My son, the straight boy

[demmiblue]

Source: Salon

A week after my partner, Abbie, and I were married at Brooklyn’s City Hall, our 4-year-old son Tommy came out to me. Tommy had been excited about our wedding. He’d picked out his own tie and asked me to wear my hair like Princess Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.” But he had questions, too. “You already had a wedding,” he said — and he was right.

Three years before he was born, Abbie and I were married by an Episcopalian priest at the New York Botanical Garden. Over 200 guests attended, and the ceremony took place in an enclosed garden on a warm night in July. It was one of the first same-sex weddings featured in a national bridal publication (Modern Bride 2004), and there is a picture of us from that day — two blond women in gowns — on Tommy’s bedside table.

The day Tommy came out to me, we were walking home from school. He was telling me about Taylor, his most recent crush, when he stopped in the middle of the story, looked up and said, “Mama, you know how you and Mommy are gay?”

I nodded and figured he was going to ask more questions about why we had to get married for the second time.

“Well,” he said, “I’m not. I’m a boy who likes girls.”

I was surprised by the declaration — we never thought Tommy was gay — but immediately replied, “That’s OK.”

“I knew you’d say that,” he said. “I just thought it was something I should tell you.”

Read more: http://www.salon.com/2012/03/24/my_son_the_straight_boy/singleton/

[WillParkinson]

1. But..but...but...

It's confusing to children! They won't understand! Gays raise gay kids!

Did I miss any?

Happy to K & R this.

[Kalidurga]

2. The first time people had a clue I was straight was when...

I announced that I was pregnant. My mom was so relieved she forgot to call me a [ ].

[xchrom]

3. We figure it out much younger than people think.

[William769]

4. Thanks for making my day!

Love it!

[HockeyMom]

5. Same as my cousin

He was raised by his Mom and partner back in the 50s. He married a woman when he was 25, had 2 kids, and has been married for over 25 years today.

Genes, especially in certain families. Some children will be straight, and some children will be gay. Two of my sister-in-law's four kids are gay. One of my two kids is gay. It's all in the genes. As my straight, married daughter says all the time, "Very good possibility that at least one of MY kids will be gay too". Very all matter of fact as if saying she will have a kid who has blue eyes and one who has brown eyes; just the same as the genetic pattern in her family.

[yellerpup]

6. He's a treasure.

And well brought up, no doubt about it! Congratulations!

[The Doctor.]

7. I knew at 4 too.

There was this little blonde girl in my ballet class...

[Heathen57]

8. Children are really smart

They often have a better grip on reality.

Since I was raised by a single mother and I would play with girls, there were relatives who thought I would be Gay when I grew up. What they didn't know or bother to ask about was that I knew even very young that girls were different and I was very interested in those differences.

No, I wasn't aware of sex then, but I knew they smelled better, enjoyed just kicking back on a hot summer day laying next to you and watch clouds. It also didn't hurt that I was one of the few boys in the neighborhood.

Then about eleven I learned about kissing.... but that is another story, lol.