Q Recently, my family and I accidentally found out that my brother is gay, and he believes in manifestations. For the past few years, his attitude with the family has become horrible, as he is constantly yelling at everyone in the family if anyone says anything to him, my parents included. He can’t stand anyone saying anything to him, even something as simple as telling him to finish his breakfast. He begins to yell and says “we are all so annoying” and that we all are the reason he wants to run away.

Here, a child is allowed to legally leave home once they are 16, and he has made it very clear to us that he will leave and cut ties with us once he is 16.

As a result, we decided to go on his laptop one day, while he wasn’t home because we were concerned on why his personality changed so suddenly. We wanted to find out if it was because he had made new friends in high school etc. In his photos, we found screenshots of his texts where him and friends talked about him being gay. We also found that he believes in manifestations, as he listens to subliminal audios all day long. He listens to these audios in hopes to become more attractive, to get everything he wants etc.

Since finding these things out, my parents have been confused on what to do. We have not yet confronted him with anything, because we are scared that he will run away, or that he will self-harm again, because he used to in the past.

My family is an Islamic family. My parents have always taught us everything about Islam. My brothers and I have gone to Islamic school since we were kids. We know what’s right and wrong in Islam. My family prays together every day, and we listen to at least one Islamic lecture daily. This is why it’s so shocking that my youngest brother is somehow so far off.

We are all confused on how to go farther from this, and would appreciate any advice possible. Jazak Allah