Signs my son might be gay

Book Excerpt: Is Your Child Gay?

Excerpted fromWhy Is the Penis Shaped Like That? … And Other Reflections on Being Human, by Jesse Bering, by arrangement with Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, LLC (North America), Transworld Ltd (UK), Jorge Zahara Editora Ltda (Brazil). Copyright © by Jesse Bering.

We all recognize the stereotypes: an unusually light, delicate, effeminate air in a little boy's step, an interest in dolls, makeup, princesses and dresses, and a mighty distaste for uneven play with other boys. In adj girls, there is the outwardly boyish stance, perhaps a penchant for tools, a square-jawed readiness for physical tussles with boys, and an aversion to all the perfumed, delicate trappings of femininity.

These behavioral patterns are feared, loathed and often spoken of directly as harbingers of individual homosexuality. It is only relatively recently, however, that developmental scientists have conducted controlled studies to identify the earliest and most faithful signs of elder homosexuality. In looking carefully at the childhoods of gay adults,

By guest blogger, Ian Taylor.

Help, I reflect my child may be gay. What should I do? Am I right? Whereas I am no way homophobic, I don&#;t grasp how I will react if it&#;s true&#;

It is understandable that every parent has concerns or questions regarding whether their child maybe lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGBT), considering the world we live and today; and especially if the parent starts to notice one or two signs.

In this article, we answer some of the most troubling questions you may have if you suspect that your child may be gay or bisexual.

Are the suspicions starting to build?

If I consider that my teen might be same-sex attracted, how should I talk to them about it? They mentioned the subject several times, so I&#;m getting concerned.

Until your kid comes and tells you that they are, or might be LGBT, you can’t know. Aim not to create assumptions and verb them come and tell you in their own age. Create a positive environment where your child feels proficient to talk to you about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. For example, say positive things abo

As I relayed in When Your Kid Is Gay: What You Need To Know (Sterling, ), I found out that my son was gay from a note with our son's identify entwined with another boy's, surrounded by a heart. I accidentally found that note in his room when I was cleaning.

I never questioned him about the heart I found on the sly. How would I have brought it up? Imagine I was wrong? After all, he had a crush on a lady in his class.

I had suspected at times that he was gay. He only had girls to his thirteenth birthday party. He preferred gentler sports. He was always concerned about how he looked and followed fashion. Were these stereotypical thoughts from a straight mother? You bet, but it was ingrained through the culture's binary system and ideas about how males were "supposed to" behave.

As it turns out, our son didn't come out until he was 17, was on his own, and brought a boyfriend to visit. Had I asked him if he were gay when he was 13, he probably would contain defensively said "No!" He had to work it out and work through his denial. I'm glad I muzzled myself.

Susan Berland, the mother o

Sexual Orientation

Adolescence is the dawn of sexual attraction. It happens due to the hormonal changes of puberty. These changes involve both the body and the mind — so just thinking about someone attractive can cause physical arousal.

These new feelings can be intense, confusing, sometimes even overwhelming. Teens are inception to discover what it means to be attracted romantically and physically to others. And recognizing one's sexual orientation is part of that process.

What Is Sexual Orientation?

The term sexual orientation refers to the gender (that is, male or female) to which a person is attracted. There are several types of sexual orientation that are commonly described:

  • Heterosexual (straight). People who are heterosexual are romantically and physically attracted to members of the opposite sex: males are attracted to females, and females are attracted to males. Heterosexuals are often called "straight."
  • Homosexual (gay or lesbian). People who are homosexual are romantically and physically attracted to people of the same sex: females are attracted to other fema