What To Tell Zach

Michael P. asks, with respect to Zach O'Connor, who is described in the New York Times as having "[come] out about being gay" in the seventh grade, "what would *you* do if Zach O'Connor were *your* son?  Tell him that he should be celibate for the rest of his life?"  I'm going to dodge that question.  Here's mine:  What should we think about a cultural context in which 7th graders are expected to declare sexual orientations and embrace sexual identities, and in which (according to the Times, anyway) the model of good parenting is to encourage kids to do so even earlier?  I guess I'm too busy making sure my kids aren't Carolina fans.