About a month ago my 17 year old son told us he was gay. We are trying to be supportive, but are in shock and devastated. He has had crushes on girls, but never really dated. He is very masculine- top football running back in the county, track star. He is also highly intelligent and will most likely go to an ivy league school. He is extremely involved in the catholic church. Doesn't drink, smoke, eats only health food. Doesn't swear and is an excellent student. He is perfect in every way. I am not saying being gay makes him imperfect in any way. I just am wondering since he is so "straight and arrow- perfect child- model son" that this is a way of rebelling as normal teenagers do? Also his history of girls: the girl he loved all through grade school and middle school ended up dating one of his best friends freshman year. Then freshman year he had a crazy stalker girl stalk him for two and a half years. This girls was so crazy we had to file a police report, the school and district had to get involved to keep him safe from her (we were scared she would either stab him or make false accusations of rape). She was temporarily committed. I am also wondering if his experience with these girls contributed to him being gay. He said he has never had a relationship with a boy and he doesn't plan to while he is in high school. He does not and has not had a crush on a boy - he just knows he is gay. What do you people think???????