Children raised in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) families are much like children raised in heterosexual families, except that LGBTQ families often give more guidance on diversity and open-mindedness.
Tips for raising children in LGBTQ families:
- Talk with your children openly and honestly. Let them know that even though your family may be different from other families in some ways, your family is similar in the way you love your children unconditionally.
- Teach your children about many kinds of families, including LGBTQ families, using books or websites.
- Encourage your child to tell you if he is ever teased about being from an LGBTQ family. Don’t blame yourself for the bullying! Help your child understand that people who try to make others feel bad don’t feel good about themselves, either.
- Teach your child’s school about family diversity and work with school personnel to ensure that diversity is valued.
- Seek families similar to yours. Your child may benefit from a sense of familiarity and a break from feeling different.