What is g out? What is g out really like? And do you even need to e out? Here, LGBTQ+ people share their stori of g out, cludg those who cid to tell their fay and iends they’re gay and those who chose not to.
Contents:
COMG OUT AS LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENR
Strong Fay Alliance is a non-prof providg support and rourc to parents of LGBT (gay, trans, etc.) kids g out. Save liv. Prerve fai. * lgbt coming out to parents *
parents of lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr, and qutng (LGBTQ) teens to remember each child is unique and will have their own experienc and feelgs along the way. "I thk I might be gay (or lbian, bi, or trans), but I'm not sure, and I don't know how I feel about that...
"Beyond jt feelg "different, " young people beg to wonr if they might be "gay" (or lbian, bi or trans) or some other label they may prefer. "I've told most of my fay and iends that I'm gay (or lbian, bi, or trans). Now more than ever, gays and lbians are g out to their parents — and they're dog when they're que young.
In the fai I rearched for the book Comg Out, Comg Home: Helpg Fai Adjt to a Gay or Lbian Child, kids me out to their parents, on average, at age 17, wh some g out as young as 14. Rearch fdgs suggt that for openly gay kids, havg a strong relatnship wh parents is good for their mental health and self-teem, and may oculate them om suicidal feelgs, substance abe, and risky sex.
LGBT Foundatn is a natnal chary liverg advice, support and rmatn servic to lbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) muni. * lgbt coming out to parents *
For the youth my book, g out to their parents (who were not rejectg) gave them a sense of relief and helped solidify their inti as gay men and lbian women — and some parents found that a son or dghter's g out actually ma their fai closer and stronger than ever before. However, spe all of the benefs, sometim might not be a good ia for gay or lbian (or bisexual or transgenr) people to e out to their parents. Y, you read that right — this openly gay wrer is actually remendg that sometim is bt to stay the closet — and here's why.
Dpe the evince that Amerins are beg more tolerant of gay and lbian people, parents still reject their children when they e out — ejectg them om their hom and ceasg all fancial support.
* lgbt coming out to parents *
Gay issu, such as bullyg, same-sex marriage, and the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, " have been regular media topics as of late. Among the parents of 65 gay and lbian youth I terviewed, seeg their children were ntented and dog well seemed to assuage parents' feelgs of worry, guilt, and mourng.
(Remember how long took you to get ed to the ia that you were gay or lbian? Try to nvce them to ntact Parents, Fai and Friends of Lbians and Gays (PFLAG), a support group for parents of gays, lbians, bisexual, and transgenr persons.
A 20-year-old Asian lbian stunt scribed her enunter wh homophobia her muny: “What is more problematic is not only somethg obv and visible—vlence—but also visible: cultural vlence such as ignorance, prejudice, and disgt towards LGBTQ people. Mental health profsnals n assist the procs of self-unrstandg and self-love by regnizg the toxic impact of ternalized homophobic msag on out rourc, such as webs, books, articl, support groups, and anizatns, cludg AAPI LBGTQ Rourc, Natnal Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network, Comg Out: Livg Authentilly as LGBTQ Asian and Pacific Islanr Amerins, and PFLAG API Chapter. Comg out is a life long procs of unrstandg, acceptg, and acknowledgg your inty as lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr, queer (LGBTQ) or a siar inty.