Thanks to every one who came before

[Thirtieschild]

My eight-year-old grandson has come out. As far as he's concerned, saying he's gay is no bigger deal than saying he likes to swim. It's part of who he is. When I told my sister how pleased I was that he knows who he is and that everyone is fine with it, she pointed out that his acceptance - and ours - is thanks to the work of everyone who went before him. She's right.

A big thank you to all of you who came before. And I hope his attitude - and ours - shows where we are headed.

Signed: A Proud Granny.

[meegbear]

1. And thank you!

:hug:

[RKP5637]

2. Hopefully it will get better and better and bigots will fade away. One thing for sure,

it's far better now than in the 50's. It was horrible.

[LAGC]

3. Uh... does an 8-year-old even know what his sexual orientation is yet?

I understand that people develop at different rates, but don't you generally have to have entered puberty at least to begin to get an idea who you are sexually attracted to?

I remember back when I was in Third Grade, all the boys hated girls and wanted nothing to do with them, but that doesn't mean they were all gay.

You might want to check back with him in 5 years and see if he still isn't interested at all in girls.

But if he's really that sure already, more power to him, of course.

[queerart]

5. ... And That Is The Very Beauty Of Acceptance.......

He may kiss a boy, and not like it.......


He may also think he would like to eat beets because of the pretty color.....


But once that beet reaches his taste buds, find that he wants no part of it.....


He may try many things in life (at least twice if he is smart)... and move on, or be happily content to remain fixed....


He will have the "freedom without judgement" to live as he sees fit.....


Without pointing fingers in his face........


Here is a video that many might find interesting......


http://abcnews.go.com/Business/genderless-worlds-popular-male-model-walks-runways-heels/story?id=14522370


(Edited To Add This Story)


http://moms.today.com/_news/2011/01/03/5738901-the-mom-of-a-princess-boy-speaks-out

[William769]

6. I knew at a very young age that I was different.

When little boys were talking about the little girls I was dreaming about those little boys but didn't know why. In todays age with more openness, I can understand where he is coming from. And of course in 5 years if he does change his mind more power to him.

P.S. I did not choose being Gay, I was born this way.

[LAGC]

10. Yeah, maybe it's just because I was a late bloomer.

I really didn't come to grips with my own sexuality until I turned 13.

I do remember when I was about 8-years-old, my dad getting mad when I wanted a pink sippy cup for sale at a local convenience store. We drove off empty handed, and only returned once I agreed to picking out a red cup instead. More "manly" color I guess. ;)

[closeupready]

9. I had a crush on another boy when I was five. First day of kindergarten.

He's deceased now, but I remember that attraction very well. Back then, of course, society didn't talk so openly of sex and sexuality.

[yardwork]

13. Being gay is about much more than sexual attraction.

I had crushes on female teachers and older girls when I was very little. None of that had anything to do with sex.

[William769]

4. A great big FABULOUS K&R!

[xfundy]

7. Seems unlikely. An 8-yr-old has no real concept of sex and orientation

I think it's great that you and the parents are willing to accept the child as he is, and however he turns out to be as an adult, because everyone has a sexual orientation. However, chances are like 90% that he will be heterosexual, like most folks are.

(Forgive me for saying so, as but experience is a guide, I can't help but suspect this may be troll-bait, or a cancervative trying to find a sentence fragment to use in their daily devotional demonizations.)

[closeupready]

8. Why can't he change his mind later on?

He may end up later realizing that he's bisexual. Or not.

[Thirtieschild]

11. Troll bait?? A conservative looking for a sentence fragment??

Troll bait because I'm proud that my grandson can be honest? Troll bait because I want to honor those whose battles made it possible for an eight-year-old to feel fine about saying he's gay? When he was three, our grandson said "a girl" when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. For several years he and his best friend have planned to move to Canada so they can get married. (They live in West Yorkshire.) At a department store he's mesmerized by the lingerie (his mother said the first time she saw him there she thought he's going to be very straight or very gay.) He loves sparkly things and wearing women's heels. He also loves to draw but only draws war pictures, loves to play war, says he wants to join the army when he grows up. Seems to me he's well-rounded.

I've been accused of lots of things but a troll is even more startling than the Unitarian minister's wife who thought I was a witch. When she called to ask me to stop all the bad things that were happening to her, I said I couldn't. "But you're a witch, aren't you?" No, I'm no more a witch than I am a troll.

[queerart]

12. I'm Thinking.... You Are Alright.....

:hug:

[yardwork]

15. Your grandson is so lucky to have such a fantastic grandma!

[yardwork]

14. Being gay is about much more than sex.

[NMMNG]

16. Pre-teens experience "puppy love" crushes

It's not like people just wake up the day they hit puberty and go "OMG, look, I think I like other people for romantic and/or sexual purposes". I had "puppy love" crushes as early as 8--they were just on girls instead of boys, and they didn't involve sexual notions. When all the girls my age (or older) were swooning over Shaun Cassidy and John Travolta I was into Angela Cartwright in re-runs of Lost in Space and Melissa Sue Anderson (yes, I was a dweeb).

[Kurovski]

17. Thanks granny, and it's good to see that fewer and fewer kids have to suffer

the misery.

Love isn't so difficult, is it? I mean, for even one's own kids? Weird to think it ever would be...kind of unnatural, an abomination, really.

He's lucky to have you in his life.