The DSS Policy and Procedure Manual states that parents must be receptive and supportive if their children disclose that they are gay or bi-sexual. If gays demand the right to have their homosexuality accepted, the other side of that equality is that other individuals must have the equal right to not accept homosexuality in their personal belief system. How a parent responds to their children s sexual disclosures, of any nature , is a private and individual choice that the government has no business being involved with. Although my personal belief system is one of non-judgment because I believe we each must walk our own paths for a reason, I do not feel we can allow the government to dictate personal values, thoughts or how we handle life s situations within our home and family. As long as we are not committing criminal acts of violence, we have the right to think, feel, believe or not believe, accept or not accept, whatever we want without governmental intrusion and control.
Conflict is an inevitable part of the human condition.
It occurs between adolescents and parents as adolescents begin to feel an urge to be independent and free of parental constraints, even when their age does not provide them with the experience and sound judgment to make all of their own decisions for themselves. It always has, and it always will. A child s awaking sexuality is always part of this conflict. No responsible parent encourages unchecked sexual experimentation in his or her adolescents. If I am not allowed to express myself fully, I will be emotionally damaged.