A lot of parents of GLBT kids wonder, "What kind of life will my gay child have?" Here are some common concerns:
- Will my child be lonely or depressed?
- Will my child will suffer from persecution and harassment?
- Will my child bepromiscuous and more prone to contract an illness like HIV?
- Will my child ever get married and have children?
- Will my child have a normal life?
Here's the deal: Every GLBT kid will turn into a different type of GLBT adult.
Yes, some might be lonely. Others might have a lot of sex partners. Of course, some will be picked on, or choose not to have kids.
But the same thing could be said about any straight kid!
Plenty of GLBT adults are happy and well adjusted. A huge reason that the issue of gay marriage is so prominent is that there are many GLBT individuals who want to have a life partner and / or become parents. And you might be interested to learn, there are in fact, a great many GLBT parents out there!
And while sadly, in urban areas, the number of young gay men to contract HIV is on the rise again, the fastest growing group to contract HIV is actually straight women. Teaching your children about condoms and the importance of safer sex, is a great way to help them stay protected whatever their orientation.
All parents worry about their children's future. But offering a supportive environment, and understanding the unique challenges that GLBT kids and teens face, can help steer a child towards a happy and fufilling adulthood.
