As a parent or carer, your reaction to your child coming out will likely be something that stays with them for the rest of their life. To make sure that the experience is as positive as possible for everyone, here are a few things to keep in mind for if, or when, your child comes out as 2SLGBTQIA+. (via popnolly.com)
From Egale Canada – Affirming Adults: A Guide to Supporting Gender Diverse Children and Youth
Explore more resources below:
Understanding the Basics
From Transforming Families – Understanding gender & gender diversity
From the American Psychological Association – Understanding transgender people, gender identity, and gender expression
From Minus18 – A playlist of 4 short videos for parents and caregivers
From Parents – Gender Identity Terms to Know and Understand
From UBC – Being Safe, Being Me (Results from Canadian Trans & Non-binary Youth Health Survey)
From PFLAG – Our Trans Loved Ones: Questions & Answers for Loved Ones of People Who are Transgender or Nonbinary
From Strong Family Alliance – Myths that Stigmatize Transgender People
From Strong Family Alliance – Understanding Transition
From the Trevor Project – Understanding Asexuality
From the Child Mind Institute – A Quick Guide to Gender Dysphoria
From PLAG – Normalize Not Knowing
From Parents – A Guide to the Different LGBTQ+ Flags
Supportive Parenting
From Gender Spectrum – Supportive vs. Rejecting Parenting
From Strong Family Alliance – Parent Actions that Help & Parent Actions that Hurt
From Gender Spectrum – Gender Across the Grades
From Trans Care BC – Gender Affirming Parenting Guide
From Egale – Supporting Your Gender Diverse Child: A Guide to Support Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers
From Transforming Families – How to support and affirm your gender diverse child
From My Kid Is Gay – Five Questions You Should Never Ask Your LGBTQ Child
From Egale – Supporting My Intersex Child
From Child Mind Institute – How to Support Kids Who Are Questioning Gender or Sexuality
From Strong Family Alliance – Meeting your LGBTQ child’s significant other
From Healthy Children – Parenting a Gender-Diverse Child: Hard Questions Answered
From School Mental Health Ontario – Noticing Mental Health Concerns for Your Child
Gender Development
From Healthy Children – Gender Identity Development in Children
From Gender Justice in Early Childhood – Early Childhood Gender Expansiveness
From Caring for Kids – Gender Identity
From Psychology Today – Gender-Creative Parenting Lets Kids Be Kids
Coming Out
From Pop n Olly – Advice for when your child comes out
From PFLAG – Parents: Quick Tips for Supporting Your LGBTQ Kids–and YOURSELF–During the Coming-Out Process
From Strong Family Alliance – “I’m Glad My Child Came Out”: Parent Perspectives
From Strong Family Alliance – How Does Coming Out Affect My Child’s Well-Being?
From Strong Family Alliance – 4 Supportive Questions to Ask Your Trans Child
From Transforming Families – What to do when your child tells you they are gender diverse
Communication & Community
From Transforming Families – How to talk to family & friends about your child’s gender identity
From Transforming Families – Supporting your child’s communication: Helpful wording to guide your gender diverse child through communicating with others
From Strong Family Alliance – Telling Others: Coordinate with Your Child
From Strong Family Alliance – Telling Others: 6 Ways You Can Help Your Child Tell or Not Tell Others
From Positive Space Network – Youth Name Change Guide
Supporting at School
From Welcoming Schools – A Parent’s Quick Guide for In-School Transitions
From Trans Care BC – School Gender Support Plan: considerations for parents & caregivers
From Gender Spectrum – Gender Support Plan
From Gender Diversity – Top questions to ask your school administrator: A list for parents
From Gender Spectrum – Outline for Initial School Meeting (Advocating for Gender Diverse Young Person)
From School Mental Health Ontario – Understanding School Mental Health Supports to Help Your Child
Healthcare Resources
From Strong Family Alliance – Navigating Healthcare with Your LGBTQ+ Kid
From Gender Wellness – What is Gender Affirming Care? A Guide for Parents of Trans Youth
From Transforming Families – Communicating with Healthcare Staff
From Mayo Clinic – Puberty blockers for transgender and gender-diverse youth
From Egale – Egale Explains: Puberty Blockers
From Meg Foundation – Pain Management for Trans and Gender Diverse Youth
Faith-Based Resources
From Strong Family Alliance – Issues of Faith
From Strong Family Alliance – Our Child is LGBTQ+, Can We Still Be Religious?
From PFLAG – Faith in Our Families
From Muslims for Progressive Values – Is there room in Islam, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Muslims?
From Salaam Canada – Becoming a Better Ally: Understanding Sexual and Gender Diversity within Muslim Families
From Q Christian Fellowship – Affirmation Guide for Trans & Gender-Expansive Identities
Supporting Siblings
From Transforming Families – Supporting siblings
From Transforming Families – Supporting siblings’ communication
Extended Family
From PFLAG – Supporting Your LGBTQ+ Grandchild
From PFLAG – Our Trans Loved Ones: Q&As for Loved Ones of People Who are Transgender or Nonbinary
From Strong Family Alliance – Coming Out to Extended Family: How to Support Your Child
From Strong Family Alliance – Parents and Coming Out of the ‘Second Closet’
From OUT Maine – Coming Out to Unsupportive Family Members
Safety
From Gender Spectrum – Safety Considerations
From Trans Equality – Going Public: Is Public Advocacy Right for You and Your Family?
From Egale – Pride Safety Toolkit for Pride and 2SLGBTQI Event Attendees
From GSA Network – Pride & Protest: Safety Tips for TQ2S+ Youth
From Spectrum – Trans and Gender Diverse Mental Health, Wellness and Suicide Prevention Toolkit
Self-Care for Caregivers
From Strong Family Alliance – 5 Reasons We’re Grateful for Our LGBTQ+ Children
From My Kid is Gay – An e-Care Package for Parents & Loved Ones of Trans Youth
From Parents – Queer Youth Joy as a Radical Act
From Strong Family Alliance – How to Stay Informed About LGBTQ+ Issues in 2025