National Parents Coming Out Day: From One Parent to Another

09.30.2022

Show support on October 12th, National Parents Coming Out Day. Held the day after National Coming Out Day on October 11th, it’s a day when parents and allies can come out in support of LGBTQ+ children. 

Today we’ll focus on parents who have experienced their child coming out to them, and have some words of wisdom to make it easier to be supportive of your LGBTQ+ child. You can find these parents’ testimonies and more on our website.

Here are some actions you can take on National Parents Coming Out Day and beyond:

  1. “Come out” as a supporter. No matter whether you have an LGBTQ loved one or not, you can be an ally. Show your support!
  2. Post on social media. If you and your child are comfortable, you can also post on social media. Simply copy and use the sample text and download our videos for your reels/stories or use your own:

    Strong families include #LGBTQ acceptance. So I’m happy to share that National Parents Coming Out Day is October 12th, when parents can “come out” in support of their out kids. Help save lives and preserve families with www.strongfamilyalliance.org, a nonprofit providing free resources and support for parents whose child recently came out. Please LIKE & SHARE. #strongfamily #nationalparentscomingoutday #parentscomingout

  3. Share your story anonymously online. This is completely private and can help you practice telling your story, as well as help other parents not feel so alone in the process.
  4. Give the gift of acceptance. We recently released a new resource for the community: “Parenting Transgender Children: A Guide to Keeping Your Family Strong,” available in paperback or ebook on Amazon. Purchase a copy for yourself or give as a gift to friends or family members.
  5. Be a non-participant and take an inclusive attitude. Refuse to participate in subtle or overt LGBTQ putdowns. Don’t use negative language, tease, or make disrespectful jokes, and don’t walk away from disparaging conversations about LGBTQ+ folks. Speak up and make proactive steps to learn about and discuss LGBTQ+ people and ideas.

As your child becomes more open, it’s important that you also become more open, keeping pace to provide encouragement and emotional help. Parental support begins with being a safe person your child can trust, but each additional step you take will strengthen the bond with your child and help ensure their health and safety. Speak out, but be aware of how and when you do it, depending on your child’s need for privacy or openness. The goal is to show support and not accidentally out your child.

At Strong Family Alliance we continually find hope and inspiration in others’ stories and experiences. We share them so that these pearls of wisdom can help to guide you through your own journey and serve as a reminder that you are part of a larger community of families who deeply understand what you’re going through.