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Caitlin Ryan: Supportive Families, Healthy Children

This amazing pamplet tells parents what they should do to express their love to their children, even as they are afraid of their chidren’s choices, to insure that they stay healthy and prosper — what every parent wants. You can follow this link to read the entire pamphlet:

http://alpina.websitewelcome.com/~pflagden/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Caitlin-Ryan-Supportive-Families-Healthy-Children.pdf

And here are the lists of family behaviors that either increase or reduce your GLBT child's risk for physical and mental health problems.

Behaviors to Avoid Behaviors that Help
  • Hitting, slapping or physically hurting your child because of their LGBT identity
  • Verbal harassment or namecalling because of your child’s LGBT identity
  • Excluding LGBT youth from family and family activities
  • Blocking access to LGBT friends, events & resources
  • Blaming your child when they are discriminated against because of their LGBT identity
  • Pressuring your child to be more (or less) masculine or feminine
  • Telling your child that God will punish them because they are gay
  • Telling your child that you are ashamed of them or that how they look or act will shame the family
  • Making your child keep their LGBT identity a secret in the family and not letting them talk about it
  • Talk with your child or foster child about their LGBT identity
  • Express affection when your child tells you or when you learn that your child is gay or transgender
  • Support your child’s LGBT identity even though you may feel uncomfortable
  • Advocate for your child when he or she is mistreated because of their LGBT identity
  • Require that other family members respect your LGBT child
  • Bring your child to LGBT organizations or events
  • Connect your child with an LGBT adult role model to show them options for the future
  • Welcome your child’s LGBT friends & partners to your home
  • Support your child’s gender expression
  • Believe your child can have a happy future as an LGBT adult

© Caitlin Ryan, Family Acceptance Project, 2009

Reprinted with permission from Denver PFLAG.