How to Be an Ally to Your LGBTQ+ Child: 3 Expert-Backed Tips for Parents
- Payton Johnson
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
Now more than ever the LGBTQ+ community needs support and strong allies. This support can and should start at home. This Pride Month you have the opportunity to connect with your children about how important it is to be accepted, supported, and celebrated exactly as they are.
Even if your child has not come out to you, that does not mean they are not a part of the community. Regardless, they are looking to you as a guide on how to talk about, support, and treat people who are. Below are our top 3 resources on how parents can be better allys for their children, children's friends, and be a part of protecting the mental health of any child in the LGBTQ+ community.
Life-Saving Tips from Dr. Lucas Zullo
“We have consistently seen family acceptance as one of, if not the most important factor in helping queer youth stay safe from suicide.” says Dr. Lucas Zullo. Dr. Zullo is the Clinical and Fellowship Director at the David Farber Advancement of Suicide Prevention Intervention, Research, and Education (ASPIRE) Center. Which is a suicide prevention specialty center in Philadelphia.
Dr. Zullo has seen first-hand how impactful family support and involvement is for queer youth and he was generous enough to let us pick his brain about how you can be your child’s best ally. He really wants to drill home the point that family acceptance cannot be taken lightly. It is so important for a child to know that they have the support they need to navigate this world that is already incredibly challenging.
Did I mess up my relationship?
On this segment of Ask an FSP, we chat with a parent who feels like they might have fumbled the first conversation when their child came out to them. She has noticed her son pulling away and creating distance where there once wasn't any. She feels like he could be struggling with depression because he seems uninterested in anything he used to find joy in.
She also feels "a bit weird" about it and that is causing a lot of guilt for this mom. Check out how our Family Support Partners recommend this mom reconnect with her son in a way that makes him feel seen.
Help Your LGBTQ+ Child Feel Loved and Heard Tip Sheet
Are you looking for an overview on things to say and not say? Are you thinking your child may come out to you in the future and want to be prepared? Do you think maybe like the mom above you could have done or said things differently and you want to course correct so your child knows you are a safe place to turn?
One of our most popular tip sheets to date is the perfect place to start! These are tips from members of the LGBTQIA+ community about what they are glad their own parents did—and what they wish they had done—when they came out to protect their mental health.
At the Parent Alliance, we believe that every parent has the power to create a safer, more loving world for their child. That support starts at home. Whether you are showing up for your own child, one of their friends, or simply want to be the kind of adult a young person can count on, you are already making a difference by choosing to learn and grow.
If these resources were helpful, we invite you to sign up for our newsletter. You will receive practical tips, mental health insights, and parent-to-parent wisdom directly in your inbox. We are here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
Join the community and stay connected with a community that believes in the power of informed, compassionate parenting.
Happy Pride Month from all of us at the Parent Alliance!
