Total shock to a straight family

[Mongoose]

Ok where to start, our 17 year old Grand-Daughter that is loved so dearly shared with a few in the family that she is gay. I really do not know what to do, not because she has come forth with this news but the fact she is a gifted girl in Academics and the violin. BUT she has Social anxiety, dealing with a move this year to a new school, and it is not quite as bad as her home town school but kids are vicious, she dresses in some gothic not severe but she isnt the pink sweater and Khaki pants either.The worry is her not fitting in anywhere, are they any camps or programs for kids that are gay so they can feel they are not different and feel at ease. I simply must have some help with this, we love her and want to learn to help, her parents as well as us need advice.:( .

[Crystal]

Check out pflag.org they may be able to provide you with some useful information.
Also, have her go onto myspace.com. Do a search for for people in the area that are her age and are gay. Myspace is a very popular site for friends to communicate and meet new people. Feel free to contact me if you need anymore info, CDak104879@aol.com or www.myspace.com/cdak

[cebii]

Another thing you can do is to be supportive and remember that she is the same girl she was before she told you. If you accept her for who she is to her face and in public, that strength will help.

[Mongoose]

Oh my yes we support her 100% we love this child more then life and want her happy, she is still the same person but with a choice that is different then we have.The area in which we live is not accepting of same sex relationships, would probably burn people at the stakes if they could so this makes it even harder, people with a strong Christian belief that don't act like Christians should in my opinion and not because we have been given this news do I say this either. The things we want is to see her happy and full of life like a teen-ager should be but how? There must be places gay teens can go to socialize even here. Thank you for feedback its so hard for us to not be able to help.

[DeborahB]

You may be surprised how much being gay/lesibian is much more excepted among the younger crowd these days. My daughter never had any problems with her friends when she was in school and she is a happy well adjusted 30 year old lesbian. I think sometims what you may think is hard on her is over reacting and you have to let her do her thing and meet people herself and not make a big deal of it. Just because she may be a lesbian doesnt mean she cant have straight friends to hang with. She will adjust if you just give her a chance. But most important is to have family support above all. Just treat her like you would any grandchild. The MY Space though is a great idea. My daughter even hooked me up with that site and there are alot of gay/lesbians on there as well as straught and young and old. Maybe you could give her a great gift and go on one of Rosies cruises with her.

[bodecea]

Check out pflag.org they may be able to provide you with some useful information.
Also, have her go onto myspace.com. Do a search for for people in the area that are her age and are gay. Myspace is a very popular site for friends to communicate and meet new people. Feel free to contact me if you need anymore info, CDak104879@aol.com or www.myspace.com/cdak


I would SERIOUSLY watch out for Myspace. It's not very safe.