As a parent, it may be a little challenging for you to
hear words from your child like, “Mom, Dad, I’m Gay!”. It is quite likely that
somewhere at the back of your mind you might have already suspected it.
However, with a little awareness, openness, some practical tools, and support,
you can both get through this experience successfully, which will
create an even closer and more supportive family connection. So, what can
you do as parents to make this conversation a little easier for all
of you? These few key points are for you to pay attention to:
- Stay calm
This will probably be a moment of shock for all of
you. Yet, it is crucial to leave space for it to sink in without having to
react immediately.
- Be supportive
Coming out isn’t easy for most children, especially
those coming from a religious family. Make sure that as parents, you’re
supportive and let them know how much you love them for who they are.
- Be patient, as they explore what being “gay” means to them
Be a good listener and listen to what your child
says. Try to make them feel as comfortable as you can and let them express
their hearts out. The reasons that they “come out” is to seek Acceptance and
Love for who they are, and not to be loved for who they are not. As parents,
you should be more patient than being angry over the situation.
- Look up for “LGBT Counseling near me” and take it seriously
Children and even adults from the LGBT community
face a lot of discrimination in society, which forces them to live an isolated
life. Such children must get proper counseling to overcome their fear of
telling others who they are. Because of issues like bullying, teasing and
harassment that they face daily, some even end up taking away their lives. As
parents, getting the right counseling for your child is significant.
Listen to their feelings as they share, even if
it’s difficult to digest. And the acceptance of their new identity can develop
over time, creating a stronger family and a more open relationship based on
truth and understanding.
