AIBU or is my son too young to come out as gay?

[Bailey1201]

Name changed.

Okay, so, my son is 11 (in Yr 7) and I have no issue with him being gay, none what so ever and it's the same with DH.

I also don't have a problem with him telling family (despite, my mother and sister will not be happy, but fuck what they think) they will have no choice but to support him.

However, is he too young to label himself as gay at school? I wouldn't be happy with my 11 year old son having a girlfriend, so it isn't that I'm not happy with him liking boys.

I'm just not sure how well he will survive in Secondary School, if he comes out as gay in Yr 7, IYSWIM?

I haven't read every post on the thread, so apologies if i'm repeating something that has already been said, but i'm wondering if your DS is thinking it will be easier to handle any potential bullying if he is honest and open, rather than as though he has sometihng to hide.

I.e. Unfortunately many kids that age do tend to 'accuse' other of being gay and use it as a bullying tactic. Maybe your DS would prefer to say 'yes I am, so what?'
As opposed to denying it for years, acting as though he should be ashamed and then having to do the whole coming out thing at 16/18/30.

Good luck to you both. I'm sure you'll be there to support him whatever he decides.

Well, maybe it's not typical but I certainly knew was heterosexual from the age of 4 or 5. Even then I found some boys attractive in a way I never felt for girls. Wasn't about wanting sex obviously (the idea of sex disgusted me until I was a teenager) but on some level an attraction was there.