Parents, Families, and Friends of
Support Education AdvocacyQuestions and Answers
For Those Whose Loved Ones Just Came Out
Click on the questions, and see the answers below:
What is happening to me?... Why tell me? Is it my fault? Who recruited my child? What about the law? Should we tell? Is there objective information? Is it a sin? Is it unnatural? Am I in denial? How does my child feel? Is there a cure? Why doesn't my child "act gay"? Will my child have a lonely life? No more grandchildren? Who can I talk to? What about AIDS? Any books I can read?
Is It Unnatural? A Perversion?
Mounting scientific evidence indicates that homosexuality is a normal
part of human behavior with a strong biologican component, and it can't
be changed. Homosexuality is more about one's emotional attraction or love
than it is about sex.
Unfounded beliefs are constantly proved wrong that homosexuals are all
perverted sex addicts and pedophiles.
Simply being gay does not mean there is an overwhelming drive to have sex
as often as possible. That's another misconception. Even some gay persons
have bought into the stereotype, which causes them to have very negative perceptions
of themselves, what is known as internalized homophobia.
The American Psychological Association conducted a study whose results indicated
that pedophilia is more common among heterosexual than gay men. Yet,
the stereotype still persists that gay men are sexual predators. Sadly, this notion is
frequently presented by people who want to vilify homosexuals.
Homosexuality appears with about the same frequency regardless of culture.
However, how we react to it varies by culture. Many Native American cultures
celebrated it—and considered such a great spiritual gift that gay men
were great spiritual leaders. Other cultures around the world accept homosexuality.
The way we discriminate against homosexuals in our culture says more about us than
it does about homosexuals themselves.
