How Can I Support My Gay Child?

Question: How Can I Support My Gay Child?

Answer:

Parents of GLBT children often ask, "How can I support my gay child?" Asking that question is the first step to being supportive.

Here are a number of other ways:

• Understand that you you cannot change who your child is. There is no way to make him or her straight.
• Educate yourself on what it means to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
• Join a support group like Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
• Offer your child unconditional love
• Remember your child is still the same multi-dimensional person he or she was before coming out

A lot of parents are shocked, scared or confused when a child comes out. It's okay to tell your child that you don't have all the answers. However, it is also important to remind your child that you are willing to learn and that his or her news, does not change how you feel.