Why parents should support their LGBTQ+ children

If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, one of the biggest steps is coming out. Some may be worried about their family and friends not accepting them, but it’s the hardest thing to tell your parents that you’re LGBTQ+ and I should know. I was fortunate to be born into an accepting and understanding family, who love me for who I am, but sadly, that’s not the case for everyone.

Every day across the world, there are LGBTQ+ members that are being harassed, bullied, and kicked out of their homes. In some countries being LGBTQ+ is illegal and can be pushed by jail time or even death. Homelessness was reported at higher rates among LGBTQ+ youth.

Over 40% of members of the LGBTQ+ have reported that they were kicked out or abandoned because they identify as LGBTQ+. I have friends that experience hate and harm in their households where a child should feel safe and welcome, due to their LGBTQ+ identity. I see this as a massive problem in our world, it’s the 20th century, and we are a lot more accepting than we were back in the 19th, 18th, and so on but we still face a lot of hate, discrimination, abuse, and lots others. Over 28% of LGBTQ+ reported experiencing homelessness or instability in their household.

In my opinion, we need to work harder in facing LGBTQ+ discrimination, and some ways we can do this is starting with accepting that everyone is different, everyone has their personality, and everyone is their person, I mean think of it imagine everyone in the world were all just like you, from character to looks, wouldn’t that be boring? Different people are what gives us our uniqueness, it’s the best thing about our differences.

I am proud of who I am thanks to my friends accepting me for who I am but it is like a total extra boost when I hear from my parents that they accept me as well, what parents say has an impact on their kids, what parents say kids follow especially when they are younger, if you raise your kid in a kind, accepting, respectful household generally that’s how they grow up to be as a person, now if you’re raised in a mean, discriminating, hurtful household that’s generally who they will grow up to be, it all relies on the parents to help their kids see the good in life over the grim.

I appreciate my parents so much for helping me become who I am rather than holding me back, if I wanted to achieve something my parents were always there to support me along the way, my parents didn’t understand the LGBTQ+ meanings but they cared to take the time to learn more about it, they didn’t judge me for it. It’s hard enough to tell your parents about this but it’s even harder to deal with it when it’s disapproved of by your parents.

Fighting against LGBTQ+ discrimination is sadly a massive war to fight, many people do not understand LGBTQ+, and some people just do not accept it. If you do not accept something like LGBTQ+ keep it to yourself, people don’t need to hear how awful you think it is, it’s unnecessary and hurtful. An excellent way to fight against LGBTQ+ discrimination and homelessness is in my opinion by increasing funding for minimal housing programs. Providing safe, secure places of shelter for LGBTQ+ children could have an immediate positive impact on those that can no longer call their own homes a safe, secure place.

We need to teach children at a younger age about being different from the considered “normal”, different cultures, genders other than male and female, different sexualities, and more. When my brother found out about people being gay he was confused and thought it was weird but after I had a calm conversation explaining it to him he understood and is now one of my biggest supporters. In conclusion, accepting your children and friends for being LGBTQ+ is a huge help for them and their mental health, and can definitely show good awareness to others.