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Survey: Latino
Parents Avoid Addressing Gay Issues With Kids

Survey: Latino
Parents Avoid Addressing Gay Issues With Kids

More than two thirds of Latino parents have not addressed sexual orientation with their children, though 95% agree that the information should come from a parent, a new survey released Wednesday found.

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More than two thirds of Latino parents have not addressed sexual orientation with their children, though 95% agree that the information should come from a parent, a new survey released Wednesday found.

"Bullying and the use of gay slurs in schoolyards and communities are far too common in America," said David Shern, president and CEO of Mental Health America, which conducted the survey. "It has serious effects on children's self-esteem, schoolwork, and overall development. Talking with children about sexual orientation may not be easy, but it will help them learn to better handle situations of bullying and to respect and value others."

Mental Health America also found that 26% of children have started conversation with their parents about sexual orientation. Seventy percent of parents said they don't feel prepared to talk to their children about sexual orientation, but almost the same amount, 63%, said it is important to teach children that it is wrong to treat others differently because they are gay. Furthermore, 76% of Latino parents said it is harmful for children to tease each other for being gay.

The lack of dialogue in Latino homes is having a negative impact: 22% of parents surveyed were unaware that bullying of gay students happens at all. However, 59% of parents said that bullying happens to gay students in their children's school. (The Advocate)

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