Sexuality - Savannah,GA

I would have no problem with it at all. Their significant others would get the same scrutiny my other kids' significant others would get. I believe in equal marriage rights for EVERYONE, so if/when they decided to "tie the knot" I'd be in full support. Any grandkids I would get from such a union, whether adopted or whatever, would be spoiled by me just as much as any other grandkids I would have. It's kind of a non-issue for me. I wouldn't feel sorry for them, or as if they were inferior citizens or anything like that. Full and total acceptance, and joy that my kid wouldn't have to hide their true self.

I've had many, many gay acquaintances and friends over the years, and they are just as loving, caring, interesting, ethical, quirky, flawed and human as the "straights" among us.

If I were to notice that my adorable grandson's sexuality was emerging as gay, I would be concerned for his safety and happiness. He would still be the same delightful, worthwhile being for me, and I would look for every way possible to help him be a whole, healthy and fulfilled person, just as I do now.

I think I would be more intrigued as to why they felt the need to let me know they were gay so to get some insight on if they are struggling with it or if they had questions about their sexuality. I would accept it. What I dont understand is why there is this notion of having to 'come out'. I didn't 'come out' to anyone about being a heterosexual. There would be rules just the same and I would want them to have a religious understanding of acting upon their sexuality whether they were gay or straight.

The same things I would say if he were straight.

I mean... the whole teen pregnancy thing would be less of a worry (unless he was Bi)... but there's no real difference. Perhaps set up a surrogacy fund... but everything else is pretty identical. Love, safe sex, etc.

My brother who is just a year and a half younger than me is openly gay, and I vividly remember the night we went to the movies (like we always did on saturday nights) and he told me he was gay. My first reaction was very worried for him-- for how harsh the world can be towards homosexuals, especially very religious people (we were raised Mormon and both are no longer members of the LDS church). But over the years, i absolutely LOVE having a gay brother/best friend and would not mind one bit if my son and/or daughter brings a boyfriend home for Thanksgiving in the future. We just want them to be happy, and denying your own sexual orientation and living in fear because people say it's a "sin" or "unnatural" is the surest path to misery and depression. Who would want that for their beloved child?

Just accept them for who they are.
Because in the general society... they will face lots of rejection. And some teens in this situation will even commit suicide.

Just love them unconditionally, and accept them. NO matter what. Even if they go through episodes of 'seemingly' not wanting your love. Its normal... as they try to situate themselves.
They need a safe place to fall.... when the "world" seems not to want them.
They need a shoulder to go to.... be it for comfort/safety/expressing themselves etc. And that "shoulder"... is their Parent. You would not want them to seek it, elsewhere. Family and the parent... is still their corner-stone.

Also, a support group can help immensely...
and they need to feel secure/confident and accept themselves too.
They are not 'different'... they are human and a child.
But their struggle... is more immense sometimes. Because it is a "taboo" thing to be.

I have a sibling.. that is gay.

all the best,
Susan

I would say-So what. I love my children unconditionally.

I really could care less - it's my child, and I'm going to love them regardless.

I have a few friends who are gay and have worked with a few other people who are openly gay. Universally, they all say it's biological and has nothing to do with how they were brought-up. It does happen in nature within the animal kingdom (especially Bonobos), so I'm more inclined to believe that's the reason.

At the end of the day, I want my children to be loved and to know what it's like to have someone accept them unconditionally. Having been diagnosed with cancer after the birth of my second child, my prayers were simply to be able to live long enough to be their mother - as long as I have the opportunity to do that and to teach them what I believe they need to know in life, I trust they will live the best life possible and will do my very best to accept them for whatever and whomever they become.

I would love my child and be happy for them if they were happy. That is all that matters.

It really doesn't matter to me. My husband said it didn't matter to him either. As long as our children are healthy and happy and whoever they're with is kind to them and doesn't treat them poorly -we're happy! This world is tough enough to navigate without having to stress out over who you're attracted to. I always want my boys to know that they have our support as long as they're not harming themselves or others. I think in this life when you're lucky enough to find real love, then the world should be happy for you -regardless of whether it's gay, straight or whatever!

i would love them, and my heart would break for the difficult road ahead of him/her. i might talk to them, if they were young (tween, preteen), because at that age things are so confusing anyway...i wouldn't want my child to feel like it's "the answer" because of the wrong reasons. but if they truly were gay, there is no other choice. love them.

I would let my child know that just like any other sin it is wrong in the eyes of God. I would pray for my child and continue to love him or her. I have friends who are lesbians who know that I believe their lifestyle is sinful but I love them and have continued to be friends with them, just like I would love and remain friends with someone who was living with a boyfriend or girlfriend as long as such decisions were not damaging to our relationship. I would probably pray harder for my child and try to comment less because my child would need to know that I am always there for him or her loving and ready to forgive, but that child would not need my forgiveness as much as Christ's, just like the rest of us. (I might also point out that this would not be the worst thing a child could do, but it is one of the more noticable and more accepted by society.) I also think that if my young child thought this I really believe it would be misguidance and confusion rather than a deliberate choice. I like to hope being raised in a Christian church will help them to live Godly lives.

I would be sad, because it's a hard road, but I'd still love them, and pressure them for grandchildren. :-)

As for what I would do, I would give my kid a big hug. As for what I would say, it would be "So what? Just remember, your sexuality is only one part of you; don't just define yourself as gay but by all the other important things you do with your life." As for what I would think, I would want my kid to be happy. That's it.

I am dealing with talkling with my teens about sexuality now because they are calling each other gay when they say something that they think is gay or if they wear something that may look gay to them. So I sit thme down and explain to them what the term gay can be. For the many different reason for the gay. I also so explain to them what God says about the same sex partner. That God made Adam and form Eve from Adam that he did not make Adam and Steve. I also explain to them if you are dealing with this issue then we really need to sit down and discuss this issue in more dept. So that you can understand every thing that can involve in same sex relationship.
Mama

I love my children unconditionally and that would not change if either or both of my sons came out to me. I would only hope that they would feel comfortable coming out to me because I would accept them and be their biggest supporter.

I might be a little sad...not because they were gay but because they may have to live through an already-tough adolescence as a gay teen, thus subject to even more teasing or discrimination. I would feel sad that others may only see the "gay" aspect but not the totality of all the things that make him great. Like any loving parent, we never want to see our children get hurt or treated cruelly.

I would do the same thing as I would if they were hetro. I would talk to them about safety issues and I would talk to them about all the things that a young person should know about heart matters and I would be glad that they told me and trusted me not to judge him/her. I would love them the same. Be happy for them when they go on their first date. After all it is still the same child it was before you knew.. They are the same person on the inside. Don't make it bad or about them personally. I don't care what their sexual preference is as long as they are healthy and happy. It is after all their life.

First and foremost I would be so proud that they felt comfortable enough to tell me! I have always wanted more than anything in the world open commuinication between me and my daughters so I would be so glad they shared instead of living a lie for the sake of me or the family.
That being said my love for them wouldn't ever change because of that. It would indeed make me a little sad at first because as others have said that is such a hard thing to live by because unfortunately we do live in a world where judgement is passed first rather than seeing the person on the inside. I think in the end that is all that matters.
Being gay doesn't put you at more of a risk health wise as one poster stated because there are many hetrosexual people that do not practice safe sex and put themselves more at risk by the decisions they make. No matter what type of lifestyle you live - you have to be smart and protect yourself because no one else will. One night of passion could be a death sentence these days.
I do not "agree" with that type of Lifestyle because of what the good book speaks about that. However I do not judge another person based upon that because in the end I am not the one who is in charge in deciding whether or not it is indeed wrong or right....I think God has his own way of revealing such things to people and its not up to me to try and convince them otherwise.
Just because you are gay doesn't mean that you cannot have what society configures as a "normal" family. There are plenty of gay couples that adopt and it is the families loss if they don't accept a new life into the family. I think families that have disowned their children because of sexual orientation is the one with the bigger loss.
I pray over my children day and night and I love them with all of my life and would give that up in a heartbeat if I was asked to do so in order to save their life-their sexual orientation wouldn't change how I feel. Sure there is certainly some disappointment there but how many times does each soul disappoint our father in heaven? He still forgives -even the worst of worse of sin. He already paid the debt and no one else needs to. I just hope that my kids never judge me for all the wrong decisions I have made and hope they realize that not one human being is perfect. I am still learning and growing and I hope that through my weaknesses they can still love without judgement. If there is anything that I would like to leave my children more in a legacy is to love one another no matter what........

Love your child as hard as you can and be very supportive of his/her decisions. Be respectful, honest especially if your opinion is asked, but have an open mind. Love has no boundaries! If the child is young, I'd look for a support group or attend counseling so that both the parent & child are educated on what to expect and how to deal with the emotional issues that may or may not arise. Communication is very important!!

I don't think I'd "do" anything. I'd hope my child would find complete happiness (however he defines it) and I would encourage him/her to find lots of peer support as well.

I would be very sad, but accepting

I wouldn't love them any less! I would do everything I could to show that I support them and that my opinion of them has not changed in any way. I would help them get through the difficult times and situations that they would face and welcome their partner as warmly as I would a partner of the opposite sex.

I would probably be a little sad because I know it would make their life more difficult in terms of how others see and act towards them and what rights they have. I would hate to see my child struggle or suffer for any reason, especially something like sexual orientation that shouldn't matter to anyone!

If my daughter came to me and said she was lesbian..........I would not love her any less than I do now. I would support her in any way I possilbly could, which is what I do now, but I would assure her that I would continue to have her back and I love her.

The fact someone is gay/lesbian has no factor in my opinion of who they are as a person.

Regardless of your beliefs, you should earnestly love your child no matter what the circumstance, especially if you are a Christian, because that is how God loves us. I happen to be a Christian, and I know enough to know that I am not perfect, so why would I feel I have to right to condemn anyone for anything? God loves/accepts us all, despite our imperfections, so I don't see how any person, especially one who claims to be a Christian, would be unable to love/accept someone because he/she was gay. Regardless of my beliefs on the matter, which I will not go into now, judgement is not a human responsibility. I got that from the bible. Trying to "fix" a person is to judge that person as broken, and only God has that right.

On a related side note, through my church, my group is reading a book called, "Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them". We are only a little way in, but it might provide a valuable perspective.

I would feel a little sad, because as a whole I think we still live in a very judgemental and non accepting world. I also would quietly mourn some of the dreams I held for that child, maybe not the wedding I invisioned or grandbabies... I would be worried because it is a harder life, there are certainly risks both health risks and also emotional issues to deal with. Outwardly I would be as supportive as I could be though, because all I have ever Really wanted for my children is for them to be healthy and happy, and I have always wanted my kids to know I was proud of them no matter what as long as they do their best, no where in that does there sexuality come into play. I only wish more parents could be as accepting. I have had two gay friends in my life who have grown up tortured souls because a lack of acceptance from one or both parents.

I would shout how proud I was they were truthful with themselves and to trust me to talk about it! I would ask why they felt they were -- what happened, their feelings, etc. Experimenting in thought and body is natural. I would talk candidly about the reality of love and physical love and over time, I would hope they would truely understand if they were gay/lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual. I would emphasize that love isn't to be discounted or ignored, and I would love them irregardless of whom they love.

I would take my son or daughter to my pastor or christian counselor for help. God tells us in the New Testament and Old Testament that sleeping(having sex) between same sexes is a sin. If we commit any sin over and over, he will punish us. We are to do our best to not commit any sin over and over.

Honestly, it isn't your call. You don't have any control over it. All you can do is either push the child away by not excepting it, or just loving the child as they are. Society is more embracing these days.