Hi fellas,
Did any of you see that programme on the TV about whether or not you were born Gay or whether it was down to nurture. It was very very interesting and got me thinking.
I have a 12 year old daughter Rosie, who from a very young age has idolised one of her brothers and used to wear his clothes. She has always said she wished she was a boy (nothing unusual there because I used to say that and many girls do) and refuses to wear anything remotely girly. She has her hair cut short and to all intense and purposes resembles a boy. We have given up explaining to people in shops etc who call her son that she is infact a girl and Rosie is quite thrilled to be mistaken for a lad. BTW I know that Cross dressers are not necessarily Gay I am just using the programme as an example of nature or nurture.
I have always been very criticised by family and friends for pampering to her whims in as much as I have bought her boys clothes, shoes, footballs etc. Indeed her bedroom looks like a boys. But my stance on it has always been she is her own person and she alone should be allowed to make up her own mind as to her gender identity and not be encouraged to conform for the sake of other peoples prejudices.
The programme last night did get me thinking though as to whether my encouragement is largely responsible for how she is and if I had insisted on her being more girly she would have turned out differently.
Dont get me wrong, I have no regrets, she is a lovely person and very popular with everyone I wouldn't change anything about her because she is a real character full of energy and a joy to be around. She has struggled a tad at secondary school but she is slowly winning people round because she is adamant that she isn't going to change for anyone least of all her peers and most people seem to respect her for that.
I would be more than interested in knowing what some of you went through as a child and when you realised you were not conforming to what society perceivedto be the norm. Did your parents realise and were they supportive or did you have a hard time.
Take care
Bev