LGBT Child here...

[Popstifer]

Part time lurker, first time poster, and not actually a mum, but I hope you guys will be willing to help me here. Discovered your site after a uni coursework task involving various politicians appearing here was set, and have been lurking since then.

I've found these boards to be a really interesting read, and since the LGBT forum appeared, wondered whether to post or not. However, after reading the other thread here, I've become curious as to how mums feel upon discovering they have a LGBT child. I'm a lesbian (although I prefer the term gay) women, and came out to my parents aged 17 (I'm now 20) after I was devastated by my then girlfriend moving to Australia. I've had nothing from support from both my mum and dad, but at the same time can't help but think there must be some thoughts about it that they're not sharing with me. They wouldn't dream of saying something that might upset me, but I feel like I need to know if they have any queries/worries about my erm...situation?

So, mums (and dads) out there, please answer as honestly as you can; how would/do you feel about having a child who came out as LGBT?

I'm glad to hear that there are so many supportive parents out there but you have to remember that there are equally as many unsupportive parents out there too who have LGBT kids.
fortunately, my parents are very supportive of me but there are times comments can be made etc. that have been quite unsupportive. Sometimes it's like I have to try harder to please than my sister but I know I have brought them a lot of trouble through the gay scene.
I have plenty of friends who are mid to late 20's who still wont tell as they know their parents are unsupportive and a few that have just plane abandoned them.
But again, I am very glad to hear that there is a lot of supportive people. Its reassuring. Thanks.

Just wanted to share my own experiences of coming out to my parents when I was 18... a whole 10 years ago now. They were supportive, kissed me, hugged me and told me they loved me just the same. About an hour later I overheard them having a conversation in which my mum asked my dad if he was surprised and if he was ok.

I was so afraid of what he might say that I snuck back upstairs and didn't listen to his answer. I've always wondered how they really felt and regretted not listening in. I know now that everything is fine; I'm successful and respected in my career, I'm 38 weeks pregnant with their first grandchild, my beautiful girlfriend and I have been together for 9 years and they love her very much. My life is exactly what I and they could ever have hoped it to be. I wasn't ready back then to hear what they might have had to say but I would be so interested now to hear how they felt.

Mostly because I totally understand them experiencing all the bereavement / worry issues that people have discussed and I hate that they may have suffered either for me or because of me. I would have liked the opportunity to tell them it was ok to feel that and that I didn't mind if they had reservations... It took me years to come to terms with who I was and be confident enough to live with it openly, how could I expect my parents to make that journey in 20 seconds?

In short, it's honourable to protect your children from concerns that you have, but none of us are naiive and we know how you are likely to feel if your child tells you they're gay. It's not OK to vocalise your negative feelings immediately, but it's also not necessary to hide them forever.

This thread is ace.
We are a gay couple who have 2 children, planned whilst in our relationship.

Its funny isn't it, as I worry about them getting bullied at school because of haveing 2 mums and I also worry about their potential partners, how they would feel dating someone with 2 mums (lol and there is me assuming they will both be straight lol)

:)

My mum would either commit suicide or disown me completely if I said I was gay :D (I'm a teenager, just so you know)

My brother is gay - although he'd prefer not to label himself as he had no interest in men/women until he met his partner.

We would support our kids 100% we attend pride every year and I hope my children have the courage and trust us enough to open with us as I hope we would be with them. As long as my child is happy, I don't care whether which gender they choose.

My 12 year old DD came out to me last month. I'm proud of her. Love her to bits. I worry though - don't we always? - we live in small rural community and I fear that she will become ostracised if she comes out to the wider world too soon. Her high school has a student roll of about 200, it's pretty hard to keep things quiet.