Queer Cafe

Dwayne Wade's Trans Daughter Makes Red Carpet Debut

Celebs Who Were Fully Supportive Of Their Kids Coming Out As LGBTQ

LGBTQ-Friendly Camps and Summer Programs

A Lesson for the Parents of Gay Kids

What Can Straight Parents Learn From Their LGBTQ Children?

Parents, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, often find themselves in a position of learning from their children. When it comes to straight parents and their LGBTQ children, this dynamic can be particularly enriching and transformative.

Firstly, straight parents can learn about authenticity and self-acceptance from their LGBTQ child. Many LGBTQ individuals go through a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance that involves confronting societal norms and embracing their true selves. This journey can serve as a powerful example to straight parents about the importance of being true to oneself, even in the face of adversity. By witnessing their child's courage and authenticity, parents may feel encouraged to reflect on their own lives and identities, fostering a deeper sense of self-awareness and acceptance.

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Annette Bening: I’ve Learned a Lot From Brilliant Trans Son Stephen

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How the Mothers of Transgender Children Are Changing the World

Johns Hopkins: Tips for Parents of LGBTQ Youth

Info: LGBTQ Youth

Celebrity Parents Supporting Their LGBTQ Kids
My Two Sons Came Out as Gay

Secondly, LGBTQ children often possess a heightened awareness of diversity and inclusivity. Growing up navigating diverse identities and experiences, they develop a sensitivity to the importance of acceptance and respect for differences. This perspective can be eye-opening for straight parents who may not have previously considered issues of diversity and inclusivity in depth. Learning from their LGBTQ child, parents can expand their understanding of the world and cultivate a more inclusive mindset in their own lives and communities.

Moreover, LGBTQ children frequently challenge traditional gender roles and norms, offering straight parents an opportunity to rethink these constructs. By embracing their gender identity or sexual orientation authentically, LGBTQ children challenge societal expectations and stereotypes, inviting their parents to reconsider and redefine what it means to be a man or a woman, and what roles are acceptable in relationships and families.

Additionally, many LGBTQ individuals have faced discrimination or prejudice, which can foster empathy and resilience. Straight parents can learn from their children's experiences of overcoming adversity, gaining insight into resilience, compassion, and advocacy. This can inspire parents to become allies in supporting LGBTQ rights and promoting social justice more broadly.

In essence, what straight parents can learn from their LGBTQ child extends beyond sexual orientation or gender identity. It encompasses lessons in authenticity, inclusivity, diversity, resilience, and empathy. By embracing these lessons, parents can not only strengthen their relationships with their children but also contribute to creating a more accepting and compassionate society. The journey of learning from one's child is a profound one, filled with opportunities for personal growth and mutual understanding.

Magic Johnson Said His Relationship With His Son 'Changed Me'
TED Talk: My Family and My Gay Son

Celebrity Parents Who Support Their LGBTQ Kids
Watching My Son Become My Daughter

Parents' Response is Key to Health of Gay Youth

Celebrity Parents Supporting Their LGBTQ Kids
My Two Sons Came Out as Gay

Talking to Your Gay Son About Anti-Gay Violence

Don't Sneak: Father's Advice to Gay Son

Chrysalis Mama: Raising an LGBTQ Child

Rules for Helping Gay Kids Be Themselves

Allies: Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union

Dwyane Wade And Gabrielle Union Are The Parents Every LGBTQ Child Deserves

Recipients of NAACP Image Awards

We’re living through a moment of surging vitriol and institutionally sanctioned ignorance directed at the LGBTQ community, and, in particular, queer and trans children, whose very existence is imperiled by legislation like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law and Texas’s ongoing attempt to separate trans youth from their supportive families. Given that context, the speech that Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade gave upon receiving the president’s award at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards was all the more vital: their speech honored their trans daughter, Zaya, and focused on the need for support and protection for the Black transgender community.

Union referred to the NAACP as “an organization that had led us through over a century of relentless challenge, pain, triumph and change”, adding that it “now stands with us again at the foot of a very new era of activism, a new era that demands our collective answer to one simple question: will we fight for some, or will we fight for all of our people? Black trans people are being targeted, terrorized and hunted in this country every day, everywhere, and there’s rarely a whisper about it. We honestly don’t approach this work as activists or leaders as much as we do this as parents – parents who love our children and will do whatever the hell we can to keep them seen and secure and safe.”

Dwyane Wade And Gabrielle Union Are The Parents Every LGBTQ Child Deserves
Model Zaya Wade Receives Family Support for Gender Transition

For his part, Wade brought up the difficulty that Zaya had faced in living openly as a transgender teen, saying: “Zaya, as your father, all I’ve wanted to do was get it right. I’ve sat back and watched how gracefully you’ve taken on the public scrutiny. And even though it’s not easy, I watched you walk out of that house every morning as yourself. I admire how you’ve handled the ignorance in our world.” The phenomenon of celebrity parents bringing up their kids at award shows is nothing new – just think of the countless “Kids, if you’re up late watching this, go to bed” punch lines you’ve heard famous presenters deploy when handing out awards – but given the increased scrutiny placed on Wade and Union’s parenting of a trans child, it’s particularly admirable to watch them call attention to the sobering fact that Black transgender and gender-nonconforming people face some of the highest rates of discrimination within the already-targeted LGBTQ community.

Right-wing politicians and activists’ reactions to the specific issues faced by queer and trans children are often to simply pretend they don’t exist, which makes Union and Wade’s public and highly visible allyship all the more valuable. Many children don’t have access to the kind of care and support that Union and Wade have pledged to Zaya and to the trans community more broadly. But hopefully the couple’s unabashed advocacy can inspire fans and viewers to stand up for the marginalized youth in their own lives.

[Source: Emma Specter, Vogue Magazine, Feb 2023]

Real Housewife Heather Dubrow: What I’ve Learned Raising 3 LGBTQ Kids
Marlon Wayans Reveals His Eldest Child is Transgender

Annette Benning Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Her Trans Son Stephen
Marcia Gay Harden and Her Gay Son

Celebs Who Are Out and Proud of Their Trans and Nonbinary Kids
Supporting and Protecting Your LGBTQ Child

Magic Johnson Said His Relationship With His Son 'Changed Me'
TED Talk: My Family and My Gay Son

Parents' Response is Key to Health of Gay Youth

Tips for Parents

Having a gay child doesn't mean you failed as a parent.

Disowning your gay child means you failed as a parent.

Engage with your child. Your LGBTQ child requires and deserves the same level of care, respect, information, and support as non-LGBTQ children. Ask questions, listen, empathize, share and just be there for your child.

Get informed. Get the facts about sexual orientation and gender identity. Learn new language and the correct terminology to communicate effectively about sexual orientation and gender identity. Challenge yourself to learn and to go beyond stereotyped images of LGBTQ people.

Southern Baptist Father's Reaction to Gay Son

Annette Benning Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Her Trans Son Stephen

Celebrities Who Support Their Transgender and Nonbinary Kids

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Dr. Phil Talks With Parent of Bisexual Daughter

How the Mothers of Transgender Children Are Changing the World

Watching My Son Become My Daughter

Celebs Who Were Fully Supportive Of Their Kids Coming Out As LGBTQ

TED Talk: My Family and My Gay Son

Info: LGBTQ Youth

Cher Talks About Her Trans Son Chaz

Marcia Gay Harden: How My Three Queer Kids Made Me an Activist

Get to know the community. What resources are available? Find out if there is a Gay/Straight Alliance at school, a community group for LGBTQ and questioning teens, a bookstore with a selection of books and magazines on LGBTQ issues, or a LGBTQ community center nearby.

Explore the Internet. There is a growing amount of excellent information on-line that connects people with support and materials on these important topics.

Find out where your local PFLAG group meets. Many parents say that their connections with other parents of LGBTQ kids made a world of difference in their progress toward understanding their young people. Finding another person you can trust to share your experience with is invaluable. Many people have gone through similar things and their support, lessons learned, and empathy can be very valuable.

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Real Housewife Heather Dubrow: What I’ve Learned Raising 3 LGBTQ Kids

Rob McElhenney Says Being Raised by Two Gay Moms is a Gift

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Grandfather of the Year

Info: LGBTQ Kids

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Video: Message to Parents From LGBTQ Teens

PFLAG: Coming Out Books

Don't make it about sex. Just because your child has come out as LGBTQ does not mean the young person's whole world revolves around sex or sexual orientation or gender identity. It will be a big part of who the youth is, especially during the process of figuring it all out, including what it means to be LGBTQ. Still, being LGBTQ isn't the sum of life for your child, and it is vital to encourage your child in other aspects of life, such as school, sports, hobbies, friends, and part-time jobs.

Honor your child's privacy. Do not "out" him or her to others without his or her permission. Friends and family members might have questions or want to know what's up. But it is most important to be respectful of what your child wants. Don't betray your child's trust.

Praise your LGBTQ child for coming to you to discuss this issue. Encourage him or her to continue to confide in you and keep you "in the know." If your child turns to you to share personal information, you're must be doing something right. Your child regards you as accessible and approachable. You're sending out consistent verbal and non-verbal cues that say, "Yes, I'll listen. Please talk to me!" Give yourself some credit. Your LGBTQ child chose to come out to you. Congratulations!

Celebrities Who Support Their Transgender and Nonbinary Kids

Meet the Dragon Dads: The Mormon Fathers Fighting for Their LGBTQ Kids
Rob McElhenney Says Being Raised by Two Gay Moms is a Gift

Marlon Wayans Reveals His Eldest Child is Transgender
Annette Bening: I’ve Learned a Lot From Brilliant Trans Son Stephen
Dwyane Wade Fears for Trans Daughter Zaya’s Safety Every Time She Leaves the House

Jennifer Lopez Introduces Her Child Onstage Using They/Them Pronouns
Magic Johnson on Learning to Accept His Gay Son: 'He Changed Me'

Find out what kind of support services are in place at your child's school. Does the school or school district have a non-discrimination policy? Is a there an LGBTQ support group? Do you know any "out" people, or their friends and loved ones, to whom you can turn for information?

Educate yourself on local, state and national laws and polices regarding LGBTQ people. On the national level, LGBTQ people are still second-class citizens in regard to some national policies and their rights are not guaranteed by law. Consider educating yourself about this and finding out what you can do to work toward extending equal rights to LGBTQ people in the United States.

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Annette Bening: I’ve Learned a Lot From Brilliant Trans Son Stephen

Understanding Your Gay Teen

Magic Johnson Said His Relationship With His Son 'Changed Me'

Video: Gay Sons and Their Moms

Belinda Carlisle and James Duke Mason: Family and Supporting a Gay Child

Common Fears and How to be Supportive

Celebrities Who Support Their Transgender and Nonbinary Kids

Cher Talks About Her Trans Son Chaz

Info: LGBTQ Kids

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Rules for Helping Gay Kids Be Themselves

Gay Family Support

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Annette Benning Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Her Trans Son Stephen

Dwayne Wade's Trans Daughter Makes Red Carpet Debut

Will Smith: Parent of Gender Fluid Son

Jaden Smith

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith are known for their outstanding acting and music careers, but they’re also recognized for having one of the most hands-off, laid-back parenting styles for their kids, Jaden and Willow. Will speaks openly about his approach to parenting and the way he and his wife Jada consciously encourage their kids' freedom of expression.

Many movie-goers may remember that Will and Jaden were the father and son team in "Pursuit of Happyness." That adorable little boy is all grown up now. He turned 21 in 2019.

Jaden’s gender-fluid style has been the subject of public discussion as he started wearing dresses when he was 17 years old and was named the new face of Louis Vuitton’s womenswear campaign. “You know, there’s a really powerful internal quality as an artist that as parents we encourage,” Smith said. “You gotta get out on the edge, you have to try things, you have to be comfortable doing things that people don’t agree with and you have to be comfortable doing things that you could fail.” Will added, “Jaden is 100 percent fearless, he will do anything. So as a parent it’s scary, it’s really terrifying, but he is completely willing to live and die by his own artistic decisions and he just doesn’t concern himself with what people think.”

Jaden Smith Opens Up About Being Gender Fluid

Father and Son: Will and Jaden on Ellen Show

Willow Smith Praises Brother Jaden for Challenging Gender Stereotypes

Will and Jaden: Pursuit of Happyness

Jaden Smith: Adventures in Gender Fluidity

Home Movies: Jaden Turns 21

The “Fresh Prince” star opened up about what it was like for he an Jada to raise teenagers. “Because we’re both artists, we decided a long time ago that it’s sort of better to flow with what people are naturally more than what our egos need them to be,” Smith said. “So we really just try to find the things that they’re good at and support those things rather than forcing them.“ It seems the “flow” strategy (and famous lack of punishment) in the house is working out for Willow and Jaden.

Real Housewife Heather Dubrow: What I’ve Learned Raising 3 LGBTQ Kids

Video: Gay Sons and Their Moms

Common Fears and How to be Supportive

Annette Benning: My Remarkable Trans Child

Celebs Who Were Fully Supportive Of Their Kids Coming Out As LGBTQ Info: LGBTQ Kids

Marcia Gay Harden: How My Three Queer Kids Made Me an Activist

My Child is Gay...What Do I Do Now?

Understanding Your Gay Teen

LGBTQ-Friendly Camps and Summer Programs

Celebrity Parents of LGBTQ Kids

Having a child who is different can be hard to handle for a parent. But when these celebrities found out their kids are members of the LGBTQ community, they not only accepted them with open arms, they have also been publicly supportive in the most inspiring way.

Alec Baldwin
Johnny Depp/Vanessa Paradis
Cher
Mia Farrow
Dwyane Wade/Gabrielle Union
Sally Field
Barbra Streisand
Marlon Wayans
Billy Ray/Tish Cyrus

Beyonce/Jay Z

Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt
Sharon Osbourne
Gloria Estefan

Naomi Watts/Liev Schreiber
Sia
Marcia Gay Harden

Will Smith/Jada Pinkett Smith
Gloria Vanderbilt
Warren Beatty/Annette Bening
Marie Osmond

Jennifer Lopez/Marc Anthony

92 Year Old Mother of Lesbian Daughters Attends NYC Pride for 30 Years

Sally Field Receives HRC Ally Award and Talks About Gay Son

Chrysalis Mama: Raising an LGBTQ Child

Info: LGBTQ Kids

Marcia Gay Harden: How My Three Queer Kids Made Me an Activist

Things LGBTQ Teens Wish Their Parents Knew

Dwayne Wade's Trans Daughter Makes Red Carpet Debut

Johns Hopkins: Tips for Parents of LGBTQ Youth

Info: LGBTQ Siblings

Celebs Who Were Fully Supportive Of Their Kids Coming Out As LGBTQ

Cynthia Nixon
Charlize Theron
Belinda Carlisle
Isiah Thomas

Vanna White
Eugene Levy/Deborah Divine
Busy Phillips
Reese Witherspoon

Cybill Shepherd
Ally Sheedy

Earvin Johnson Jr/Cookie Johnson
Anne Rice
Dean McDermott

Sade

Khary Payton

Belinda Carlisle and James Duke Mason: Family and Supporting a Gay Child

Dwayne Wade's Trans Daughter Makes Red Carpet Debut

Annette Benning Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Her Trans Son Stephen