I broadly agree with NIrish on this one.

When I was growing up in Ireland in the 60s there were no homosexuals - except for a couple of well-know theatre types - but they didn't really provide good role models for a working-class boy like myself. Still, I managed to have my first sexual experience at 14 with an older man (he was a young 20 something) with whom I worked. Even then, I didn't come out till I was in my 20s, while gay sex was still illegal here.

So I applaud this young boy and his father - and if, as NIrish says, he changes his mind later and meets a nice girl, then so be it. Good luck to him, I say.