Oy Vey! My Child Is Gay!
"Mom and dad, I'm gay" are possibly the most painful words a parent can ever hear.
A flood of emotions overtakes the parents and spills over to their child. Their initial
and subsequent responses will accomplish one of two things -push the child away or
pull the child toward the parents.
Two immediate emotions parents often experience are anger and grief. Both are
natural and healthy. It is OK to feel anger as long as it not direct anger toward your child!
Avoid angry outbursts. I have heard parents tell their child “You're just confused” or “Maybe you will change your mind”. One set of parents interrogated their confused son by shouting furiously: “how could you do this to us?” as if he had planned it for years or choose to be gay. A father made his position clear with these words, “If I even suspect you are involved in that activity, pack your bags. You’re out of this house.”
Grief and anger are natural; where parents need help is knowing when to express each emotion. A parent's grief is typically expressed alone, while anger is often expressed directly at the son or daughter. I suggest that parents switch these.
Exhibit genuine caring. Surely a parent can cry alone, but shed some tears
with the son or daughter is more beneficial than an expression of anger.
Remember, it take a lot of courage to come out and say it. In most cases
he has been fighting this battle alone much longer than you have known
about it.
There are 3 very important things you can do for your child:
Support
Love
Honesty
You can ask open-ended questions—“How long have you been feeling these
feelings?” or “what can we do to help?” Reassure him with the words, “Let’s work on this together.”
Secondly, display encouragement, not embarrassment! Embarrassment frustrates the healing process. A preoccupation with “what will people say” takes the focus off the issue at hand. If you as a parent find it difficult to discuss this issue with him, seek for support in your area. Parents' group support can be great.
Whereas embarrassment frustrates the healing process, encouragement promotes the healing process.
Communicate love physically, not just verbally! Do not recoil from your child; rather, embrace him physically. The worst thing you can do is to keep him at arms' length. The very opposite may be true; physical affection between a father and son is appropriate whether the son is a small child or an adult.
Fathers particularly need to verbally express love and admiration for their sons. I have heard dozens of fathers say “I don’t need to tell him I love him, he knows I do.” Well, he needs to feel it. All your children needs to feel your love all the time, especially when they facing many challenges at current time.
Cultivate an “open-door policy” versus a “case-closed mentality”! If a parent states their disapproval, ending it with “and I don’t want any more discussion on the matter,” he or she is essentially telling the child “I don’t want to hear about your feelings.”
Buy some good books on the subject and read. You may be tempted to give them to your child, but don't, unless you get his permission. A son or daughter who has "come out" resents having books dumped on them. If your child asks you to read some literature supporting homosexuality, do it. It won't hurt you. What better way to help and support your child than to know more information on how to help them. Show your child that you are not afraid to meet the issues head on. He or she will be more receptive to share their hurdles with you and receive your support.
Talk about health risks, like you would have talked to a strait child. The sex risks are the same- and the child needs to know how to protect himself.
If you feel embarrassed, you can ask a friend, seek professional help or use the links at the bottom.
Talk with, not to, your child. A dialogue creates candour while a monologue creates rancour. Continue to keep the channels of communication open. Your relationship with your child must be a two-way street; you must create an atmosphere where he could tell you anything and everything and you never blink an eye.
More info can be found here:
Gay $ Lesbian Counselling
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian & Gays
Coming Out
Youth Guide
SameSame
Oasis Journals
The Task Force
Still need more help? Don't hesitate to contact us
