The Data Is Clear: Your Love Could Save Their Life
Happy Thursday! You made it!
There are so many moments in parenting when we wonder about our impact. You might find yourself thinking, Did that thing I tried when they were three somehow lead to this behavior now? Or Did letting them eat the exact same meal for a week on vacation contribute to the food rigidity we’re seeing six months later? Honestly? We’ll probably never know.
But there are some situations where the impact of parenting is undeniable – life-saving, even.
One of those moments is when a child comes out as queer and their parents respond with unconditional love and support.
The data is crystal clear: LGBTQ+ young adults with accepting families report higher self-esteem, stronger social support, and better overall health. They also show lower rates of depression, substance use, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. In one study, parental acceptance and support lowered the risk of a suicide attempt by 33-36%.
🧠 Real World Strategy:
The six most protective parental actions are surprisingly simple:
1) Being welcoming and kind to your child’s LGBTQ friends or partners
2) Talking respectfully about your child’s LGBTQ identity
3) Supporting your child’s gender expression
4) Educating yourselves about LGBTQ people and their experiences
5) Openly and respectfully discussing LGBTQ topics with your child
6) Using their chosen names and pronouns correctly
You’ve worked hard to raise your children to be kind, respectful, and open – even when they don’t fully understand something – so you already have the tools to do this when it matters most.
And for many kids, it matters right now.
📚Resource of the Week:
The Trevor Project supports LGBTQ+ people, their families, and the wider community through 24/7 crisis intervention, advocacy, research, peer support, and public education. Its website is a treasure trove of resources for LGBTQ+ people and the people who love them.
You can find the article cited above on their website (click “Download the Research Brief” for an even deeper dive into their robust research).
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You’ve got this.
Cari
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