Resources for Parents of Gay Children
Parents and guardians of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered kids may need help supporting their children for various reasons. Parents may feel they need to be educated on how to cope with societal attitudes and issues of equality. Several organizations have programs and resources for parents of gay youth to help them cope with issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and anti-gay discrimination.
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Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
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PFLAG is the leading organization of support for parents of gay children. Created by the mother of a gay son in the early 1970s, the U.S.-based organization has chapters all over the world. Parents and family members participate in support groups to share experiences, organize local events such as pride parade contingents and raise money for student scholarships. Parents can also participate in lobbying events and participate in PFLAG faith groups. The PFLAG website also has extensive resources for parents including a list of LGBT faith groups, information on creating safe schools, political advocacy tips and information on PFLAG state and regional training programs.
The Community of LGBT Centers
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LGBT centers in cities around the nation provide an invaluable service not only to the gay community but to parents and allies as well. Groups such as PFLAG and other support groups for parents often hold meetings at LGBT centers. LGBT centers may also have handouts such as LGBT bibliographies or educational materials that parents can check out. In major cities like New York, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles with large and well-funded centers, parent groups are commonplace. Some centers also offer 24-hour hotlines for anyone struggling with LGBT issues. The Community of LGBT Centers provides a directory of centers around the United States and several countries.
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Families Matter
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Families Matter provides peer support for families with LGBT loved ones. The organization has a hotline staffed throughout the week. The organization will assign a peer mentor to talk to parents at least two or three times. Mentors are trained to help parents and calls are confidential. Matches are customized based on experience and cultural background. Parents can also email questions and concerns. The service is free except for the cost of the phone call.
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
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NGLTF is one of the oldest gay advocacy organizations in the country. Founded in 1973, it offers a wide range of services to the community including regional and national training and funding research. Parents who need information on just about any issue regarding LGBT equality can read and download reports from NGLTF's website including reports on teenagers and statistics in a variety of areas. Parents can also attend workshops at regional and national NGLTF meetings.
Human Rights Campaign
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The Human Rights Campaign is the largest LGBT civil rights organization. The group is involved on several levels in the community from national advocacy to grass-roots education. Its schools and youth initiatives provide resources that might help parents deal with school systems that discriminate against their LGBT children. These resources include a books and video list, articles, a news section and other tools. HRC chapters around the nation can also provide a safe space for parents to get involved in LGBT issues.
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References
Resources
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