found that 60 percent of LGBQ teens said they felt “so sad or hopeless they stopped doing some of their usual activities.” than their heterosexual peers.
“Children need to know that no matter how they identify, no matter whether their identity stays the same or changes over time, no matter what anyone else says or does to them, you will always have their backs and be a safe space for them.”“The first part is to just have a conversation with your child,” says Lisa Ibekwe, LCSW, Child & Adolescent Therapist and CEO and Founder of. “No two LGBTQ youth are the same, similar to how no two people are the same.
The work you do on yourself is only going to help you be a better ally and support system for the youth in your life. “One of the most powerful things you can do is to advocate for your child,” Blum agrees. “Do not expect your child to teach…the value of accepting LGBTQ people. Your child is already busy doing the hard work of self-acceptance.”Provide LGBTQ+ representation in the home.