The New Intimacy

Kids being gay

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Contributor: Nazaress Nazaress
Children can most certainly be gay. And obviously, any grown adult person was gay as a child if they're gay now. You don't just "become" gay; You're born gay.

I had a girlfriend when I was only in elementary school. Very young, too. Probably 2nd grade or at least around it. I am very much a lesbian now, just as I was then. My interest in men has only reached as far as past failed relationships with men I wasn't attracted to and one successful relationship with my boyfriend now who I am very attracted to. But I am still a lesbian in the grand scheme of things because he is the only man I find sexually attractive.

But I digress. Children can definitely be gay and realize they're gay because you're born gay as much as you're born straight.
01/03/2012
Contributor: Jake'n'bake Jake'n'bake
I think it's possible. I knew I liked guys and girls in first grade, maybe earlier ( can't remember ).
01/03/2012
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
*shrugs* I was. I just didn't realize that not everyone was.
01/03/2012
Contributor: Tangerine Tangerine
I think some KNOW and some are curious. Just depends
01/05/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
I think children are a lot more self-aware than adults give them credit for and know that they're different or that what society says is normal for their gender doesn't click with them. I'm not sure that they could put their finger on it at that exact moment, but I think they know something is different.

I'm not bi in the actual sense of the word, but I have fooled around with a number of women and enjoyed every second of it [the sex], I just refused to have anything to do with the relationship aspect of it. I think that's perfectly acceptable as long as all parties agree. I've kind of always felt that way, for as long as I can remember remembering.
01/05/2012
Contributor: spiceboy spiceboy
I had crushes on girls and boys all through childhood and had no reason to think that was unusual. I never consciously saw myself as a lesbian (or straight), but I masturbated exclusively to images of women from age 8 or 9 until recently.
01/05/2012
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
I think a lot of GLBT kids know it when they are young. That doesn't mean that kids who eventually "come out" as straight don't have crushes on both sexes, however. Most pre-teen girls and boys have mild (or not so mild) crushes on those of the same gender, mainly because it's whom they most associate with. I remember following one girl or an other around, or being infatuated with a female TV or movie star, but in my case, being hetero, it was mostly "wanting to be like" that person, rather than wanting that person. But, they are still crushes.

Most GLBT people I know said they knew very young, some for as long as they had memories.

Not being gay or lesbian myself, I can't comment more than that though.
01/05/2012
Contributor: Beck Beck
I had my first kiss with a female and my first sexual experience too (that was not forced), but I knew from a young age that I liked both.
01/05/2012
Contributor: Destri Destri
I am gay, and I have a gay son, and I KNOW that children of this age can tell they are gay! Not a doubt in my mind.
01/06/2012
Contributor: Sunsetmystic Sunsetmystic
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGurl
So I went to see The Sitter with my husband tonight, and in the movie the young boy (about 12 or 13) realizes he's gay. Do you think children can really tell if they are gay or not? I'm not saying there's something wrong with it - I ... more
I strongly believe that they know, even at a young age.Society still has not found this to be ok. Give them time and they will. You are who you are reguardless of the gender choice that you want to be with. It all comes down to the hormonal balance with in our body, some times we are attracted to the same sex and dont know why, and others arnt.Kids are experimanting at younger and younger ages and there are some that are confused and will flip back and forth between male and female. They are the ones that are still trying to figure who they are. If either one of my kids were to tell me they were gay i would still love them for them, and that they are my children and nothing will change that.
01/06/2012
Contributor: deltalima deltalima
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGurl
So I went to see The Sitter with my husband tonight, and in the movie the young boy (about 12 or 13) realizes he's gay. Do you think children can really tell if they are gay or not? I'm not saying there's something wrong with it - I ... more
I wouldn't think so. Sure, there could be experiences that either traumatize them but I'm not inclined to think so. This is a personal opinion.
02/01/2012
Contributor: jbknows jbknows
Quote:
Originally posted by Pink Kitty
OH! P.S. I knew one kid on my street... she calls herself bisexual... but she has never to this day been with a female. So some kinds fall into the gay/ bi community just to sound like they are cool or something almost as if it is a fad...
I'm bisexual, and have never really "been" with a female. But that's just 'cause I can't seem to get any. lol
02/01/2012
Contributor: Puss in Boots Puss in Boots
If 12 year old boys can know they like girls, they can know they like boys. This is ridiculous.
02/01/2012
Contributor: ehue1992 ehue1992
I always knew I was "different", but I didn't know what to call it, so naturally I was ashamed and tried to hide it. When I got older and found out other people were the same it made a lot more sense and I came out...Nerve wracking though it was.
02/08/2012
Contributor: charletnarouh charletnarouh
Absolutely. Many gay/lesbian/bi adults knew they were, or at least had an idea, from a very young age. I look back and probably should have known. The signs were all there, I just ignored them. Also, if you talk to any transgendered, gender queer or those with non-cis gender identities, you'll find that many knew or at least knew something was up very early in life. I don't recall where or what it's called but there's even a children's hospital that has a department that specializes in transgendered children. There's a lot of controversy over how best to handle these children but, while some go through it as a phase, a large portion never "outgrow" those feelings. Same with GLB folks. Some will go through it as an experiment or a phase, but I think the majority retain it into adulthood.
02/08/2012
Contributor: PirateofPenance PirateofPenance
Quote:
Originally posted by ToyGurl
So I went to see The Sitter with my husband tonight, and in the movie the young boy (about 12 or 13) realizes he's gay. Do you think children can really tell if they are gay or not? I'm not saying there's something wrong with it - I ... more
Oh, I could definitely tell from elementary school, though I didn't process it really until I was in high school.
02/09/2012
Contributor: MooRawr MooRawr
Being gay or bi is not a sexual thing, yes it involves it when you are having sex but you feel a certain way towards those genders. My bf is transgender (biologically female)and he has known for a while and he never explored sex with a male.
02/10/2012
Contributor: Chris Corrigan Chris Corrigan
Yes. I came out at 12 but knew even younger than that.
02/10/2012
Contributor: PeachieClean PeachieClean
I think I was maybe 8 when I realized that I really really liked boobs. Not in the "I want to have some" way, but I just loved them. Ever since I suspected that I was lesbian (I didn't know what "bisexual" was at the time.) and eventually came to find that I am, in fact, bisexual. I'm more turned on by the female body, but I don't like dating women. It's ended up a bit too... Estrogen-y every time I've tried. I just can't handle women, I guess.
02/11/2012
Contributor: woofcub woofcub
yes kids can be gay or whatever orientation at an early age. although during puberty just about anything will excite them I believe that they still know that they are different in some way or another and just haven't realized exactly what that difference is.
02/13/2012
Contributor: MaryExy MaryExy
I only really started analyzing my sexuality at a later age I think. However, I think kids can begin identifying as gay, bi, or whatever other sexual orientation they prefer at an early age. It's the same as deciding that they are heterosexual. Just remember that orientation does evolve over time; a kid deciding he's gay at 12 may decide he's completely and totally straight at 18. Hell, you can change orientation between 30 and 50 years old, way after you finish puberty.
02/13/2012
Contributor: shinypinkstars shinypinkstars
Not really sure but I know both my kids started puberty earlier than 12-13. They had periods already at 10.
02/13/2012
Contributor: callsignhusker callsignhusker
of course children can be gay,,,
02/14/2012
Contributor: spiceboy spiceboy
Quote:
Originally posted by shinypinkstars
Not really sure but I know both my kids started puberty earlier than 12-13. They had periods already at 10.
Must be eating a lot of synthetic foods with hormones.
02/16/2012
Contributor: midnightcaresses midnightcaresses
I think when you know, you know, and you can't an age to that.
02/18/2012
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by spiceboy
Must be eating a lot of synthetic foods with hormones.
Not necessarily; depending on genetics and natural hormones, girls can start menstruation at 9-10. Hormonally treated or GMO foods, of course, don't help but may not actually be relevant because even living a totally organic lifestyle cannot stymie genetics.
02/18/2012
Contributor: Chris Corrigan Chris Corrigan
Quote:
Originally posted by spiceboy
Must be eating a lot of synthetic foods with hormones.
I got my first one when I was 10, and at the time I ate all organic and was a hardcore internationally ranked dancer.
02/19/2012
Contributor: Sir Sir
I don't think. I KNOW that people at any age can be gay. No, not everyone first is interested in others of the opposite gender - some people, from toddler age, are interested solely in the same gender.
02/19/2012
Contributor: Stinkytofu10 Stinkytofu10
Children know at a very young age what orientation or gender they are. If they don't feel a relation or belonging to any gender or orientation, they will know that too, even if they don't express it.
02/19/2012
Contributor: mrs.mckrakn mrs.mckrakn
i believe that youre born having an idea of your sexuallity. like most mothers, i would love my kids no matter what
02/20/2012