Straight Parent, Gay Kid
Slouching Towards Full Inclusion?
On Monday, December 18, Pope Francis, almost eighty-seven, approved a new rule that allows priests to bless same-sex couples. But before you yell, “Hurray, Gay Pride has finally arrived at the Catholic Church!” the Pope’s announcement, during his Christmas message to the Curia, the Vatican’s Central Administration, is limiting at its best. On December 21,…
Susan Hope Berland – Personal Coach for Parents of LBGTQ Kids
Greetings! Parents of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning) kids play a crucial role in supporting their children and creating a positive and accepting environment. Here are some key things that parents should keep in mind: Unconditional Love and Acceptance: Let your child know that you love and accept them for who they are….
November is Transgender Awareness Month
Every November, the U.S.,as well as other countries, celebrate Transgender Awareness Month to increase understanding of the T (LGBTQ+) population. During this month, communities advocate for transgender rights such as legal protection from discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression in housing, employment, public accommodations and healthcare. During this month, on November 20th,…
In this Sex-Crazed World, Asexual is a Legitimate Sexual Orientation
A few years ago, I watched a TED Talk about sexual orientation. A high school female confessed that she’d rather “wash dishes than have sex!” At first, I thought she was trying to be amusing, but when she dug deeper, you realized that she was telling the truth. She was an ACE, the A in…
Bisexuals Are NOT “Just Sitting on the Fence”
Bisexual Awareness Week, also known as Biweek, is an annual celebration from September 16-23. It was founded by GLAAD and BiNet USA. Why? So allies and people learn about the history, culture, community, and current policy priorities of bi +communities. Did you know that bisexuals make up the largest portion (40%) of the LGBTQ+ community, …
The Reasons Behind Higher Suicide Rate of LGBTQ+ Youth
The Trevor Project Survey, 2023 Reveals the Reasons Imagine you’re at a middle or high school where you are harassed for being non-binary, then you go home, which may not be “affirming” and where you continue to be cyberbullied. Every day is traumatic! You hear on the news about anti-LGBT policies and legislation, and if…
“Don’t Say or Write Gay”
It seems that the achievements of the Stonewall Rebellion in June 1969 and the passage of the same-sex marriage in June 2015 did more for the advancements of the LGBTQ+ population than during the period from June 2022 through April 2023 when the Anti-Defamation League and GLAAD, a media monitoring organization, counted 350 anti-L.G.B.T.Q incidents in cities in…
Shh! It’s GLSEN’s Annual Day of Silence
Did you know that: 82% of LGBTQ + students experienced 1st hand harassment or bullying in their school. 71% of students reported that their classrooms did NOT include any LGBTQ+topics. More than 30% of LGBTQ + students reported missing school because they felt unsafe or uncomfortable. Over half of all LGBTQ+ students of color experienced…
Audre Lorde: Black lesbian feminist poet activist. (1934-1992). Women’s History Month
In my last blog, I wrote about Jeanne Manford, a gay rights activist, straight mother and school teacher in New York. It’s important that you educate your LGBT children so they know that the advancement of gay rights in this country was paved by those who battled for those rights. During this Women’s History Month,…
One Who Led The Fight For Gay Rights: Jeanne Manford
March is Women’s History Month. Gay children should know who paved the way for them when homosexuality wasn’t accepted in the 1970’s. One hero worth talking about was a school teacher named Jeanne Sobelson Manford (December 4-1920-January 8, 2013). A graduate of Queens College in 1964, Jeanne taught at PS 32 until 1990. However, it…