Helpful Links and Other Information
We have all been where you are. It does not matter how open minded you think you are. When it is your child, it takes time to adjust. For most parents, the biggest concern is safety. Though the world has come a long way, we still have a long way to go. Different parents, naturally, react in different ways based on their cultural parameters. We are here to help.
Coming Out Help for Families, Friends and Allies
Your first reaction to learning that your loved one is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning can range anywhere from anger to sadness, fear to hurt, confusion to grief, and anywhere and everything in between. These emotions and the thousands of others that parents, families, and friends experience as they navigate their loved ones coming out process are normal.
Here is a list of terms that may provide useful to help make sense of the alphabet soup, and be as respectful and accurate as possible when using identifying language.
"Do's and Don't's"
Although there are a wide variety of experiences that parents, families and friends of people who are GLBT have when they "find out," there are some common themes when it comes to their responses and behaviors. Below are just a few of the "do's" and "don'ts" that PFLAGers have found are useful to mention to people at the beginning of their journey.
Learn about other LGBT organizations and resources in the Midlands area.