen (Gay and Straight) Needs to Know

Awards

Association for Library Service to Children: Notable Children's Video

Reviews

Highly Recommended Stars out of 4 It’s just sort of like taking a leap off a cliff and hoping there’s ground beneath it,” says Tea, a transgendered teen making the transition from male to female in a supportive school environment. She’s one of the subjects featured in this excellent, straight-shooting guide to both coming out safely and also being a straight ally. A genial teenage host lays the groundwork by pointing out than an estimated 5 percent of American high school students identify themselves as lesbian or gay, and he reappears intermittently throughout the program to explain common terms, such as “sexual orientation,” the acronym “LGBTQ,” “coming out,” and homophobia.” Experts in human sexuality provide commentary to accompany the stories of several young people who’ve had positive experiences with both peers and family in identifying themselves as LG

Mental health aid if you're lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans (LGBTQ+)

Mental health problems such as depression or self-harm can impact any of us, but they're more common among people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBTQ+).

This may be linked to LGBTQ+ people's experience of discrimination, homophobia or transphobia, bullying, social isolation, or rejection because of their sexuality.

Other things, such as their age, religion, where they live, and their ethnicity can append extra complications to an already hard situation.

How talking therapy can help

It might not be easy, but getting help with issues you're struggling to deal with on your verb is one of the most vital things you can do.

Talking with a therapist who's trained to work with LGBTQ+ people may help with issues such as:

  • difficulty accepting your sexual orientation
  • coping with other people's reactions to your sexuality
  • feeling your body does not mirror your true gender (gender dysphoria)
  • transitioning
  • low self-esteem
  • self-harm
  • suicidal thoughts
  • depression
  • coping with bullying

    Gay Teenagers: Advice for Parents

    By Lyndsey D'Arcangelo

    August 15,

    What do you do when you learn that your teen is an LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) teen? You might be confused, overwhelmed and challenged. As the author of young adult LGBT books, I often come across parents who are looking for a minute guidance and direction.

    There isn’t a manual to guide you through the process. But as a former gay teenager, I have some suggestions.

    Advice For Parenting LGBT Youth

    Don’t confront your teen.

    If you suspect that your teenager might be gay, or confused about their sexuality and/or gender, don’t confront them. Interrogating your teen is the quickest way to lose their belief. Don’t back them into a corner, demand answers or snoop around their room.

    The truth is that your teen really wants to talk to you. In fact, most gay teenagers yearn to come out to their parents but they are afraid. The foremost thing you can do is to give your teen some space. You can even slip an occasional hint that you are available to chat about anything and everythi