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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Teen daughter has come out gay

216 replies

nowhatx · 08/08/2026 22:11

My teen daughter has told me she’s gay. I’ve told her I love her whatever she is and we’ve had a cuddle. I’ve had a cry on my own. I don’t know why????? She’s 15

is there anything I need to do or nothing I’m just a bit taken back and nobody to talk to x

OP posts:
walrushurricane · 10/08/2026 20:02

Verv · 10/08/2026 19:43

They’ve got worse.
I’m in my 40s but homophobia is more prevalent now than it has been in my lifetime.

My dd isn't experiencing that and I certainly don't think her life as a young adult is harder than it was for young women years ago.

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 20:02

MsRubee · 10/08/2026 19:59

can I mention your bit about your daughter and her partner both being feminine. There are feminine lesbians everywhere, we’re right in front of you in every setting. You can’t see us because we look exactly the same as you.

I’ve had my fair share of homophobia, some really toxic stuff, as well as the downright silly. One of the things that does annoy me is when I’m told I don’t look like a lesbian 😊.
Your response was fine OP. She came to you! That is everything. I didn’t have that with my mother.

Don’t do that. Don’t have a go. I’m fully aware of what a lesbian looks like.

Verv · 10/08/2026 20:02

walrushurricane · 10/08/2026 19:28

What are the hardships for adult women though?

Still dealing with standard old school homophobia, Wahay you just need a good dicking.
Who’s the man then?
Love the sinner hate the sin!

Now we also have -

Male “lesbians” inviting us to choke on their “girldicks” and calling us TERFs.
Regularly accused of transphobia for being same sex attracted which excludes males however they identify.
Young lesbians transitioning because we can’t possibly present as tomboys without being men.
General “rainbow” fatigue coming from the wider population. Unsurprising.
The forced teaming of the LGB and TQ which means that whenever the TQ make a display of themselves, we are guilty by association.
The new mindset that the rise of the TQ is because people were too accepting of the LGB in the first place.
The conflation of sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Pride” being a circus of overt fetishism.
Every insane argument that the TQ has is presented as “this is very damaging to the LGBTQ community” (see sex protected spaces and no males in female sports) which makes rational people automatically eye all of us with suspicion.

These days the worst of the homophobia comes from “within” which is why there’s such a push for the LGB and TQ to be separate.
Homosexuality with firm boundaries is now considered to be transphobic.

Id hate to be a young gay person these days.
They need all the support they can get from parents because you have to have security, a robust sense of self, and cracking self esteem to deal with the crap that gets flung on an all too regular basis.

MsRubee · 10/08/2026 20:03

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 20:02

Don’t do that. Don’t have a go. I’m fully aware of what a lesbian looks like.

Why mention it then?

PrayForPlagues · 10/08/2026 20:03

nowhatx · 08/08/2026 22:19

I cried because I worry for her. Because I care. Because I’m human with emotion. Why did you comment that?? Are you alright in the head. Get a life you horrible person

What are you worried about? Homophobia? I think that less worrying than the male on female violence that she will be less at risk of.

Verv · 10/08/2026 20:04

walrushurricane · 10/08/2026 20:02

My dd isn't experiencing that and I certainly don't think her life as a young adult is harder than it was for young women years ago.

Ah. My apologies. I didn’t know you were a lesbian.

Viperregency · 10/08/2026 20:06

Verv · 10/08/2026 20:04

Ah. My apologies. I didn’t know you were a lesbian.

Why are people having a go, attacking.

it’s shameful.

PrettyLittleRose · 10/08/2026 20:06

Marycontrarygarden · 09/08/2026 17:41

Oh ffs lots of things. Don't be so facetious or attempting to insinuate the OP is homophobic.

Exactly. The homophobic accusations at someone who is upset their child is gay are repugnant. These particular posters need to wind their neck in.

Balloonhearts · 10/08/2026 20:08

Skippyasyermuni · 08/08/2026 22:23

Worry for her why? What is wrong that being gay requires worry?

Stop with the fake naivety. Of course she worries, she's her mum. Will she find love? Will she be bullied? Will she be able to have a family if she wants to? Hate crime is also a thing. All the usual mum worries, just a different version of them.

Bleachedjeans · 10/08/2026 20:12

nowhatx · 08/08/2026 22:22

In general. Cause I’m her mother. Worried about her feelings, her fears, etc. I don’t know why it’s a shock to worry about your 15 year old coming out as gay. Just general mum worry. Good GODDDDDD

OP, please ignore shitty, ignorant, goady posts. Best wishes to you and your daughter 🌺

miffedatsea · 10/08/2026 20:15

My 16 yo son came out to us in November. He’s never been happier, feels like he’s showing us and the world the real him, and I am so proud that he feels safe and confident to do so. Just be there for when she needs you, just like you always have

walrushurricane · 10/08/2026 20:37

Verv · 10/08/2026 20:02

Still dealing with standard old school homophobia, Wahay you just need a good dicking.
Who’s the man then?
Love the sinner hate the sin!

Now we also have -

Male “lesbians” inviting us to choke on their “girldicks” and calling us TERFs.
Regularly accused of transphobia for being same sex attracted which excludes males however they identify.
Young lesbians transitioning because we can’t possibly present as tomboys without being men.
General “rainbow” fatigue coming from the wider population. Unsurprising.
The forced teaming of the LGB and TQ which means that whenever the TQ make a display of themselves, we are guilty by association.
The new mindset that the rise of the TQ is because people were too accepting of the LGB in the first place.
The conflation of sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Pride” being a circus of overt fetishism.
Every insane argument that the TQ has is presented as “this is very damaging to the LGBTQ community” (see sex protected spaces and no males in female sports) which makes rational people automatically eye all of us with suspicion.

These days the worst of the homophobia comes from “within” which is why there’s such a push for the LGB and TQ to be separate.
Homosexuality with firm boundaries is now considered to be transphobic.

Id hate to be a young gay person these days.
They need all the support they can get from parents because you have to have security, a robust sense of self, and cracking self esteem to deal with the crap that gets flung on an all too regular basis.

I don't know any younger lesbians who would agree that their life is harder due to some people being trans. Obviously that doesn't mean that nobody would agree with you but I don't think it is an issue for the majority.

PrettyLittleRose · 10/08/2026 20:43

Balloonhearts · 10/08/2026 20:08

Stop with the fake naivety. Of course she worries, she's her mum. Will she find love? Will she be bullied? Will she be able to have a family if she wants to? Hate crime is also a thing. All the usual mum worries, just a different version of them.

This. ^

I know a woman whose daughter Hannah (when she was 17) told her she was dating a 19 year old transgender man. He was born female, and had been dressing as and presenting as a boy from the age of 13-14. Then he started taking hormones and going for the full transition when he was 18. He was going to have top surgery at 20...

This woman said that she acted fine when Hannah told her that she has been dating Liam (born Lucy) for 4-5 months, and said 'that's nice dear, Liam seems nice.' But when she was on her own later, she cried, and cried, and sobbed and sobbed. She was worried about Hannah's future, and the prejudice and hatred she and Liam would get in the future. She knew that their future would be difficult and full of pitfalls.

Why did she react like this? Because she was a raging transphobe? No, because she was worried and concerned for her daughter - her ONLY child. It was a shock.

The relationship lasted a year. Liam went to University when he was 20 and Hannah was 18. (She didn't go to University, she got an apprenticeship with a big company in town and was going to have a long distance relationship with Liam, seeing him every couple of weeks, for the time he was at University, and spending some weekends with him.) He didn't go til age 20, as he'd taken 2 years out after college (and worked part time) because of his issues, his transition, and his low moods. He decided against the top surgery at this point (had small breasts anyway) as he wasn't in the right headspace for it.

One and a half months into starting University, he phoned Hannah and ended it, saying it wasn't working. He said he's not in the right place for a relationship, and he needed to be single and alone, and that he wasn't seeing her again. Hannah was devastated .... Her mum cried with relief. (She never let Hannah know how she felt at ANY point. And she said (to Hannah) that it's a shame that she and Liam were over...)

6 months later, Hannah started dating a man the same age as her (he was born male.) They dated for 3 years then finished. 2 years later she met someone else a year older, (also born male,) and 4 years later they are getting married (in 2 weeks.)

So @nowhatx what your daughter wants now, may not be what she wants in a year, 3 years, 5 years. You are going to have to let her make her own choices though.... All the best. Flowers

.

Verv · 10/08/2026 20:52

walrushurricane · 10/08/2026 20:37

I don't know any younger lesbians who would agree that their life is harder due to some people being trans. Obviously that doesn't mean that nobody would agree with you but I don't think it is an issue for the majority.

It’s a known issue.
Google the cotton ceiling.

Grapewrath · 10/08/2026 21:07

Hi op
i am also the parent of a gay teenager. She told us very casually. I dgaf, oh was more worried people might be unkind.
Any way a couple of years on she has a lovely gf, everyone’s grand. You’ll all be fine and this wrong even be a thing in a short while
DD is more masc but the only homophobia she’s faced is from young lads age she was still at school. Luckily she can hold her own but in general nobody has cared.

Teax20 · 16/08/2026 01:32

Witchcraftandhokum · 09/08/2026 12:55

Just keep talking to her interestingly a lot of the teen lesbians hate the rainbow and think pride is a bit shit

If that really is the case they should have a bit more respect for the people who protested so they have the rights they have today.

The way they phrase it is the men have taken that over and no one has any boundaries anymore. DD really wasn't impressed by some of the outfits she just thinks it's people showing off their fetish.

To them pride had lost its way and doesn't represent them.

I don't think there's anything wrong with them saying that just because in the past gay people had less rights.

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