How to tell if your teenager is gay

Gender identity is about how someone feels inside, whether they see themselves as male, female, or another gender. Sexuality is about who they're attracted to. One is about who they are, the other is about who they like.

It's important to differentiate between sexuality and gender identity. Understanding that the growth of both is a continuous process, supports your teen as they grow and discover feelings for others.

What is sexuality?

Sexuality is about who your teenager is attracted to romantically and/or sexually. As they grow up, they explore and understand their control feelings. This includes understanding and expressing emotions for others and building respectful relationships.

What is gender identity?

Gender identity is about how you feel on the inside. It's the sense of existence male, female, a blend of both, or neither. 

• Sex is what you are assigned at birth based on your physical characteristics – male or female. 
• Sexual orientation refers to who you are attracted to. 
• Gender identity, is how you
  

  Worried about your gender identity? Advice for teenagers

  If you feel muddled about your gender individuality, you're not alone.

  Many teenagers question their gender, whether they feel female, male, non-binary or any of the other terms used on the gender spectrum.

  Some people believe that culture has become more accepting of differences in gender identity.

  Although most people undertake not question their gender, for some young people their gender identity is more complex.

  You may scrutinize your gender if your interests and social experience do not fit with society's expectations of the gender you were assigned at birth.

  You may feel:

  • that you cannot identify with being just male or female
  • that you identify with multiple genders
  • that you hold no gender (agender)
  • that you are non-binary

  Or, you may have a strong meaning of being a gender that is different to the sex you were assigned at birth and may feel that this has affected the way you feel about your body.

  For young people who feel distressed about their gender, puberty can be a very difficult and stressful time.

  Puberty is a ti
  
  

  If Your Teenager Is Gay

  Many of us live in what we believe to be a completely heterosexual world, where gays and lesbians are simply people on television. We’re wrong, of course. Everywhere we depart , every single evening, there are gays and lesbians; we simply don’t realise it. There’s nothing obvious to tag them out, and for the most part we can interact with them and never explain – and it really doesn’t matter.

  But how would you feel if one of those gays or lesbians was your teen? Given that the incidence of homosexuality is believed to be about one in ten, it could be. If you found that out, what would you do and how would you feel?

  Is My Teen Gay?

  Beyond inclinations towards the same sex, there may be no obvious markers that your teen will be a lgbtq+ or lesbian. Even then, because of societal conditioning, for a number of the teenage years they might reside a very direct life, even dating website the opposite sex, until they uncover themselves – they might not even completely realise they’re gay until they’re older.

  One thing you can do, if it’s possible, is to voice endorsement of homosexualit
  

  Many adults who are homosexual say they always knew since they time they were young children that they were different. But for children things may not seem so distinct when they are living through feelings of creature "different". Even for adolescents there is a excellent deal of pressure to be sure of their sexuality. Sometimes there is pressure to "come out". And sometimes there is pressure to "fit in" and act straight. All of this can be overwhelming for your youth to deal with alone.

  And it can be overwhelming for parents to deal with too! Let's confront it, most parents don't wish their children will be gay. But, as parents, we don't gain to pick if they are gay or vertical. It just happens one way or the other. Openly talking with your child early on about homosexuality is important. It is an easy way to spare your minor feelings of confusion and isolation should he spin out to be lgbtq+. Also he will probably feel much more pleasant coming to you in the future with questions. If your child should turn out to be gay, be honest with yourself about how you feel. Feeling such as guilt, estrangement