“She’s a wonderful, intelligent, kind, human, gorgeous girl, who fancies girls – that’s it.”  

Orla Sharp, Mother of 16 year old Erin:   

“We were living abroad at the time, and when she came out, we knew she was gay – and even definitely a couple years before that. But when she came out, she just said to me: ‘Mom, I have something really important to tell you. I think I’m gay. I’m lesbian’.  

Watching her grow up as her mother and seeing her looking at TV and turning around telling me things like, ‘why is it only the boy and a girl who kiss each other on TV?’ or even cartoons. She didn’t even know what she was saying at the time. But, clearly, she was talking about representation. Clearly, she was talking about something that she felt wasn’t being represented on TV. 

I didn’t approach her on any of these things, because I think you have to teach children to respect and embrace others for who they are, no matter what. Children are more likely to express themselves when they feel accepted.  

Allow them their own space to explore their own identity and, in their own time, they will come out. I’m not an expert. But, in general, don’t be pushing labels on any kids. Don’t be pushing them to do anything they don’t want to do. They will let you know in their own time. 

She’s a wonderful, intelligent, kind, human, gorgeous girl, who fancies girls – that’s it.”

You can read the full article of parents sharing their experience of their children coming out on The Irish Times website here