Parents: Accepting Your LGBTQ+ Child

Many parents want what they think is best for their children. However, with some of your children's decisions, they may not always want to accept or accept what their children may do or believe in. Or even may be, including LGBTQ+. Accepting your child as LGBTQ+ can be difficult and confusing. But love and support must be shown for your child to be their self in the most successful way.

Many LGBTQ+ youth state that the hardest part of them realizing their sexual orientation and coming out, is telling their parents/guardians. A person does not have to be an expert in LGBTQ+ to show them that you care about them.

The first step to accepting your child is letting them know that you love them and you will support them no matter what. As long as they are safe of course. If you are not sure what to say to your child just say something like, "I am here for you. I support you. I love you..." It can mean everything to a person that is coming out to know that is not going to change anything.

Post coming out, parents should be more communicative with their child. They can get to know their friends, what they enjoy, hobbies, how school was and if they learned anything interesting that day, week, etc.

Get your child talking by mentioning movies that they may like or even books. If you notice a gay character in that movie or book then compliment them in some way. Such as, if that character is confident in them being LGBTQ+ then compliment how confident they are in being out... etc.

"Do not blame your child being gay on something or someone else. Instead celebrate your child and all that they are or may be."
~Cheyanna Kingery~

Many parents assume that their child being gay, bi-sexual, lesbian, pan-sexual or transgender, etc. is "just a phase", or they are "following the crowd", or "there is a cure, they can be 'fixed'". Do not blame your child being gay on something or someone else. Instead celebrate your child and all that they are or may be.

Another good thing for parents to do to be supportive, even if there child is not LGBTQ+, is to watch for signs of bullying. If your child is becoming withdrawn and quiet and they were once outgoing, social, and fun, then this may be a sign. Some other signs of bullying may include but are not limited to the following... discipline and/or behavior problems now occurring at school and/or at home, declining grades, not wanting to leave home often (being a homebody), and sudden shifts in who is a friend and who is not.

It is also important to ensure that your children are in healthy relationships no matter if they are LGBTQ+ or not. If they are LGBTQ+ then assure them that LGBTQ+ relationships are completely normal and there is nothing to hide or be ashamed of. When they enter the dating stage then try to be sure that the relationship they they may be in must be safe and healthy.