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gender desire begins to emerge during adolescence. The hormonal alterations of adolescence are to blame. Simply thinking about an attractive person can arouse one’s physical self because these changes affect both the body and the psyche.
These unfamiliar emotions can be powerful, perplexing, and occasionally even overwhelming. Teenagers are just now learning what it’s like to be physically and emotionally attracted to other people. Also included in this process is realizing one’s gender preference.
1. How Old Do Children “Know” Things?
It’s common for kids or teens to know with little question from a very early age what their gender orientation is, whether straight or gay. Like their genderclassmates, some gay teenagers claim to have had gender crushes as children.
Whether or not they have come out to anyone else, many gay teens already identify their gender orientation by middle school, when they are entering adolescence. People who initially weren’t aware that they were gender frequently claim that they have always felt unlike their peers but haven’t been able to pinpoint why.
Teenagers who are exploring their gender may engage in gender experimentation, including with others of the same gender. However, these encounters alone do not prove that a teen is gay or straight. These encounters are frequently just a necessary step in the process of many teenagers figuring out their developing gender. A person’s gender does not inherently indicate whether they are straight or gay, despite gender stereotypes to the contrary.
Once they are aware, some gay teens may feel quite at ease and embrace their gender , whereas others may find it confusing or challenging to do so.
2. What Gay Teenagers Might Think
Gay teenagers experience the same stress as their gender classmates regarding school, grades, education, sports, extracurricular activities, friends, and fitting in. But in addition, gay and lesbian teenagers frequently experience an additional layer of stress, such as whether they need to conceal who they are, whether they will be harassed for being gay, or whether they will encounter stereotypes or judgments if they are open about who they are.
When the nearby gender individuals begin discussing romantic feelings, dating, and gender, they frequently feel alienated from their pals. They may experience the perception that everyone is supposed to be straight. They might feel under pressure to act as though they experience things they don’t in order to fit in. They might feel they need to deny who they are or hide an important part of themselves.
Many gay teenagers stress about whether their loved ones will embrace or reject them or whether they will cause them to feel upset, angry, or disappointed. Some adolescents who identify as non-straight may hide their gender orientation from even friends and family who may be accepting due to these fears of prejudice, discrimination, rejection, or violence.
Gay teenagers may need some time to process their emotions and come to terms with this aspect of their identity before coming out to others. A lot of people choose to come out to a select group of accepting, loving peers and family members. Coming out is what we term this.
3. How Adolescence Might Impact Parents
Adolescence is a period of transition for both parents and adolescents. Many parents are confused and concerned as their teen’s gender begins to emerge. They might sense that they are totally unprepared for this new phase of parenting. And if their kid is gay, that could raise a whole new set of issues and queries.
Some parents are shocked to discover the truth because they always believed their child to be straight. Others ponder whether the information is accurate and whether their adolescent is certain. Though they shouldn’t, they might question if they did something to make their child gay. There is no proof that someone being gay is due to the way they were taught.
Thankfully, a lot of gay teenagers’ parents are upfront about their acceptance and understanding. Prior to their adolescent coming out to them, they believe they have known all along. A lot of the time, they are proud of their child for having the bravery to tell them and are happy that they were chosen as their child’s confidante.
Others struggle at first to embrace their teen’s gender orientation because they are upset, disappointed, or incapable of doing so. Their son or daughter may be bullied, mistreated, or ignored, which causes them worry or concern. Additionally, they may experience a protective instinct and worry that others will reject or judge their kid. The gender orientation of their adolescent may also be difficult for some parents to accept in light of their personal or religious convictions. Unfortunately, some people have hostile or hostile responses.