Resources for LGBTQ Parents and Parents of LGBTQ Children and Youth

Audre Lorde linocut art by Eileen Jimenez (eileenjimenez.com), an Indigenous queer artist living in occupied Duwamish Territory (Seattle, WA).

As we celebrate Pride, Rise recognizes the need to continue to fight for societal changes to support the rights, safety, health and joy of LGBTQ people and communities. LGBTQ people continue to experience discrimination and violence in our society, with the transgender community, particularly Black trans women, facing extremely high rates of violence and murder. LGBTQ people face harm and discrimination in interconnected systems, including the family policing system, criminal legal system, education system, housing/shelter system, and health care system. LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the foster system and up to 40% of homeless youth in NYC are LGBTQ.

Family support and acceptance are important to the health and well-being of LGBTQ children. Parents may be seeking information and resources to support their LGBTQ-identifying children with being safe and affirmed and thriving in their homes, schools and communities. Rise has put together a brief list of resources that may be of interest to LGBTQ parents and parents of LGBTQ children and youth, including NYC and national organizations.

What does the acronym LGBTQ mean? The Center explains: LGBTQ is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. These terms are used to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQIA Resource Center and Human Rights Campaign provide more expansive glossaries of terms related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Rise Stories, Interviews and Information

‘Sharing My Lived Experience’: A Message of Support and Resources for the LGBTQIA+ Community
By Cassandra Gonzalez, Rise Contributor

Supporting My Daughter After She Came Out as Bi: “I see how happy she is and I’m a proud mom.”
By Shakira Paige, Rise Peer Trainer

New LGBTQ Youth and Family Resources: Culturally-relevant information supports parents in caring for LGBTQ children and youth.
Interview with Caitlin Ryan, Director of the Family Acceptance Project and Angela Weeks, Director of the National SOGIE Center at University of Maryland School of Social Work’s Institute for Innovation and Implementation, by Keyna Franklin, Rise Assistant Editor and Shakira Paige, Rise Peer Trainer.

Family Policing and Trans Youth in Texas
Graphics that provide information, quotes and resources.

Resources

Supporting Your Young Gender Non-Conforming Child
This resource from Human Rights Campaign serves as a guide for parents of young gender non-conforming children to better understand and support their child, while empowering them in navigating common situations they may encounter in school, in the community and with other family members.

Finding the Right, LGBTQ+ Campus

This resource from Intelligent.com provides insight, tips, and tools on how to scout for a LGBTQ+ campus during the college application process for queer students.

Supportive Families, Healthy Children
The Family Acceptance Project® offers booklets in English, Spanish and Chinese that provide key information from their research on how families can support their LGBTQ children. (To receive the booklets, you must enter an email address and zip code.)

What to Do (and Not Do) When Your Child Comes Out to You
Coming out to your parents is usually a pretty monumental moment for most LGBTQ people. This blog post from Family Equality provides tips for if your child comes out to you, offering things you can do (and should not do) to best support your child.

In this video by Human Rights Campaign, parents of transgender youth share advice for other parents starting their journey.

National Organizations

The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people under 25. Need help? Call 24/7: 1-866-488-7386.

Gender Spectrum
Gender Spectrum works to create gender sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens. Gender Spectrum provides online programs, resources and information that young people, parents and families can use to further their understanding of gender and the value of parental and adult support.

PFLAG
PFLAG provides support, information and resources for LGBTQ+ people, their parents, families and allies

LGBTQ Youth & Family Resources
In partnership with the Family Acceptance Project, the University of Maryland School of Social Work’s Institute for Implementation and Innovation developed this national resource that is geared toward parents, families and caregivers of LGBTQ children and teens. It includes a listing of crises lines and a searchable national map of resources. It also offers a variety of resource lists, including culture-based resources, faith-based resources and videos and webinars.

NYC Organizations

Anti-Violence Project
AVP empowers LGBTQ and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.

The Audre Lorde Project
The Audre Lorde Project is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color community organizing center, focusing on the NYC area.

Callen-Lorde
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center provides sensitive, quality health care and related services targeted to New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities — in all their diversity — regardless of ability to pay. To further this mission, Callen-Lorde promotes health education and wellness, and advocates for LGBTQ health issues.

FIERCE
FIERCE is a membership-based organization building the leadership and power of LGBTQ youth of color in NYC.