Family Support makes all the difference
Oprah Winfrey interviewed Magic and Cookie Johnson and among the topics was their son, E.J. She asked whether or not they knew he was gay. I so related to Cookie. Like a mom, she suspected from a very early age. “He’s your child. You love your child and you support your child, no matter what they are. Being a mom, I knew.” Cookie said. Magic said, “It was a shock in the beginning but also I knew.” Magic relays that he told his son, “E.J., I love you so I’m going to support you no matter what…He wanted my approval. He wanted my support”
If only all LGBT youth had that kind of support from their parents when they come out. Sadly, that is not the case. Even when parents love their kinds no matter what, as Magic said, it can be a shock in the beginning and parents may need to go through a period of adjustment. During that time, their LGBT child may feel rejected even if that is not the parent’s intent. So much can be done to alleviate those feelings and to help the parents move along their path and build a bridge to understanding and acceptance in a way that supports both the parents and the LGBT youth.
I’m on a mission to help as many parents and LGBT youth make the transition from shock and confusion to understand and acceptance in a stress free, supportive way. In light of that, I offer, completely free, my A.C.C.E.P.T.™ Manifesto with strategies to guide parents and youth along the way. For nothing more than an email address, it is yours at http://susanhopeberland.com/gift.
Please take advantage of it at this holiday season and share it with your family and friends. It may just be the best holiday gift they every received.
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