Dee Michel > Quotes

“many people believe kids can’t be gay. They think sexual orientation is a matter of sexual activity, and they assume that children don’t have sex. In fact, however, homosexuality is a constellation of feelings and desires that often appear long before sexual expression per se.”
― Dee Michel, Friends of Dorothy: Why Gay Boys and Gay Men Love The Wizard of Oz

“the face of that disapproval or outright harassment, some young gay kids learn to conceal their true feelings and leanings, and others repress them entirely. As psychologists and many others have noted, there are lasting effects on the child. Being ridiculed can result in being withdrawn. Repression can slow down the development of identity and relationships. Acknowledging but concealing one’s desires can interfere “with the development of self-consistency, self-concept, and self-esteem.”
― Dee Michel, Friends of Dorothy: Why Gay Boys and Gay Men Love The Wizard of Oz

“Heterosexual little boys have crushes and show romantic and even sexual interest in little girls well before puberty. Boys who grow up to be gay have similar interest in or desire for other boys. This early same-sex desire can manifest itself as strong affection, watching and being excited by other males, fantasizing about them, and engaging in actual physical activity. Many gay adults report having had special affection for other boys when they were young. In fact, clinicians report gay boys having same-sex attractions well before puberty, between the ages of nine and eleven. The affection is often manifested as wanting to spend time together and feeling that time spent with another boy is special.”
― Dee Michel, Friends of Dorothy: Why Gay Boys and Gay Men Love The Wizard of Oz