April Hoagland

Holiday No-Nos for Straight Parents

Christmas is a wonderful family holiday.  A chance to regale about the past get-togethers, to guffaw about the near misses with the gravy. Subject Verboten, For Now… However, one topic…

When Homophobia Greets You For The Holidays

If you’re LGBT, you know that the holidays can be particularly stressful.  You can feel like an outsider in your parents’ home.  The feeling may be so uncomfortable that you…

“Stop, Look, and Listen”

The no. 1 complaint I hear from gay teens or adults whom I interview is that their parents don’t listen to them.  When they summon their nerve to come out…

November is National Adoption Month

                        Did you know that LGBTQ parents are four times more likely to be raising an adopted child? And six times more likely to be raising a foster child?…

Holidays Not A Good Time For Introductions!

                        While visiting at Thanksgiving with your new boyfriend in tow may seem like a perfect time for a quorum of your family to meet your special one, think…

Talking To Your Kids About Sex

             Perhaps, it would make it easier for a parent to adapt to the realization that her child is gay if she considers it a possibility from the start.…

National Bullying Prevention Month Is Almost Over, But Bullies Are Still Hard At Work

School is in full swing now during October, National Bullying Prevention Month, but LGBT students still feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and gender expression. According to…

National Spirit Day on October 15

                                               Be A Visible Ally Coinciding with October’s…

National Coming Out Day

Tomorrow, October 11, you may see more pink triangles on clothing and rainbow flags waving in the air. Rallies, parades may be more prominent.  Why?  It’s National Coming Out Day.…

“Do I Look Fat?”

“Do I Look Fat?” Every teen wants to look sharp so they can fit in.  Whether they’re emulating the hottest celebrities or have their own style, they hope their own…

Honor Thy Grandparents

Last week, last Sunday to be exact was an important day.  It wasn’t ushered in with greeting cards last August like Halloween or heralded on television, but nevertheless it was…

Have Teen Idols Taken The New Fluidity Too Far?

Last week, The New York Times contributor Charles Blow wrote about “Sexual Attraction and Fluidity” http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/07/opinion/charles-m-blow-sexual-attraction-and-fluidity.html in which he called Miley Cyrus’s comments about her OMNISEXUALITY (Cyrus dubs it pansexuality)…

National Suicide Prevention Week Starts Tomorrow

World Suicide Prevention Day is September10th. Being LGBT itself is not a risk factor for suicide, but the negative treatment that many LGBT teens endure can lead to suicidal feelings.…

When The School Is Lax About Bullying

o.k.  School has started.  School bullies do not need orientation.  They are hard at work harassing their victim, your gay children, 24 /7.  Your school downplays your child’s horrific experience.…

The 4R’s: Reading, ‘Riting, “Rithmetic, and Regulation

School is starting soon.  You’ve probably starting putting the kids to bed earlier so they will be in sync with school hours, maybe having them read an hour a day…