He spent time caring for his younger brother and sister until his move back to his mother's home in San Diego, California, in July 2003, in a period when he was coming to terms with his sexuality. While at his mother's home, then aged 16, he spent his weekends in Los Angeles with his first boyfriend, who was older than Lockhart. His older boyfriend introduced him to a "fast, furious, out-of-control side to the gay scene", with which he was not comfortable.[1][2][6]