Same-gender relationships and conversations around sexual orientation are nothing new. Yet, for a child with heterosexual parents, it may seem out of the ordinary.
And now, given the news of Lee Kuan Yew’s grandson Li Huanwu coming out of the closet, you might be wondering how to approach the topic of same-sex relationships and sexual orientation with your kids.
Just the other day, my seven-year-old daughter came back from school and blurted out her big secret. Her P2 classmate was a “transgender”.
“She told me that when she grows up, she’ll become a boy,” she confided. I listened carefully to every word she had said, and affirmed that it was okay.
For me, the big reveal was that at seven, she had heard of the word, “transgender”. Then, next, I started wondering, “How am I supposed to explain this to my children?” And you might be wondering the same.
Fact is, running away from our kids’ questions, thoughts and concerns will only add to their confusion.
So, here are some tips on how to sensitively and sensibly answer questions from your kids about same-sex relationships and gender/sexual orientation:
"Straight, gay, queer, bi, whatever they are — it doesn’t matter. If you just let your kids be who they are, and support whatever interests them in the best way you can, then they will bloom."
