- Do you wonder if your child or someone you love is gay or lesbian?
- How do you know if you or someone you love is gay or lesbian?
- How do you “come out” to your parents, siblings, friends, spouse, children or co-workers?
- If someone you love “comes out” to you, how should you respond?
- Can sexual orientation be changed?
- What does it mean if you are attracted to both sexes?
- Do you ever feel as though you were born into the wrong body?
Most of us feel vulnerable as it pertains to sexuality and may have many questions and doubts. Not being certain of what is or is not “okay” and not being comfortable discussing this can exacerbate feelings of confusion and frustration.
Most of us feel vulnerable as it pertains to sexuality and may have many questions and doubts. Not being certain of what is or is not “okay” and not being comfortable discussing this can exacerbate feelings of confusion and frustration.
Exploring this issue may not always be easy, as the person may fear ridicule or non-acceptance, which can lead to feelings of isolation, confusion, depression, and loneliness. If left unaddressed, this can evolve into more significant emotional difficulties in the future.
Parents may be unprepared to deal with their children’s disclosure of being gay/lesbian/bisexual or trans-gendered. This news may be met with a broad range of emotions from disbelief, denial, anger or acceptance. Sharing this information with other family members or friends is not always easy for parents. They may have difficulty and may find themselves feeling depressed, confused, unhappy and isolated from their friends.
When people do not get in touch with their sexuality until later in life, they may have become involved in heterosexual relationships or marriages, and may have children. Coming out to their spouses or children becomes particularly challenging. This generally is a difficult time for everyone, and it can strain relationships and raise many questions that are not always easy to address. Spouses may question their own sexuality and self-awareness. Children may need to address how they will handle this knowledge with their friends and how it will affect them and their lifestyles. Because of many strong and powerful-emotions, these issues are not always discussed in the most calm and sensitive-manner. Talking about these issues can make a difference.