Raising A New Generation
For parents of LGBTQIA+ youth who want to go from feeling confused and distant to empowered and connected.
Your child has told you they are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. They no longer want to use the name you have called them since before they were born. You fear that you are losing them. They seem angry, annoyed and distant. Who is this child? How do I support them? What will this change mean for the life I envisioned?
You have a swirl of mixed emotions. You love your child no matter what you want to be supportive but you are scared for them. Scared they will be bullied. Scared they will face discrimination in the workplace. Scared they won’t be able to have their own family. Scared your family and religious community won’t be accepting. This change has a ripple effect on your identity and relationships and though you want to help them you don’t know where to start.
This fear has you wanting to just make it all go away, hope it’s a phase and dismiss it.
But the other half of you aches for this child that you know will face more challenges. You try to be supportive but it seems everything you say is wrong, ensues fights and eye rolls- more hurt and frustration. You fear talking about your feelings and your struggles with this change will only result in others feeling your being selfish or unsupportive. You feel alone. You feel like you’re failing as a parent and you just want that bond you had before everything changed.
You are not alone. We see you. We know you’re trying and we want to help you to be the kind of parent your child needs you to be.
45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth – your child needs your support.
Benefits of Joining Raising A New Generation:
- Learn how to support family members with their own sexual and/or gender identity.
- Become more knowledgeable of what LGBTQIA+ is.
- Improve your relationships with family members or friends who are a part of the LGBT+ community.
- Gain your own support for the questions and concerns you may have.
- Identify how you can become an ally to your loved ones.
