Gay as young boy

Try not to make assumptions and let them come and tell you in their own time. One thing you can do is give them the information they need to make good decisions. You can contact Stonewall's Information Service for pointers. One of the hardest things for LGBT people to face is rejection from their friends and family. New laws have made our country fairer and more equal. Same-sex couples can now get married and have children, and there is legislation to protect LGBT people in the workplace.

We all know the stereotypes: an unusually light, delicate, effeminate air in a little boy's step, an interest in dolls, makeup, princesses and dresses, and a strong distaste for rough play with other boys. In little girls, there is the outwardly boyish stance, perhaps a penchant for tools, a square-jawed readiness for physical tussles with boys, and an aversion to all the perfumed, delicate trappings of femininity. These behavioral patterns are feared, loathed and often spoken of directly as harbingers of adult homosexuality. It is only relatively recently, however, that developmental scientists have conducted controlled studies to identify the earliest and most reliable signs of adult homosexuality.

Some people approach this particular square on the calendar with pride and courage, others with trepidation. Some research suggests that sexual orientation can show itself even at 3 years old. In our family, by the time our youngest son came out at 13, my wife and I had long progressed from inkling to conviction.

Sign in. Want to invest a few hours in front of the TV this weekend? Check out a few of our favorite binge-worthy streaming series. See the full gallery. Daniel is a visual artist who can not find inspiration anymore.