Are You Seeing Signs Of A Gay Daughter?
Regardless of your feelings on same sex partners and homosexuality, when you start believing that you’re seeing signs of having a gay daughter you might find that you’re freaking out a bit. It’s difficult for any parent to watch their child go down a path that will be harder. Remember that you might not be seeing what you think you’re seeing. If you are, remember that it really isn’t a choice that she’s making.
So what if she didn’t think that the crystal necklace some boy gave her was all that special? Sexual preference isn’t defined by one’s definition of the perfect jewelry. Many girls of today are leaning toward a look that is more pure and natural than a lot of today’s jewelry allows for.
Just because she wears girls sweatshirts that announce her preference for girl power doesn’t mean that she is into girls romantically. There are all kinds of clothes out there that show the world that girls have more power than ever. Gender pride is not the same as gender identity issues.
If she has traded her jewelry sets for sports and boy’s clothing she has not committed herself into a lifestyle. Many girls go through transitions that have more to do with their developing body than their sexuality. These are some typical signs that she might be coming into her own, but her true sexual identity won’t be fully developed until well after her early and even late teens.
It’s not uncommon for parents to believe that their daughter is developing sexually in a way that they are simply not used to. Allowing a daughter to develop on her own terms is important. While there are some more obvious ‘looks’ that girls create when they are feeling their own draw toward the same sex, it can be hard for a parent to know without simply asking.
If you are prepared for the potential to hear what you may not want to hear, it’s a good idea to start talking about it as early as possible. Allowing your daughter the freedom to come out to you and still be loved can be the one thing that prevents future drug or alcohol abuse, as well as self abuse. Believing that you’ll hate her will push her toward self harm more often than not.
It is very hard to think that your daughter is walking a path that you’re not entirely comfortable with. Even open and affirming parents often have a hard time truly accepting that their daughter might be gay. Give her the time to figure out her own path and just let her know that you love her. She is not completely defined by sexuality in one way or another. She is much more than her choice of partner.