I think OP 's question is a fair one and its interesting the way soem people seem to take offense.

Here is what I know:

Parents, whether they are gay or straight make a judgement or "over think" their kids sexuality based on their own trip in their own life and it has NOTHING to do with the kid. Its not that far removed from a parent who is a doctor either wantin their kid to be a docto rlike them or STRONGLY wanting them to choose ANY other profession BUT Medicice based on their own life experience.

Bottom line, parents is your kid is 9 and you are putting any energy AT ALL into guessing theri sexuality , BACK OFF.

I have seen all kinds of assumptions:

Mothers who think their 16 year old daughter must be gay because , while the mom got PG in HS , the 16 year old is a straight A student and an athlete and does not date. Well, guess what Mom, it does not mean your daughter is gay , just that she has some aspirations or is maybe a late physical developer

Next up comes the gay Dad who wants the elementary school to talk about sexulaity ( gay and straight) with ES kids, just in case his son is starting to identify as gay . Why? Again, because this was teh Dad's life experience. The kid is YEARS away from even thinking about it.

Now, the gay Mom, who thinks every play date her daughter has since 2nd garde is a "crush" . 2nd GRADE.

Back off people. Let your kids be kids and if you see signs that they are unhappy: withdrawn , depressed, poor coping skills, then find out WTF, bt don't sit a happy kid down for whom its off teh radar and want to "have teh talk" just because of your own life .

They are NOT YOU

When I started having sexual curiosity (around ten). Have been attracted to men and women since then.

Anonymous wrote:

My DS, who is 5, insists that he is gay and is going to marry a man. I'm fine with it if that's actually the case, but I suspect he may just want to be like our neighbors, who are a gay couple.

Wow. I'm beginning to understand why other countries ban the gay propaganda. I don't treat gays any differently, but I'd be pissed if my straight boy decided to experiment out of fashion

Oh yes, the gay "propaganda" of our neighbors quitely living their lives as a couple. Of course. And man, the experimenting my 5 year old is doing, let me tell you.

If all men had to experiment with all genders there would not be so many bigots out there!

My DS, who is 5, insists that he is gay and is going to marry a man. I'm fine with it if that's actually the case, but I suspect he may just want to be like our neighbors, who are a gay couple.

Wow. I'm beginning to understand why other countries ban the gay propaganda. I don't treat gays any differently, but I'd be pissed if my straight boy decided to experiment out of fashion

Oh yes, the gay "propaganda" of our neighbors quitely living their lives as a couple. Of course. And man, the experimenting my 5 year old is doing, let me tell you.