Straight Parent, Gay Kid

The Color Purple: No, Not That One!

Last week, my Facebook profile was purple. So was my Twitter icon.  Why?And what was that Spirit Day that many used as a hashtag?History of Spirit Day…Spirit Day began in 2010 by Brittany McMillan, a Canadian teenager who wanted to show her solidarity and support for LGBT youth by wearing purple. Spirit Day commemorates young…

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Is Religion Getting In The Way of Coming Out?

Last week, I was invited to a Pride Club at a Catholic College in Westchester County.  October is National Coming Out month and I was at the college to answer questions from club members about how to come out to parents. As a gay son’s straight mother who had written an advice book When Your…

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What is Bisexual Awareness Week? Why Have It?

September 19-26  is Bisexual Awareness Week, first celebrated in 1999.  Friday, September 23rd is Bisexuality Day started by three U.S. bisexual rights activists: Wendy Curry of New Hampshire and President of BiNet USA, an American National bisexual civil rights organization, Michael Page of Florida and Gigi Raven Wilbur of Texas. Recognized in the United States…

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Guilty By Association

Gay Bachelor On Reality TV Show Fired From Job I never liked Reality TV much.  Not my generation, I guess.  However, when our son watched Jersey Shore, I would occasionally watch as I thought Snooki had a good sense of humor.  I showed a passing interest in Heather Dubrow of The Real Housewives of Orange…

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SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH

What is It? Suicide Prevention Month helps promote resources and awareness around the issues of suicide prevention. National Suicide Day is September 10th and is intended for the public to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals with suicide ideation (thinking about suicide and actually constructing a plan for it)…

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Does Your Child’s Doctor Know About LGBT Health Disparities?

It’s hard for a parent to really know what goes on in their child’s doctor’s office.  Even a minor, WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT, by state laws, has access to:• STI and HIV Services• Mental Health Services• Drug or Alcohol use Treatments• Contraception• Abortions Take your teen to the pediatrician and before the visit is over, you…

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BACK-TO-SCHOOL HOMOPHOBIA WITH NO RECESS

Gay and Lesbian youths face greater risk of violence, according to the first nationwide study administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the first time that the federal government’s biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey investigated sexual identity. PARTICIPANTS IN THE SURVEY Some 15,600 students across the country, ages 14 to 17,…

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Know Where Your Party Stands For LGBT Rights

When it comes to LGBT rights, the Republican and Democratic party differ sharply.In a nutshell, The Republic platform did not specifically use term LGBT, favors state rights, freedom of religion to exercise opposition to gay marriage, and allows parents to employ conversion/reparative therapy for their LGBT children to make them straight.  This form of “therapy”…

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Conversion Therapy Still Endorsed by Republicans

Conversion Therapy Still Endorsed by Republicans Family Research Council Hammers Home The President of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, succeeded in introducing an amendment to the Republican Platform affirming “the right of parents to determine the proper treatment or therapy for their minor children.” You know what this means…The FRC approves of conversion or…

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We Celebrate Our Independence Today

And Our Inclusive Military Policy Yet, just six days ago, transgender members of the U.S. Military served in silence and were considered unfit for serving openly.  According to Palm Center, an independent think tank that researches issues of sexuality, there are 12,800 actively serving transgender members of U.S. Military currently serving secretly.  The Department of…

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