Growing Up GAY

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to pass as “heterosexually normal” (Herdt 2). As a result, homosexual teens hide their sexual orientation and feelings, especially from their parents. Limited research conducted on gay young adults on disclosure to parents generally suggests that disclosure is a time of familial crisis and emotional distress. Very few researchers argue that disclosure to parents results in happiness, bringing parents and children closer (Ben-Ari 90).
The debate over homosexuality as nature or nurture dominates most topics about homosexuality. People often confuse the nature/nurture issue with the development of gay identity. In fact, the nature/nurture argument plays a small, insignificant role concerning gay youths (Walling 11). Homosexual identity is the view of the self as homosexual in association with romantic and sexual situations (Troiden 46) Many researchers have either discussed or created several models or theories concerning the development of homosexual identity. However, the ...

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following illustrate what boys feel during this stage:
I had a keener interest in the arts; I never learned to fight; I just didn’t feel
I was like other boys. I was very fond of pretty things like ribbons and
flowers and music; I was indifferent to boy’s games, like cops and
robbers. I was more interested in watching insects and reflecting on certain
things. (Durby 5)
However, during this time, children do not associate feelings as being homosexual or heterosexual; these categories have no significance to pre-teens (Troiden 52).
Gay youngsters and their parents encounter ...

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