What To Do When Your 7-Year-Old Son Says "i'm Gay"

[Anomaly]

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1333342386' post='2411744']
Yes. Hopefully he'll be able to turn it off, like a light switch

[/quote]At 7 years old, I don't think the circuitry is completed. Because of his age, I don't think it appropriate to commit to hardwiring, no matter which way you would prefer the switch position to be.
If my 7 year old son said he was gay, I'd have to put some thought into it. Did he say that because of questions about 'gender identity stereotypes'? Did he say that because he doesn't like football and trucks so his friends say he's gay? My younger daughter always wanted to be the boy when playing from age around 4 to 8 because she was a bad-as# like Laura Croft. If I was anti-gay, should I have freaked out and forbid her to play anything outside a play kitchen, or if I was pro-gay, should I have bought her a plaid shirt and a sweet pair of birkenstocks?

It doesn't seem to be enlightened parenting to force sterotypes on 7 year old kids.

[Winchester]

Ask him to pick out your new window treatments?

[4588686]

[quote name='Anomaly' timestamp='1333377316' post='2411821']
At 7 years old, I don't think the circuitry is completed. Because of his age, I don't think it appropriate to commit to hardwiring, no matter which way you would prefer the switch position to be.
If my 7 year old son said he was gay, I'd have to put some thought into it. Did he say that because of questions about 'gender identity stereotypes'? Did he say that because he doesn't like football and trucks so his friends say he's gay? My younger daughter always wanted to be the boy when playing from age around 4 to 8 because she was a bad-as# like Laura Croft. If I was anti-gay, should I have freaked out and forbid her to play anything outside a play kitchen, or if I was pro-gay, should I have bought her a plaid shirt and a sweet pair of birkenstocks?

It doesn't seem to be enlightened parenting to force sterotypes on 7 year old kids.
[/quote]

I agree with that. And I think it would be, to some extent, be abusive for a parent to insist to their child that they are gay (and vica versa). I don't remember reading of that occuring in this situation. It seems that the child announced the identity. Maybe tomorrow the kid will announce that he is straight (and also Batman). It really doesn't matter and I think that viewing this announcement with some skepticism is very much warranted. The parents would definitely be wrong to lock this kid into any one particular sexual identity.

[inunionwithrome]

I have a boy in my class who likes to use pink pencil boxes but I don't let him because it is entirely inappropriate.

[Jesus_lol]

that is messed up^

its just a colour, for petes sake.

[Autumn Dusk]

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1333423669' post='2412189']
I agree with that. And I think it would be, to some extent, be abusive for a parent to insist to their child that they are gay (and vica versa). I don't remember reading of that occuring in this situation. It seems that the child announced the identity. Maybe tomorrow the kid will announce that he is straight (and also Batman). It really doesn't matter and I think that viewing this announcement with some skepticism is very much warranted. The parents would definitely be wrong to lock this kid into any one particular sexual identity.
[/quote]

It's innapropriate for the kid to be talking about ANY sexual identity. And lets face it Gay is a sexual identity that mother, batman and santa clause do not have.

The parents announcing their "gay" child to the world is devistating. A 7-yo has NO idea. Many gays say that they "knew" at a young age. However, the gays who are interviews are in college and the straight people often struggle with the same feeling of being different. It's disgusting that all feelings need to be inscribed with the "gay" motto.

[fides' Jack]

I would just say: "Good! I'm happy, too!"

[4588686]

[quote name='Autumn Dusk' timestamp='1334168202' post='2415867']
It's innapropriate for the kid to be talking about ANY sexual identity. [/QUOTE]

Why? Kids do that all the time. Kids have boyfriends and girlfrieds and play make believe house. Are they fully sexually developed either physically or mentally? Of course not. But the very notion of sexuality isn't completely foreign to them.

[QUOTE] And lets face it Gay is a sexual identity that mother, batman and santa clause do not have. [/QUOTE]

Obs


He was far too strong and masculine to be gay. I remember watching old episodes of batman at my cousins house. He effortlessly climbed up the sides of buildings.


[img]http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_aWNUoaQmjqo/SIlnk96UTrI/AAAAAAAACyA/9fv82sI0HzY/s400/batman5.jpg[/img]






And his handsome young live in partner in crime-fighting




[QUOTE] The parents announcing their "gay" child to the world is devistating. [/QUOTE]

Why?

[QUOTE] A 7-yo has NO idea. Many gays say that they "knew" at a young age. However, the gays who are interviews are in college and the straight people often struggle with the same feeling of being different. It's disgusting that all feelings need to be inscribed with the "gay" motto.
[/quote]

This 7 year old claims to. Maybe he doesn't. I don't know and don't really care. But then I don't view being gay as something negative and needing to be fixed which I wouldn't want thrust upon the innocent shoulders of a child.

[Anomaly]

[quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1334280882' post='2416798']

Why?

This 7 year old claims to. Maybe he doesn't. I don't know and don't really care. But then I don't view being gay as something negative and needing to be fixed which I wouldn't want thrust upon the innocent shoulders of a child.
[/quote]as a parent, living the experience of fathering two children and sharing their lives with my wife for the last few decades, that's a joy in this world I can only hope for our children. I would never close a door to potential happiness when thir children. They can make that choice as adults.