|
21 March 2005
Gay Adolescents? Just Normal Teenagers! 
A new book by a Cornell University expert on teenage sexuality predicts that the so-called "gay adolescent" will soon be no-more. Although these adolescents will still have same-sex desires, fantasies and attractions, the author writes, they no longer will need or want to identify themselves as gay. "The new gay teenager is in many respects the non-gay teenager," says author Ritch Savin-Williams, professor of human development in Cornell's College of Human Ecology. His new book, The New Gay Teenager, looks at issues concerning gay, lesbian and bisexual youths. Savin-Williams is a licensed clinical psychologist who works with gay youths and their families. He argues that the majority of young people who engage in gay sex consider themselves heterosexual and that the majority of youths with same-sex attractions do not call themselves gay. He contends that labels such as "gay" no longer work when describing young people's sexuality because some teens have same-sex crushes but don't act on them, or call them "gay love affairs". Some believe they are gay for a while and then not gay for a while. Still others might consider themselves gay only in certain situations. "Most same-sex-attracted young people engage in sexual activities with both sexes. Some are homoerotic in some sexual domains and not in others. Similarly, one can be little or greatly same-sex attracted, in varying degrees and in varying ways," Savin-Williams said. "Between 15 and 20 percent of adolescents have some degree of same-sex orientation, yet only 3 to 4 percent embrace a gay or bisexual identity or report same-sex activities. Most young people don't link their sexuality to their identity."
Talk About This Article In The Forum...
|
