Would you/ did you know your son was gay from an early age?

[ABitWorried]

I have a relatively close (male) family member who is gay. I think it was quite obvious from a young age that he was 'different' and therefore wasn't surprised when he came out at about 18.

I have a son who is 7 and sometimes think I see similar traits, but then convince myself I'm just sensitive to it.

Are there any older mums out there with grown up gay sons? Did you 'know' ? What make you think?

Interesting thread, although I'm a bit out of date with joining in on it. My ds (7) has 'tendencies' or so I think at times, but as some of you say, who's to say it's not just experimentation or a phase or whatever. I'd be more alarmed by my daughter being gay than my sons. Anyone else feel like that? Or the other way round? Some of my best male mates are gay, I really think given time, I'd be okay about it if it were one of my sons, although obviously, it's not what you ideally want. Really think I'd have more problems accepting my daughter as a lesbian though. Don't mean to be offensive, just giving an honest opinion.

Don't you think it's ace when a thread kicks off? (See 'my neigbour assaulted my 5 yr old') Whoaaa!

Oooh, I've said before I'd much much rather the Inferiorettes took up with nice girls than horrid sweaty-palmed Y chromosomes, nasty things, noooo

But as DD2 announced this morning she wants to be a princess and marry a prince and live in a castle I am gloomily heading for a different outcome. Unless of course she is a trans-gendered gay man.

There's always hope, Motherinferior

Do you think people are one thing or the other before puberty? I think perhaps I'm being a bit old fashioned in thinking that before you start looking and longing and actually acting on it you're neither gay nor straight but just a kid.

At puberty I had terrible crushes on three or four girls, one after the other from 11-12 but I never thought at the time being gay (it was a hell of a long time ago at an all-girls school)whereas now a girl that age might well think she was gay, and grow up to be gay because its an open option in the way it wasn't all those years ago. I wonder if I'd be gay if I was growing up now?

Not sure where I'm going with this -only that perhaps it is all a lot more complicated than the odd bit of feminised or tomboy behaviour in a kid.

My brother is gay and we ALWAYS knew! My parents were both social workers so were quite aware of the issues and I think that he was a bit disappointed when he came out and they said :'we thought so, well done'!!!!

At the end of the day it doesn't matter, as long as he's happy and you explain about relationships and sex properly, you'll be fine.

I only know 2 gay men and both of their parents knew from whenthey were about 8 years old.

Think a close family member is - they are in their 30s though - think they are waiting for thir parents to pass away before coming out which is extremely sad IMO!!

I really hope one of my three boys turns out to be gay - 1 less daughter in law to contend with

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I'm not camp, but my mum said she's always known. She's very good with it too, and treats my husband like a son