“I felt like I was being accused and needed to defend my parenting,” she writes.
With that in mind, be respectful when a friend or relative tells you that their child is LGBTQ+.
Then you’ve got the option to say, “How are you feeling?”
This will allow the parent to discuss any concerns or problems.
Another good question to ask is, “What would you like me to know?”
This opens the door for the parent to tell you their child’s preferred pronouns and other information.
If that’s the case, be respectful and don’t use the child’s birth name.
This is known as “deadnaming” and can be psychologically harmful, according to theCleveland Clinic.
The federalCenters for Disease Controlhas a helpful list of resources for gay youth and their families.
