Every adolescent is different, and as a parent you must be sensitive to their individuality in order to help them to thrive. A very specific case of individuality is a homosexual youth. Although you as a parent may not want your child to be homosexual, it's not something that you can change and often your actions and reactions can endanger your child's well-being. Adolescence is a very difficult time for all youth and especially youth that are homosexual. Many gay and lesbian people become aware of and experience their first homosexual thoughts and feelings during childhood and adolescence.
Most youth are sure of their sexual orientation by the time they finish eight grade.
It's important for you as a parent or guardian to provide unbiased emotional support and guidance for your child. Gay and Lesbian teens have many issues and feelings that face them in addition to well-known teen issues. Gay and lesbian teens can become socially isolated, withdraw from activities and friends, have trouble concentrating, and develop low self-esteem. Remember, all teenagers do have a choice about their expression of sexual behaviors and lifestyle, regardless of their sexual orientation. With this in mind, please try to keep your discussions about sexual activity as unbiased as possible.