Coming Out: A Parents’ Guide to Supporting your Gay Child

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.