Straight Parent, Gay Kid
May Is Mental Health Awareness Month, But Not Every State Honors It
Tennessee and Mississippi Have Discriminatory LawsLast month, Republican Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee signed into law House Bill 1840 that legalizes discrimination against LGBT people. The law allows counselors to cite religious beliefs for refusing services to LGBT patients. Originally, the terminology of the bill allowed for “sincerely held beliefs,” but the state House then…
May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
Are YOUR LGBT Kids Mentally Healthy? Does your child attend class regularly or does he cut class once a month, as GLSEN (Gay Straight Lesbian Education Network) studies show, because he feels unsafe at school? Is she bullied in school, and cyberbullied 24/7? A new study published last January in the American Journal of Public…
Mother’s Role in Supporting Gay Youth Is Vital!
Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. With all the joys and frustrations of motherhood, don’t you sometimes feel as if we mothers should receive a Congressional Medal of Honor? But I’ll compromise with flowers, a card, and a good breakfast. While unconditional love from both parents is important for a gay child to thrive, it was my…
What is STD Awareness Month?
STD Awareness Month is an annual observance in April. National Youth HIV/STD Awareness Day was April 10. (see blogpost http://www.straightparentgaykid.blogspot.com. April-10-is-National-Youth-HIV/STD-Awareness-Day/4/9/16. ) Each year, the U.S. has 19 million new sexually transmitted diseases. It’s an ongoing public health epidemic that costs the health care system 17 billion annually. Talking To Your Kids About Sexually Transmitted…
What is #40toNoneDay?
Today is #40toNoneDay. It serves to raise public awareness about LGBT youth homelessness. LGBT persons face discrimination, social stigma, and often rejection by their families. These consequences of society’s non-acceptance can result in 7.4% more acts of sexual violence to them than their heterosexual peers and LGBT youth are more likely to attempt suicide…
April 10 is National Youth HIV/STD Awareness Day
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, during STD Month, April, sum up STD prevention with their campaign: Talk, Test, Treat. You can download or order brochures, pamphlets, information sheets about STD’s online from the CDC (wwwn.cdc.gov/pubs/CDCINFOONDEMAND ) to share with your child. However, their educational materials don’t exonerate a parent from the responsibility of…
It’s #LGBT Health Week
How Does Your LGBT Child Measure Up To His Heterosexual Peers? Did you know that?: • LGBT youth are more likely to smoke, drink, use drugs.• They are twice as likely to have attempted suicide.• Due to harassment and discrimination, LGBT youth are more anxious, prone to depression, and substance abuse disorders.• They…
It Shouldn’t Be The Luck Of The Irish
It wasn’t the luck of the LGBT Irish this year that led to their inclusion in New York’s St. Patrick’s Parade. Their invitation to march was due to marriage equality and greater acceptance of LGBT people, as well as changed attitudes of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Irish Catholic fraternal group that helped organize…