18th January 2017
CC0 Public Domain
By Grace Manger from the My Kid is Gay (link is external) website.
If you are the parent of an LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning) child, and are feeling confused or unsure of what to do, you are not alone. Your child has learned something new about themselves, and trusts you enough to share this information with you. This is good news! Congratulations!
That being said, coming out can be a scary, nerve-wracking process both for the LGBTQ person and those around them. Believe it or not, you as a parent of an LGBTQ person have your own coming out process to go through: one that takes time, patience, and learning.
Lots of parents find themselves not knowing where to even begin this process, so here are five concrete things you can do today to learn more about your child and their identity.
1. Tell them you love them
These are the single most important words right now. Tell them you love them, no matter what.
If you feel up to it, tell them you want to learn more about what their LGBTQ identity means to them. It’s OK to admit that you feel nervous or confused right now, but piggyback this with, ‘But I will work hard to understand.’
Aside from conveying your support, there are some logistical things that you may need to discuss. Who, if anyone, is your child comfortable with you talking to? Is your child using a different name or pronouns? Do they feel safe at school?
2. Find your support system
Is there a community support group near you? Do you have other family members that you (and your child (link is external)) would feel comfortable talking to?
You don’t have to do everything yourself right now; if you have someone who can support you during the process, find that support system — the sooner, the better.
3. Do your research, and get your questions answered
It’s OK to ask questions! In fact, having questions shows that you are able and willing to learn more about this new part of your kid’s life, which is amazing.
It is normal for some children to not feel comfortable or willing to answer every single one of their parent’s questions.
There are so many great resources available online to help you learn more about being the parent of an LGBTQ kid. My Kid Is Gay (link is external) is a website with advice, support, and resources for parents of LGBTQ young people, and is an excellent starting place for you in this process.
In the UK, Diversity Rolemodels (link is external), Stonewall UK (link is external), and LGBT Initiative (link is external) are also great sources of advice.
4. Sign up for our Coming Out With Care package
This year, in honour of National Coming Out Day in the US, My Kid Is Gay created a free electronic care package that comes right to your inbox.
The Coming Out With Care package (link is external) sends you an e-mail with advice, resources, tools for self-care like a music playlist and guided journaling pages, and a free excerpt of This Is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids (link is external) (Chronicle, 2014).
You can sign up for your own e-care package by clicking here (link is external).
5. Let love guide you
This may sound cliché, but it is perhaps the most important advice for you right now. This is a process of learning and questioning things that you always thought to be true.
While some coming out processes can be harder than others, you are bound to come up against some obstacles along the way. When those conflicts arise, or when you feel overwhelmed with these changes, remember the love you have for your child, and let that love guide you around the curves.
What to do if your child has not explicitly come out to you as LGBTQ, but you suspect they may be
Your conversation with your child will most likely look different in this scenario, as asking them directly about their sexual orientation or gender identity may do more harm than good.
Here’s some advice on what do to if you are unsure about whether you should ask (link is external).
Just by reading this article shows that you are willing to work and learn more about your LGBTQ child — Thank you for being a supportive parent!
Further support:
When your child comes out as transgender: a Q&A with Sue Chitayi
Image: CC0 Public Domain
The advice published on Parent Info is provided by independent experts in their field and not necessarily the views of Parent Zone or CEOP.
