Ok all of you smart ...,wonderful peeps!

[emens]

Ok all of you smart ...,wonderful peeps! I just found out my Neice is having some issues with her identity, she thinks she might be gay.... And having a hard time with her "Friends" they are teasing and name ing. She is 14 and lives in a small town where there is no LBGT center. Her Mom knows and has told here it doesnt matter she loves her. She also doesnt know that i am gay( I dont think) So question is what can i do to help her?? there is a Diversity center here that i can take her to, and i can tell her its ok and we love her, But what else???? Thanks

[vinton]

my two cents . . . . Do you live close enough to spend a good amount of time with her? If so, there is probably nothing more important than your physical presence and unconditional love. Go bowling, take her to a movie, go for walks or bike rides so she can process her feelings. Also, get on the internet with her and find some good resources and forums for questioning their sexuality. The HRC has some great resources on the teen coming out process. Good Luck!

[xue]

I am 6 hrs away i have been gone for a while so we need to bond again...Thanks for the info HRC here i come.

[Katti]

When I was a teenager I appreciated people who would get me away from my out in the boonies town for a weekend or a week especially during the summer. Often exchanging babysitting services to my older bother's family. It was so worth being away from parental units, and small town mentality. And I was just trying to get my faith together at that time. I suspect that the teen affections and activities in my town were unwelcome, and I did not want to be in that circle. Concentrating on my faith probably allowed me to distance myself from any realization of sexuality. But having an adult, perhaps a little younger, or very different from your parents, can give you space to grow to who you want to be.

[bodo]

I think the most important thing you can do for her is to come out to her. You are somebody in her family, her blood, that she loves and probably admires. It shows her it is OK to be gay and gives her a role model. I remember having a conversation with my nephew, unfortunately, he was the one doing the name ing. We went for a long walk on the beach and we started with the word faggot (he had made the mistake of tossing it around in front of me a few times) and went from there. It changed him, and me. ;-) Good luck to your niece and good on you for taking the time with her, it is important.

[Sue-May]

interwebz iz a great source of info for teens and a great source of diversity since she lives in an isolated place. Also, go see her and talk to her about you (if she wants to hear it!) - how hard it was, how you got past the tough times and how things are good now. Leave the lines of communication open - let her connect with you however she is most comfortable - in person, email, phone, facebook... She may be embarrassed to talk too much in person.

[taggart]

good resource BB!

[tongue]

Kind of makes me laugh As i am pretty new to the whole thing also, GF in AZ was my first and im not out to any one except my mom and another neice..I will be there for her any time she wants to talk or needs support, Kids can be so cruel... it makes me crazy. Thanks for the link!

[wrobel]

Agree 1000%!!

[poer]

Thanks all for the info...ill do my best.

[toscano]

if we're still playing, ask me

[tokarczyk]

wait, what? lost as usual.