Yes, Parents Should Know If Their Child Is Gay

"Seemingly overnight, I became depressed and withdrawn and experienced random emotional outbursts in class. My bubbly personality grew dark, and I became defiant and disruptive. My teachers were worried, and after I had showed signs of self-harm only a few months prior, they were right to be. The truth was, I was not OK. I’d been sneaking out at night to meet men I talked to online for sex. I was hiding my entire life from my family and had become suicidal under the constant stress of what being gay meant for me."

"In other words, kids are told any lack of affirmation or acceptance from their parents is essentially abuse and rejection, and they are likely to overreact and put themselves in harm’s way."

"Ultimately, separating a child from his or her parents is harmful. Parents face an uphill climb in understanding what their child is going through, more than ever with the internet consuming their child’s attention. Rather than assuming parents will harm their children, the state should recognize the inherent right of parents to make decisions for their own kids."

"I needed adults in my life to tell me “no” and keep me from harming myself. While LGBT activists, and even most medical and school authorities, insist children need room to discover and express their true selves, so-called gender identity comes with a great deal of risk and harmful behaviors that cannot be ignored."

"I now understand that parents should be informed as soon as these identities become visible. Parents need to be ready to protect their kids, help them through severe emotional struggles, and keep them away from outside influences that want to isolate them."