How do you treat your gay/lesbian 17-year old teenager..........

No you don't need the bible for this one at all, (or for anything else for that matter). There is no need to get upset. Just explain to your teen that there are plenty of other gay teens out there these days, it's become quite the fad for them. Just explain to him/her that they will probably have to be careful since it is well known that gay teens are at a higher risk for addiction and suicide. I personally would tell my kid to worry less about relationships and just get through high school and college first. The job market is a lot tougher than it was when we were kids don't you think?

Hope this helps.

You don't treat her any differently becasue she isn't different. She's still the same sweet girl and still the same wonderful kid she's always been. My daughter told me she was gay and it hasn't changed anything about our relationship at all. I still love her and want her to be happy and if this is how she's happy, then so be it. I encourage you to support her in this and please, don't let her think you love her any less. I'm sure it was as hard for her to tell you as it was for you to hear it.

Nomorepbreaks, There’s not much that I can add to this because it looks like all that I would have said, has been said. As far as GOD is concerned, if he truly has a problem with gays/lesbians it’s up to him to deal with it as he chooses and not for us to judge, just love.

You treat your child with unconditional love.  You love them without making any condition for that love.

I think your real question is how do you approach a child's assertion that they "are" homosexual.  There have been many studies concerning the scientific concept that one can be "born homosexual" and have no choice in the matter.  I once read about two brothers who were committing homosexual acts and the article was pointing out that they had uncles on both sides of their family (maternal and paternal) who were committing homosexual acts.  The "finding" was that there must be some genetic link assigning homosexuality to people in that family.

There is another consideration.  Perhaps the acceptance by that family of the uncles' homosexual activity lent acceptance of those brothers to experiment with homosexual acts.

As any scientist can tell you, the urge to find sexual release is perhaps one of the most powerful and at its greatest level of power during the adolescent and early adult years.

It is during this period when the influences of the world can cause hormone-driven people to engage in homosexual acts.  Having engaged in it or considered it, they may feel that they are genetically "assigned" to a life of homosexuality.

Genetics doesn't naturally work to develop something that cannot reproduce and, if something that is contrary to nature occurs (an ass and a horse mating, for example), the result is sterile and cannot self-reproduce.  There is a reason for that.

If it were my daughter telling me she was homosexual, I would tell her that she might be being led down that path by the world's influences.  I would tell her that I think homosexuality is contrary to nature and has no place in the world but persists through the influence of others upon the "undecided".  I would tell her that I would always love her, but could not accept her actions that she should not do.  That is true whether it was an act of homosexuality, the murder of an innocent, the theft of things not hers, and so on.

Even if you consider the concepts of Chrisitianity, the rule of thumb is simple:  Love the sinner and hate the sin.

And Mr.Jqna's response bears truth.  God has already made His ruling about homosexuality clear.  If your daughter believes in God and accepts His guidance for our lives, then her homosexual desire is, by definition, a sin and unacceptable to God.  We ALL sin and no sin is more or less objectionable to God and any other sin.

But it is not up to you to do anything about judging your daughter.  She is still lovable, still your daughter, and still can go to God to ask forgiveness, strength, and guidance.

Would you love her any less if she was a liar?  Would you love her any less if she had heterosexual intercourse with almost any male who wanted her?  No, you probably wouldn't.  But you also would have to tell her that you could not accept whatever you cannot accept.

If you accept your daughter's homosexual desires, then tell her you accept them.  If you don't, then tell her you don't accept them.  But don't make her changing a condition for your continued love.

If you are a Christian, simply pray for her.  What else is there that will work more effectively than that?

I would not encouraging anyone to be gay. But I would say being gay is preventable and treatable. And, the sooner intervention takes place, the better the prognosis. I believe homosexuals can be cured through prayer, counseling and reparative therapy. But remember he/she is still your child so help them to get better. God does not hate the sinner just the sin. So please don't encourage this kind of lifestyle for anyone. Bless You  

I cannot believe the idiots who voiced an opinion on this subject. God loves ALL of his children. Being gay is not a choice. Don't listen to any fool who attempts to sell you that bill of goods. Love your child period. To want yor child to be happy, healthy, and one day love someone is indeed all you can wish for. Stay away from bigoted people. Being gay is not a sin.

Hi there 'nomorebreaks!'

The only time I visit Yedda is when someone I know sends a question . . . pleased to see that you are still here.

This is my opinion and that of a mother and a retired physician.
With continuing research, there have been no definitive factors involved:  

 
1) DNA testing has no relevant significance
2) hormone levels are WNL [within normal limits]
3) peer pressure is not involved
4) environmental factors, to include opposite sexual abuse, remain multifaceted

These are known's  and  still there are no documented answers to the question of homosexuality vs heterosexuality.

How would I react? The one thing that I would NOT say is: "I do not want to hear anything else about this kind of behavior!" All that does is create a breach in communication and trust. An open discussion is preferable and needs to acknowledge the issue as one that remains controversial. Parental openness is needed and depending on the circumstances, an ability to accept a decision and not reject the confidential trust of one's child is imperative.  My opinion? I would continue to love and be supportive without being judgmental.

Personal experience? When my older son was in college, he had two homosexual 'housemates' and two heterosexual 'housemates.' There was no sexual involvement between any of the five 'housemates.' My one concern was HIV/AIDS, so I used that as an opportunity to discuss hygiene and stress the risk factors with my son. I knew all four young men and there was always an open invitation to visit or spend a holiday with our family. Twenty-five years have passed and my son is now forty-four years old, married (Ph.D. professors) and has two young children.

One of the young men died from AIDS before completing his senior year in college. The trauma of losing a close friend was more important to my son and other friends than the cause of death.

The factors listed are easily validated and my own opinion is just that, nothing more nor less. I am stating my own opinion again: I would try to maintain openness/trust with my child without being judgmental -- I would NOT stop loving my child and I would be supportive in any possible way. Counseling is available through MHMR and parent/child need to make that decision based on a mutual understanding. Parents may need counseling for themselves but I do not recommend an intervention that requires counseling for the child. Teenagers have enough stress factors and that needs to be taken into consideration . . . certainly their well being, both emotional and physical, should be tantamount in any decisions.  

I do hope that this answer may be helpful to you ~
 
hs
 

I was finally able to post this as an answer instead of a comment.

Thank you to Garry_Moore_Sr.