How would you react...

[m9lc]

...if your child told you that he or she was gay, with no remorse or willingness to change?

This is mostly directed at those who do not believe that homosexuality is OK, though anyone else is free to chime in.

I'm curious because I am in the position of a closeted gay atheist with a Bible-thumping dad. Not that I'm going to make any decisions based on this thread, but I'm just curious.

 

[ALiberalTeen]

Well I'm gay myself, so I'd be fine with it.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

It will come as no shock to people in this room that I would embrace my gay son or daughter, and let them know that nothing will ever change the fact that I am his/her father. I would show him/her love and support.

This is what my father did for me, and he has been a wonderful support to me since I came out 25 years ago. And he treats my partner like another son. We are truly blessed!

m9lc, I pray that your father will one day see the light. It must be terribly difficult for you right now.

Courage!

CT

 

[m9lc]

m9lc, I pray that your father will one day see the light. It must be terribly difficult for you right now.

Don't worry too much over it. That is just one bad aspect of my otherwise great life.

Some day in the future (probably after college, though anything could happen), I'll tell him, but not now, because I have everything to lose by telling him, and nothing to gain.

And honestly, I seriously doubt that he would ever change his opinion about homosexuals; he really isn't an open-minded person. I haven't seen him change his opinion about any one thing in my entire life.

Thanks for the support, though!

 

[ebia]

...if your child told you that he or she was gay, with no remorse or willingness to change.

Not a problem.

 

[ALiberalTeen]

Not a problem.

If only more people had your attitude

 

[flicka]

I would be sad because it would be part of their life I'd never really understand (since I'm not gay). But it wouldn't change anything.

 

[justanobserver]

How would you react...

...if your child told you that he or she was gay, with no remorse or willingness to change?

My responce to that if it was one of my 4 kids would be "realy? your are? ok. so what else is going on? hows school/job/life/this/that/etc?"

IOW, nothing changes with me about them. I love my kids. 2 are adults on their own and 2 are mid teens.

yes, I would talk with him/her about it, in the sense of this is who you are and how you feel, etc.

I would also tell my kid that his/her boy/girlfriend is invited and welcomed in my house. I would also inquire if the friend has a good looking single mom close to my age - well, I am a single heterosexual dad.....

 

[jayem]

I see nothing wrong with being gay.

But in all honesty, I think it would be a bit like if my child told me he was joining the army and volunteering for duty in Iraq. On the one hand, I'd be proud of his courage in standing up for who he is and what he believes is right. But part of me would be worried, because he'll be exposing himself to so many people who hate him.

 

[baobobtree]

How would you react...

...if your child told you that he or she was gay, with no remorse or willingness to change?

To be honest (assuming I have kids) I might be a bit shocked at first, but after getting over the initial surprise I'd probably embrace him with open arms and tell him that I love him and nothing in the world could change that . As far as I'm concerned there is nothing un-Godly about homosexuality or bisexuality.

 

[eagle897fan]

I would not let something like that come between me and my child. Keep in mind I'm not old enough to have kids. But if I had a child I would continue to love them and accept them. While I do not see it as right, I think that is totally between the person and God. One day we all have to answer for what we do on this earth. I know I've got enough on my plate to worry about someone else. I would leave the judging to God, I am merely human and a fallen being.

God's GRACE is truly amazing isn't it?

 

[quatona]

...if your child told you that he or she was gay, with no remorse or willingness to change?

About the same way as when learning that my child is lefthanded or a redhead or handicapped or extremely intelligent - with no remorse or willingness to change.

 

[kit]

For me it would be something to celebrate. I am however gay and don't have children. I have a gay friend whose daughter recently came out as lesbian to him. He was of course accepting but still was struck. It can take a bit of time for any parent to reassess assumptions about a child's life.

 

[.Sabre.]

If I ever had a child and they were gay, bi or transgendered, I honestly wouldn't have a problem with it--I'm bi myself and my mom was actually quite supportive when I came out.

 

[GrannieAnnie]

I have a gay brother (now in his 60s) for 20 yrs my parents rejected him, but all is well now....he's single and lives interstate. MY DAUGHTER told me a week before she married that she was BI....she said if she hadn't fallen in love with her "husband" she could just as easily fallen in love with a "woman"....at the time I was shocked and just didn't believe her, thought she was just being silly and wanting to shock me for a bit of a "stir". She's been married 5 years now, and has 2 little sons.....a couple of weeks ago the subject came up again and she "re affirmed" that she was really ...bi sexual...this time, I believed her!! I went into shock for a few days...I looked at her wedding photo...all beautiful and "hetro" and prayed....please God ...NOOOOOOOOOOOO....but she is what she is....and the bottom line is.....I love her, always have, always will. If she ever divorces and takes up with a woman.....mmmm, don't know how I'll feel.....guess I'd just have to accept it, she's adult...and how she lives her life is nothing to do with me. I'll never stop loving her no matter what.

Annie

 

[MrPirate]

...if your child told you that he or she was gay, with no remorse or willingness to change?

This is mostly directed at those who do not believe that homosexuality is OK, though anyone else is free to chime in.

I'm curious because I am in the position of a closeted gay atheist with a Bible-thumping dad. Not that I'm going to make any decisions based on this thread, but I'm just curious.

Why would anyone have remorse about being honest about who they are?

 

[m9lc]

Why would anyone have remorse about being honest about who they are?

Indoctrination with religion. It happened to me. When I first started realizing I was gay, I thought very badly of myself because I thought it was sin.

 

[feral]

Are you kidding? I'd be ecstatic! My child would have shared some important truth of his/her life with me. It would be awesome. I'd give them a big hug and take them out to dinner to celebrate or something. Since the majority of my friends are GLBT, I'd be totally comfortable with it and my child would have a lot of gay and lesbian family friends to talk to further and get help and understanding from. And I'd have yet another reason to be a proud member of PFLAG.

It would probably be more of a shock to me to learn I'd raised a straight child, in all honesty....

 

[Rossiter]

I'd be glad they weren't remorseful, because if they were freaking out over it that brings up a lot of other concerns.

 

[PassionFruit]

I wouldn't have a problem with it. However, I would be worried about how he or she would be treated by some people in society. And I would worry that certain family members wouldn't accept them, because some of them have fundamentalist beliefs.

The best thing I could do is try to be supportive and understanding.