Blog for Parents of LGBTQ Youth

Our LGBTQ kids are…

by Susan Berland | Aug 16, 2017 | Family

Funny thing about an LGBTQ child – they are still kids with all the characteristics and foibles of all kids, whatever their age and whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity. They do great in school or they get by or they struggle, like all kids. Some play...

Writer’s Block

by Susan Berland | Aug 9, 2017 | LGBTQ Issues

Every once in a while when it’s time to sit down and write my weekly blog, I get writers block. Today is one such day. I’m sitting her contemplating what to write about and nothing – I mean NOTHING – is coming into my mind. Sometimes I feel like I’ve just about used...

Can a parent make her son gay?

by Susan Berland | Aug 2, 2017 | LGBTQ Issues

I just read a story about a mom who is repeatedly told to cut her son’s long hair. He’s just a baby! Someone even went so far as to tell her it would make make her son gay. Really??? I have two sons. They both had delicious longish curls as little boys. I hated...

2017 Gender Spectrum Conference

by Susan Berland | Jul 26, 2017 | Family, LGBTQ Issues

This past weekend I attended my 4th Gender Spectrum Conference. I always learn something new and I was pleased to see how much I’ve learned in the past 3 conferences I attended. The first day was the Professional Symposium. Presenters and attendees alike are quite...

Gender Spectrum

by Susan Berland | Jul 19, 2017 | LGBTQ Issues

This weekend I will be attending my 4th Gender Spectrum Conference. I’m coming this year in a very different place than I was 4 years ago. I attended my first Gender Spectrum conference about as uninformed as one can be! I didn’t even know there was a spectrum when it...

Why using the term “lifestyle” is harmful

by Susan Berland | Jul 12, 2017 | Family, LGBTQ Issues

I have a group for parents of LGBTQ kids. Sometimes when a parent new to this world of parenting an LGBTQ child joins they use the term lifestyle in support of their LGBTQ kid. It is a term that is used with love and to express their sincere desire to support their...

What can happen when a child comes out as LGBTQ

by Susan Berland | Jul 5, 2017 | Family, LGBTQ Issues

I’m blessed to know many, many moms of LGBTQ kids whose first reaction when their child came out was not one of joy and immediate acceptance. I know moms whose reaction was that but this is not about them. Many of these moms were raised in conservative, evangelical...

Do you know about PrEP?

by Susan Berland | Jun 28, 2017 | Family, LGBTQ Issues

Are you the parent of a gay son? As parents of gay sons, especially teen sons, we worry about our sons contracting HIV/AIDS. If you aren’t worried, you should be. 25% of new HIV infections occur in youth ages 13 to 24 years old. That is a worrisome statistic. As...

On The Move

by Susan Berland | Jun 21, 2017 | Family

Yesterday my husband and I arrived in North Carolina. We are staying a month, seeing what it’s like to live here. Today we spent almost the entire day in the car, driving from place to place to see different neighborhoods and figure out where we want to live when we...

Marriage equality is not always treated equally

by Susan Berland | Jun 14, 2017 | Family, LGBTQ Issues, Marriage Equality

I keep reading stories about gay and lesbian couples who’s parentage is not being recognized in some of our states. That is, a mom who gives birth is recognized as the mother but her wife is not. I’m not familiar with the laws of all our states. I do know that where I...