As young gays become more out they also become visible targets, but they also have more sources of help. In the 11 years since James founded the network, parents are learning how to become more supportive of gay teens, he says. The network has also trained many school officials on how to reduce gay hate crimes in the school place.

Schools today have more openly gay staff members, then in the past, who can help young gay teens, says Tony Augelli, an associate dean at Carolina State University. In a national survey, one-third of psychologists said they had counseled students or parents about sexual orientation issues.

In the 1990s, a handful of Gay-Straight Alliance clubs were in high schools; now 3,200 are registered with the network, James says.

The Internet also has become one of the main reasons isolation for gay teens has evaporated, offering a place for meeting like-minded and supportive peers.

Cultural diversity is more prevalent

Teens are coming out today when more and more Americans than ever are more accepting of gays in society. In 2006, 54% found homosexuality acceptable, compared with 38% in 1992, and gays are becoming recognized for their specific contributions to society whether that's helping and understanding women and their needs and/or helping straight guys become less hostile and more cultural and desireable to women.

Gay youths swim in a cultural universe that's more pro-gay than ever, says Ritch Williams, a psychologist at Yale University, "kids can see gays in a positive light," he says.

The recent news and controversy that Vice President Cheney's daughter Mary is expecting a baby with her lesbian partner has even brought gay parenthood into the republican administration.

By the time gays want to settle down and raise a family, many gays have known their preferences for a long time. Gay males and lesbians often feel attractions towards the same sex as early as grade school.

Vance grew up surrounded by ranches in rural Texas being made fun of and called "fag" as early as first grade. "I didn't even know what it was, but kids would say it to anyone that they thought was different or odd" he says. "I didn't know why the singled me out 'cause i liked stuff like sports and I was comfortable hanging out with guys and girls. By middle school, "I had a girlfriend, hoping guys would leave me alone." But Vance couldn't make himself feel straight and I didn't fool anybody, anyway.

Zach had been taught by the church that being gay was wrong. "I spent a lot of time denying I had feelings for guys," says Zach. At age 12 he told his parents he was attracted to his best friend Perry. "I told them that I wasn't going to live a lie anymore. That this was really who I was."

His father wasn't excited to hear his son was gay. "You have to admit,any parent who says his first reaction isn't 'No, no!' is probably lying," he says.

"Me and my wife felt sad. We just thought we'd have a daughter-in-law and grandchildren someday just like everyone else. It's a disappointment, but it's a selfish disappointment. We knew we had to get past that.

"Truth is there are some parts of being gay that I'll never understand," he concedes, "but that doesn't mean I can't be supportive and love Zach."

A struggle for the parents

How parents deal with news their son is gay has a huge effect on their entire familys' lives, says Ryan Caitlin , a social researcher at UCSF in San Francisco, who is studying the families of gay guys. Families usually move gradually from rejection to acceptance when the shock wears off, he says. Parents with strong religious beliefs that beiing gay is always wrong find it hardest to accept their gay teens, he says.

In some homes, that means throwing a gay child out. How many gay teens meet that fate nobody really knows, but a disproportionate share of young homeless people in the USA gay. Several cities have shelters for gay kids, but there's not enough help for all the homeless gay kids out there, says Sharon Siciliano of the Ali Forney Center, which houses young gay runaways in Los Angeles.

Tomlinson, who coordinates a drop-in program in suburban Chicago, sees teens from all kinds of families. "Gay kids from the suburbs drive up in new SUVs their parents bought them. But sometimes they're afraid to come out to parents because of what they've heard their parents say at home. Other kids have to beg for bus fare to get here. All would like to tell their parents their gay and be accepted, but not all of them can."

Not all students and faculty like the soaring number of school-based gay/straight alliances and adult-led programs for gay teen kids. "Being gay is harmful to society, and young people have no business committing to a sexual identity until they're adults," says Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council. He supports a new Georgia law that requires schools to tell parents about school clubs and allows the parents to not allow their children to participate in gay/straight alliances, regardless of how discriminatory that may be.

Lobbying to pass similar laws is going on in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama and Texas, says Joe Glover of the Family Policy Network. "Parents shouldn't have to check their rights at the school room door," he says.

Researchers have stated that most gay teens have worse mental health and higher suicide rates than straight teens. But these conclusions are primarily based on small, older studies skewed to troubled youths. A few newer studies suggest teens who are bisexual may have the worst problems. But most research has grouped them with gays.

Young gay guys are more likely than straight teens to think about or try suicide, but there's no solid evidence they're more likely to follow through and kill themselves, says sociologist Stephanie Russ of the Arizona State University. She has analyzed findings from a study of 12,000 teens followed up to a decade so far. Those with same-sex attractions are more depressed and anxious, Russell says, but there's also evidence that many who identify as gay teens eventually grow up to be straight. He says stigma and prejudice still prompt undue stress for gay kids.

Studies on gay boys predominate, so young lesbians are more of a mystery. Unlike boys, most girls also have opposite-sex attractions. And strong emotional bonds are more key in sparking girls' sexual attractions.

Another study focuses on today's gay youths: friendships and romances. They're teenagers first, and teenagers are obsessed with their peer networks, especially their online personas.

Some young gay kids say: "I sometimes worry that I'll never be able to find the kind of gay guy I want." Gay teens worry about this more than straight teens because best friends are usually the same sex. Gays are unique in agonizing over whether to turn friendships into crushes, often thinking they'll lose a friend whether they're straight or gay.

Worry about finding a boyfriend was strongly linked to anxiety and depression. When you subtract this worry, young gay teens were no more anxious or depressed than straight teens. "We have to start looking at their whole lives, not just sexual orientation. By focusing on sex, we may be missing that they're painfully normal teenagers."

Many adults might be surprised that what concerns gay teens the most: We want long-term relationships. We want families, we want children."

Looks like Prince Harry will not be sent to Iraq due to a number of specific threats from insurgents that may expose the third in line to the kingdom as well as his regiment to a degree of risk.

22-year-old Prince Harry, who has been adament all along of leading his tank unit in Iraq, said he is extremely disappointed but understood the decision would keep his fellow soldiers from harm.

Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Sir Richard Dannatt, said the decision was due to specific threats received from insurgents to the prince and risks to the safety of his fellow soldiers.

As previously reported here on GSR, Harry had been expected to deploy to Iraq in May but Dannatt, who recently returned from Iraq, said the situation there had become too dangerous, and media scrutiny of the plans had exacerbated the situation.

Dannatt says ``There have been a number of specific threats, some reported and some not reported, that relate directly to Prince Harry as an individual,'' ``These threats exposed him and those around him to a degree of risk we considered unacceptable.''

The Prince's office issued a formal statement declaring the prince was disappointed that he will not be able to ship to Iraq with his troop as he had hoped all along.''

``He understands and supports Gen. Dannatt's difficult decision and remains committed to his military career,'' Clarence House said.

Harry has always spoken of his desire to see active service. On his 21st birthday he said he would not have gone through the rigors of officer training at the elite Sandhurst military academy ``then sit on my arse back home while my boys are out fighting for their country.''

The decision came three days after Iraqi insurgents captured three U.S. soldiers and amid claims that many militia groups in Iraq were making plans for the Prince's arrival.

Media reports in both England and Iraq have quoted Iraqi insurgents as "planning to kill or kidnap the prince", and have distributed his photo among militants in the city of Basra. One newspaper report quoted a militant leader saying he planned to take the prince hostage and to send him back to the Queen ``without his ears.''

Britain's Defense Ministry said the decision has always been kept under review amid concerns for the security of second lieutenant Harry, and other soldiers serving with him. Harry is a tank commander trained to lead a 12-man team in four armored reconnaissance vehicles.

Looking ahead, the decision to keep Harry out of Iraq could have a devastating impact on the morale of the British troops in Iraq, said Charles Heyman, the editor of the book, ``Armed Forces of the UK'' and a former british soldier.

``Soldiers may look at this decision and say: 'If it's too bloody dangerous for the Prince, then it's too dangerous for us. Is the prince's life worth more than mine?' From a political point of view, yes. But from a morale point of view the answer is no,''

As Britain prepares to withdraw troops from southern Iraq and hand security to Iraqi forces, more focus is being concentrated on British soldiers being stationed at Basra Palace and Basra air base, rather then actual combat zones.

And that would make it easier for Iraqi militants to find the prince and his regiment and has raised concern that the prince's presence would heighten the risks of his fellow soldiers.

Although commended for his determination and his undoubted talent, his fellow soldiers will miss his leadership in Iraq and this decision could have a negative effect on Harry as well.

``If he didn't go to Iraq or Afghanistan he'd be just about the only person in the British army who hadn't been on operations,'' he said. ``As a combat soldier he would have no credibility whatsoever.''

Original GSR Article:

Looks like Prince Heartthrob will indeed be shipping out to Iraq soon. The spokesperson for the British army said that Harry had decided himself that he wants to serve with a combat unit in Iraq.

Military commanders reportedly had thought against their initial decision to allow the prince to go to Iraq for fear he would become a target of terrorists and the fact his presence could also endanger other soldiers. Harry's regiment, the Blues and Royals, begins a six-month tour of duty in Iraq within a few weeks.

Over the past couple of weeks, british newspapers have reported threats by Iraqi terrorists to kill or kidnap the prince, including claims his photograph had been widely circulated among militants for definite identification. Military chiefs acknowledge that Harry would probably be a prime target and that his presence could lead to more attacks on British forces.

General Sir Richard Dannatt said the decision would still be reviewed, but he hoped this statement would end the media furer on Harry's deployment.

"The decision has been taken by myself that he will deploy with his regiment," Dannatt said. "I would urge that the frenzied media activity surrounding this particular story should cease in the interests of the overall security of all our solidiers serving in Iraq."

Dannatt spoke after media reports cited senior military officials as saying an army review was likely to lead to Harry being banished from battle, although he could still perform desk job duties.

Prince Charles' London office, Clarence House, would not comment on Dannatt's statement.

Harry, the 22-year-old second lieutenant tank commander, is trained to lead a 12-man team in four armored reconnaissance vehicles. If deployed to Iraq, he would become the first royal to serve in a war zone since Prince Andrew, his uncle, flew a helicopter in Britain's war in the Fakland Islands, with Argentina in 1982.

The youngest, and most controversial son, of the late Princess Diana, Harry has a love/hate relationship with Britain's tabloid newspapers, which have provided a constant stream of coverage of his party-going lifestyle at glitzy London nightclubs, as well as his commending education and military life.

Harry has said all along that he is serious about an army career. After graduating from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in 2006, Harry insisted on an opportunity to serve in the armed forces. He may have his chance real soon

Freckle-faced Prince Harry, the royal rascal who has led a life of popularity and privilege is also an army officer — and he could soon be heading to Iraq to face the reality of war.

Although nothing has been released by royal officials, there has been no decision about his deployment to Iraq. Ministry of Defense has dismissed such reports as speculative. Newspapers are filling pages about the security headache a war zone assignment for Harry — who is third in line to the throne — could bring for the British army.

"Prince Harry's always wanted to be treated as an ordinary soldier," the Daily Mirror quoted an unnamed army source as saying. "But he's not an ordinary soldier, of course, he's royalty."

When the Prince, 22, left Sandhurst Military Academy in 2006, he became a second lieutenant and joined the Blues and Royals regiment of the Household Cavalry. The defense ministry at that time said he could possibly be deployed to Iraq, but that there might be situations when the presence of a member of the royal family could increase the risk for his comrades as well as himself.

Prince Harry himself was having none of it and refused to be treated any differently then other soldiers.

Prince Harry was quoted as saying: "There's no way I'm going to put myself through the rigors of Sandhurst, and then sit on my backside at home while my boys are out fighting for England,"

"It's understandable that Harry would want to go," said William Wallace, a professor emeritus of international relations at the London School of Economics and a British defense expert. "There's isn't any use being in the army unless you experience combat in a time of war."

Harry went to Eton, and has been described as "one of the gang" by gossip magazine Hello! Harry is considered more impetuous than his elder brother Prince William; he has often been photographed on his way out of posh London nightclubs — and once scuffled with a cameraman.

Harry has always been a sort of rebel, acknowledging drinking underage and smoking marijuana in the past, and in 2006, he issued an apology after being pictured in a national newspaper at a costume party dressed with a swastika armband.

Prince Harry also has a bit of his mom's philanthropic side, he's also been photographed working with AIDS orphans in Africa during a year spent abroad. And while Harry has been pictured with a beer or a cigarette in his hand, stories about his possible deployment to Iraq were accompanied by more dignified shots of the prince in battle gear. Prince Harry can party with the best and also be serious when the need arises.

"Of course it would be a lie to say he will be treated like everyone else — even though he'll want to be like everyone else — but he won't be able to because he is a prince," said Godfrey, a former Army officer who has served in Iraq. Godfrey said that one of the obstacles to the prince serving in combat is him being a target for terrorist.

And now the media publicity surrounding Prince Harry's deployment in April could affect whether he is actually sent to Basra, Iraq. More than 100 British soldiers have been killed in Iraq since the beginning of the war in 2003.

So for now it's a catch 22 with some thinking the military will be very wary about getting it right — getting it right in the public eye," he said. "If he doesn't go, (the public) will say, bad decision, because they're treating him like royalty.

"But if he does go and gets hurt, then it'll be a bad decision," Godfrey said. "The fact that he's a royal celebrity makes it a difficult decision."

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Trust takes time to develop and is a benchmark of a successful relationship, it can be quickly damaged if not nurtured and cause severe consequences for the future of the relationship if one of the two is involved in an indiscretion. Once the trust has been compromised, it can be difficult to repair, and quite possibly irreversible. Listed here are some tips to restore the lost trust when your boy wanders off in search of someone new.

The Shattered Foundation

All the time you both have spent together and invested in the relationship can come crashing down once trust has been violated by either one of you, and there's really no quick fix solution. Maybe he cheated on you. Perhaps you told him a little lie. Or he might have broken a promise to you. Even though the indescretion might seem miniscule, the dynamics and the sense of security the relationship has shared will likely be shifted and both parties will look at each other suspiciously.

Developing trust with someone that has a history of emotional/verbal/physical abuse, where there's a chance one’s feelings can be minimized or ignored, or when there’s unresolved grief or hurt from the past is a tough hurdle to get over. Your own family background and prior experiences in relationships (if you've had any yet) can also be contribute to difficulties with trust, as well as stress, low self-esteem, and addictions, which include both drugs and sex. Just being gay can make us mistrustful because of the years some us might have spent hiding as a straight or confused kid. And when the boy we fall in love with betrays that ultimate brotherhood bond, it can be devastating and lead to an almost paranoid state of codependency and becoming hypersensitive to any possible indication of disloyalty to compensate for and protect against getting hurt again. Your intimate time suffers and you become distant.

Tips For Rebuilding Trust

But there is good news, it is possible to heal and move on from broken trust and actually gain a stronger relationship or one with better understanding. You should decide if you are really interested in salvaging your relationship with each other and that you’re doing it for the right reasons though. There's no reason to force a relationship just because the other guy is 'hot' and you must be with him. That's definitely the wrong reason and probably one of the main reasons couples end up fighting. Of course it sucks being alone and having to start over again but it's better being alone then with someone that doesn't respect you. Also, make sure your motives are in the right place and that you both want to salvage the relationship because it's worth saving.

Here are some recommendations that can help promote repairing trust to a new level of intimacy:

Conclusion

The road to recovery from torn up trust can lead you to a lot of self-discovery and growth in your relationship a positive mindset. Recognize how trust issues play out between you and your boyfriend, identify behavior that you both need to overcome, and confront any blocks that might hold you back from your goals. Also, realize that trust needs constant feeding in relationships and that the hardest thing in the world for you both to do right now is an essential component of moving forward—becoming vulnerable again. But by opening yourself up, you’ll truly be able to see if you’re loved for who you really are and you’ll be a more attractive and a happier person in life as a person as well as a couple.

I feared my friends would be able to tell. I thought I might act different or walk differently the next day after masturbating. I remember my peers accusing me of doing it, and I didn't say anything to defend myself, because I knew it was true. I tried to quit altogether a few times, although quitting never lasted more than a couple of days or a week at most.

Growing up we had the closeness that comes from being best friends, swimming, surfing, and just hanging out during and after school. We were pretty much inseparable and our parents encouraged it 'cause together we were loads of fun and always had some new adventure to talk about. I think it helped that our parents were best friends too 'cause that would mean that we'd take trips together and spend time at each others house a lot. I don't even remember fighting much 'cause most of the time we were either just playing or dreaming about things together.

Then puberty hit, hard. Kyle developed a little bit earlier then me. I remember the time we were swimming out in our pool and he raised his arm and I saw hair on him for the first time. I said something about it and he was sorta embarrassed about it. Like it was weird he was growing up and I wasn't yet. I don't know why but seeing him in the pool that day, more as a teen then a kid now that he was growing hair, is what did me in. From that very moment I was hooked on Kyle but in a way I wasn't familiar with and didn't know if he felt the same way too.

Since Kyle was my best friend, the last thing I wanted to do was freak him out and I knew that he would understand anything I was going through 'cause we had always been so close and didn't have any secrets between each other. Since I hadn't experienced these kinds of feelings before, especially for a boy, I sorta became introverted that day 'cause I was trying to sort out these feelings.

Kyle knew something was up right away, he always knows and he always calls me out on it. He asked me if something was wrong or if I was hurt or something. I said no but that I started feeling weird about things in a sexual way and he said that yeah, he was started to feel those sorta things too now that he was getting older. He asked if it was about a girl we both knew that swam with us sometimes and I said no, that it wasn't a competitive thing with him or anything like that. He kept asking and I knew that that's just how Kyle was, he was just concerned and wanted his friend back.

Knowing this I thought it was just best to be honest so I told him that seeing him with armpit hair sorta made me attracted to him in a sexual way. In typical Kyle fashion he just said if it made me freak then he would shave it off, we both laughed and then he swam up really close to me and said 'dude, it's ok, don't hide your feelings 'cause it will just drive you crazy, you're my friend and i will always care for you and anything we go through we can work out'. This was Kyle, looking back this was probably one of the main reasons I feel so hard for him.

Kyle and I have still remained best friends. In fact, we're probably closer now then we've ever been. After that initial crush I started puberty and Kyle would make fun of my body growth too. He constantly flirts with me and has now started to be even more affectionate then before. When people ask whether he's gay he says no but his boyfriend is. That would be me.

Because Kyle is so comfortable with me being gay, or at least questioning, I have also learned to respect his boundaries, I don't try and mess with him or pretend some day he'll turn gay for me. He's just not that way, just like maybe I'm not going to be straight, and I respect that. I do however love that he's so comfortable with me, actually more comfortable then even before when we were just best friends, and I appreciate that he can be so affectionate with me, even in public, it makes me feel good I have such great friend like Kyle that supports and understands me and what I'm going through.

Someday I know I'll probably date a guy, or maybe even a girl, I'm still undecided. But in the meantime I have an amazing friend that gets me and gives me all the attention and good advice I need.

-Brian J.

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So before you act, think it over carefully and only decide to come out if you feel you are really prepared and ready. You might never actually feel 'ready' but if it's burning your insides to tell someone that sometimes it's just best to tell it to someone, anyone. There is never any rush for you to do this and never consider doing it under any peer pressure. Some gay teens live under constant intense pressure from fellow peers who are not gay positive and are actually abusive and homophobic. This can be super intimidating and scare you into not coming out which can be a big mistake. There is often social pressure to act "straight" –especially if you are an athlete on a school team . Coming out to my high school teen jocks is guaranteed to make me the butt head of endless jokes and catcalls –and so I have avoided that. And remember, you don't have to come out to everyone all at once. Pick your spots carefully and find someone you can trust but again only when you are both ready for a serious talk. And there is no right time for this- only you can judge your own situation. Coming out without giving it lots of thought and planning can lead to much emotional distress and unhappiness for both of you.

But what if a friend asks you if you are gay before you are ready to admit it. This is why it pays to have given this issue some advance thought. And if it's a trusted friend, then he or she has just made it easier for you to bring up the subject. But again if you are not ready, then it's okay to tell a white lie and deny it. Later when you are more prepared you can tell your friend you regret the lie but you just weren't ready to come out at that time. If truly a friend, your friend will understand.

• Think it over carefully before you tell someone you trust. Try to imagine what their reaction may be and be prepared for it, not everyone's going to be thrilled or supportive.
• If they say they already thought you might be gay, don't be upset; it just makes it easier on both of you and they're probably saying it to save you any heartache when you're telling them.
• Do not to apologize for being gay. It's not your fault, in fact, it's not a fault at all..
• If you get asked a ton of questions be as honest as possible. People won't expect you to be an expert but they'll probably have a lot of questions for you..
• Don't come out just to shock someone. No one likes news like that thrown in their face. Don't do it to be emo either. You either are or you aren't.
• Do not come out in the midst of an argument when everyone's upset.
• It's probably best not to come out to a group of people since not all of the group members may ask questions that are supportive and will actually attempt to hurt you in order to impress the group or make it clear to the group that they are not gay.
• Don't feel like you must tell everyone; you can come out only to certain people and the rest will eventually find out with time anyway.
• You should probably expect some people to go on the attack with moral and relgious issues. Just listen to what they say and if they do not accept your responses, then they're not respecting you as a person.
• If things don't go as you expected, it helps to have a prepared way out. Something like thanking them for their perspective and you hope that someday they'll be able to understand you better.
• Some people will never accept the fact that you are gay. If this happens to you it is likely there is nothing you can do about it. Just accept that fact and don't continually push the gay thing on them.
• Make an effort to get some literature both for yourself and the person you tell. It make may it easier to have a frank discussion.
• Also, give the person you've come out to some breathing room to think about what you just told them 'cause it's a whopper. You don't have to discuss the whole gay issue right then and there. Let them absorb the basic fact first and maybe have a more detailed discussion later.
• Some people only see the gay stereotypes and you may not fit the stereotype ingrained in their mind. Give them some time to accept you as a gay teen.
• Give serious thought to coming out to a very homophobic family. Your life might not be the same after coming out to them and you might lose them. You could be thrown out of the house and told never to come back or you could be enrolled in treatment to correct your sexual urges.
• Listen carefully to the person you are planning to come out to beforehand to get an idea of what their views on homosexuality are. This will help in deciding if they are an appropriate person to come out to and also help with the your strategy but will not always be the case. Sometimes people react more with more sensitivity when they find out someone close to them is gay.
• Come out to someone in person -never by email or over the phone

Its good to come out to someone for the support they can provide but remember to do so only when you are absolutely ready, the time is right and you've done some good solid planning. Personally I am out to a friend, my boyfriend (obviously), and just a month ago to my 15 year old bro. I am not yet out to my parents but that is not far off –I'm just not ready for that yet. I'd also like to hear from you about your experiences coming out or your fears and post them here-if you agree to that. Just email me. Thanks -Jackson.

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Here's what Focus on the Family worries about when their boys show different behavior from other boys and question whether their boys will grow up to be gay boys. I guess a gay son can't be counted upon to ensure the preservation of masculinity and masculine control of society in the future, which we all know is so untrue. A lot of young gay boys grow up to be strong masculine examples of men and continue to carry on doing manly things just like their straight counterparts.

1) Your boy has a strong feeling he is “different from other boys.” As we all know, boys must feel exactly like all other boys, or else they are clearly homosexual. Not in today's world. It's ok to be different. To actually have feelings, and that doesn't necessarily mean you're a gay teen.

2) “A tendency to cry easily, be less athletic, and dislike the roughhousing that other boys enjoy.” Of course, on a relative scale, some boys are bound to be less athletic than others. Well, sorry. These boys are gay boys. So not true. Tons of home schooled boys and charter schooled boys aren't subjected to the relentless athletic jock syndrome and grow up to be straight but not very athletic.

3) “A persistent preference to play female roles in make-believe play.” When you see him play cowboys and Indians, and he wants to be the squaw... uh, oh. I really don't know many gay or straight boys that do that. I think Focus on the Family is stretching it a bit here.

4) “A strong preference to spend time in the company of girls and participate in their games and other pastimes.” For example, boys must never play with their sisters. Isn’t that the leading cause of homosexuality right there? Why? Can't boys learn from girls and vice versa without having sex being a part of the equation? Seems like straight boys would purposely want to play with girls to get closure to them and be a better prospective mate.

5) “A susceptibility to be bullied by other boys, who may tease them unmercifully and call them ‘queer,’ ‘fag’ and ‘gay.’” Yes, parents, if the kid next door calls your son a fag, then he is. Four year-old neighbors have a sixth sense: They see gay boys. Ummm, aren't all boys constantly playing the domination role with their peers? Maybe parents need to teach their sons that name calling doesn't make them better then other boys and that boys that don't fight back are actually a better person because of that.

6) “A tendency to walk, talk, dress and even ‘think’ effeminately.” Effeminate thinking is destroying our nation; someone better tell Condoleeza Rice. So what's more disturbing; the super jock on steriods or someone that crosses their legs differently and speaks in complete sentences. Evolution people. Evolution.

7). “A repeatedly stated desire to be -- or insistence that he is -- a girl.” This is the clearest sign. Apparently, your young homosexual will actually announce his sexual orientation by telling you, while drinking his juicy-juice, that he is actually a girl. Not a gay. A girl. This is a whole different situation. Not all potential gay boys have sexual identity confusion, in fact they like their manhood as well as other manhoods.

According to Dobson of Focus on the Family, any boy displaying “several” of these signs should be rushed off for professional help right away — before reaching puberty. Evidently, once the boys hit puberty the adolescent hormones kick in and teens experience “great waves of guilt accompanied by secret fears of divine retribution.” I guess parents aren’t supposed to consider that this could be alleviated by ceasing to promote narrow-minded religious ideas about homosexuality. Fun stuff eh?

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GayBoySupport.nl

Love and sexuality are amongst the most important things in life. If you are a guy who fancies gay guys instead of girls, you are one of at least six hundred million homosexual people world wide. Coming out and admitting that you are gay isn't always easy. Many questions you have may stay unanswered. Some gay teens get bullied. This can be very painful. GayBoySupport helps gay teens by providing information and support. More and more teenagers feel o.k. about being gay and experience few or no problems with the people around them. That is the way it should be! You have a problem or a burning question? Visit GayBoySupport.

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Chadz Zone gay teen boy support area features advice & resources for gay teens. Get support on coming out, real-life stories & experiences, letters, overcoming suicide thoughts, and dealing with shyness, same sex relationship dangers, AIDS & us. Plus first-hand accounts by some gay teen boy members. [click here]

Before you even think of having sex with anyone, read this 20 page section on what you need to know about your gay teen body and how to practice smart safe sex and keep yourself a happy, healthy and alive gay boy. [click here]

Chadz Zone main zone featuring their daily cartoon, poll & horoscope and fun links. Also Media, world news, gay teen boys' poems and poetry, boy's stories & fiction, gay teen boy blogs, gay boy's forums for exchanging views, making friends. Guestbook & awards -fun stuff, what's new, contact & about gay teen boys.

As parents we cling to many perfect scenarios about our kids. When they're babies, they'll never throw tantrums in the mall. When they become first-graders, they'll never have trouble learning or ever be sent to the principal's office. When they're teenagers, they'll never do drugs, get pregnant, or tell us that they're gay.

Those are the fantasies. But any mom or dad who's been a parent for more than 45 seconds knows that children delight in relieving us of our paranoias, even while they bring us joy and wonder. Such is the case in families where a teenagers sexual identity becomes an issue. Acknowledging that one's child has sexual feelings at all is difficult enough for many parents. But realizing that a child may not be following the traditional path, in terms of sex and relationships, can cause parents even more distress since they question their own parenting skills and what they could possibly have done 'wrong' in raising the child.

"Is my son gay?", "Can I as a parent find it within myself to accept my child's sexual identity, or should I try to dissuade my child of his or her feelings?" These can be very hard questions for parents to consider. Here are some facts, opinions, and resources to help in the search for understanding.

How many gay, lesbian, bi and transsexual (GLBT) teenagers are there in the United States? No one really knows, but the Kinsey Report estimates that one of every ten teens may be GLBT.

What can parents say or keep to themselves if they suspect a teen is GLBT? Carolyn Wagner, national vice president of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) (pflag.org), says a good place to start is with a statement that offers acceptance instead of judgment. This lets a gay teen know that Mom or Dad is approachable and open to discussions about sexual identity:

"I just want to let you know that if you're having feelings that are different from other boys that it's okay to tell me because there's nothing you can say to me that's going to make me any less proud of you, or love you any less."

What should parents say or keep to themselves if a teen says he is gay or bisexual? When a teen comes out, the same expression of love and support is called for, Wagner believes. She urges parents to separate their belief in their child from whatever religious beliefs may conflict with a child's sexual identity.

"When our 13-year-old son talked to us about being a gay boy, my husband said, 'Son, I love you and you're the same son to me that you were five minutes ago.' It was very straightforward and simple. Our son jumped up, huge tears rolling down his face, and gave his father a big hug. It was only then that we learned he'd tried to commit suicide several times, and had been getting depressed. Talking really was a big relief and quite possibly saved his life."

Facts and Resources

How serious is the risk of HIV infection and AIDS to gay teens?

According to the federal government's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), half of all new HIV infections in the United States are among people under age 25. Although the overall incidence of AIDS cases is declining, there has not been a comparable decline in the number of newly diagnosed HIV infections among the youth population. You might consider that younger gays are not playing safe but rather barebacking because they don't have the informational materials to understand the dangers involved with unprotected sex.

13- to 24-year-old males, 50 percent of all AIDS cases reported in 2003 were among guys having sex with guys, as opposed to 8 percent of AIDS cases among heterosexual males.

Is the threat of depression or suicide serious for gay teens?

A 2004 U.S. government report on youth suicide started a controversy claiming that gay teens are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide that other young people, and 30 percent of those teens actually do take their own lives. Subsequent studies have shown consistently high rates of suicide attempts by gay youths.

How serious is the threat of anti-gay violence?

Says David Buckel, senior staff attorney for the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (lambdalegal.org): "Anti-gay harassment and violence is a plague in our nation's public schools. Studies show that large numbers of gay-identified students do not feel safe at school, are often threatened or injured, and often stay home for fear of injury."

Parents should know that the rights of GLBT students are protected by the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and by the 14th Amendment's requirement of equal treatment under the law. In public schools, this means that a school district is bound by federal law to protect all students from anti-gay harassment just as it protect students from other kinds of harassment.

Here's what psychiatrists say about sexual orientation?

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, "Parents need to understand that being gay or haveing gay thoughts is not a mental disorder. The cause of homosexuality are still not fully understood. A person's sexual orientation is not a matter of choice. Individuals have no more choice about being homosexual than heterosexual. All teenagers do have a choice about their expression of sexual behaviors and lifestyle, regardless of their sexual orientation." (For more information, go to aacap.org and look under "Facts for Families" for fact sheet #63, "Gay and Lesbian Adolescents.")

What do the terms "reparative therapy" and "transformational ministry" mean?

"Reparative therapy" refers to a controversial therapeutic practice intended to eliminate an individual's gay sexual desires. "Transformational ministry" is the use of religious or pastoral counseling to eliminate those desires. Both practices are based on religious theory and not scientific facts.

What do the organized religions say about raising gay teenagers?

Both the American Baptist and Unitarian churches are open and accepting of gay church members. But across the country, many individual priests and ministers of all religions are openly defying the edicts of the church hierarchy and showing support for parents raising gay, lesbian, bi and transsexual youth. The same is true of many unaffiliated Christian churches. Even the Catholic church has now said that being gay in itself is not a sin but the act of homosexuality is. So you can be gay but not act on it and still go to heaven.

What about the future (marriage and grandchildren?)

Says PFLAG's Wagner: "This is where you as a parent project your own traditional plans and dreams, for weddings and grandchildren, rather than look at your gay child's own hopes for the future. But just because your child is gay doesn't mean you are not going to have a wedding or grandchildren or that they won't lead a normal life. Many gays seek a more traditional lifestyle that includes extended families, adoptions, and partnerships with others that may or may not even be gay or a sexual partner. The rules are all changing"

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