Spend a minute with the O’Connors, a fairly awesome family in 
Madison, Connecticut. Dan and Cindy
knew their son Zach’s deal even before he did, but they didn't push him. Michael Winerip's article in the New York Times has more great quotes, including what happened when Zach, age 14, attended Gay Bingo Night at a church in Norwalk. Also, make time for Zach’s audio clip.
When Zach was majorly stressing, during 7th grade:
Mr. & Mrs. O’Connor: Do you know what being gay is? There’s nothing wrong with it.
Zach: (hands over ears, yelling) I don’t want to hear it! I’m not, I’m not gay!
Later that same year:
Zach, age 13: Ma, I need to talk to you about something, I’m gay.
Mrs. O’Connor: Okay, anything else?
Zach: No, but I just told you I’m gay.
Mrs. O’Connor: Okay, that’s fine, we still love you.
Zach: That’s it?
Zach: Mom!
Zach: Aren’t you going to freak out?’
Mrs. O’Connor: It’s up to you to decide who to love. I have your father, and you have to figure out what’s best for you.
Zach: Don’t tell Dad.
Mrs. O’Connor: (Of course I told him.)
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Mr. O’Connor: We heard kids across the street yelling ‘homo’ as he waited for the school bus.
Zach: One kid followed me class to class calling me ‘faggot.’ After a month I turned and punched him in the face. He got quiet and walked away. I said, ‘You got beat up by a faggot.’
Four years later, now, when Zach is 17:
Zach: I’ve been out so long, I don’t really need the [gay-straight] club as a resource. I’m not going to say I’m popular, but I’m friendly with nearly everybody. Sophomore year, my social life skyrocketed.
Mr. O’Connor: Eighth grade was kind of his militant time.
Mrs. O’Connor: Everything was a rainbow.
Mrs. O’Connor: Coming out was the best thing for him. We ask him, ‘Why didn’t you come out in fifth grade?’