school prejudice

School Board Overrules Fl. Superintendent re: Yr. Book Stickers
Like any high school yearbook, Longwood, Florida’s Lyman High School, considered to be one of the best in the state, will have room for the usual autographs in their yearbooks: “Have a good summer!” “I’ll never forget our English class!” and the two-word message when you can’t think of anything else: “Good Luck!” What they…

Denial: What not to do when your child comes out
Coming out is fraught both for parents and their LGBTQ+ children. Your child has likely carefully planned what they’ll say, perhaps they’ve even rehearsed it in front of the mirror or with a friend. They’ve probably been thinking about their sexuality for months or years. They’re coming to the conversation prepared. You, however, might be…

Keep Politics Out of Disney!
You go to Disney because it’s magic and fantasy! Built out of swamp land, children and relatives come in droves (58 million tourists this year) to see animals and humans unite. It’s akin to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s masterpiece by Edward Hicks “The Peaceable Kingdom.” The children don’t care if Mickey and Minnie are…

Defeated by Jeopardy’s Final Question, but Not in Long Run!
Final question: “The only nation in the world, whose name in English ends with an ‘h’ and is also one of the 10 most populous.” Brainiac Amy Schneider was defeated by this question after winning 40 straight games and winning $1,382,800. (Yes, you read that right!) Her lead was upset by a Chicago librarian Rhone…

Just When You Thought You Knew It All….
O.K. you’ve mastered the basics: you know what non-binary means. It means a person who doesn’t identify with being defined as male or female. You know that sex is assigned at birth, but it also can refer to the sex act, short for sexual intercourse. That said, what is gender? It’s social, a personal expression. …

The “Don’t Say Gay Bill” has passed in the House. What does this mean for Parents and LGBTQ+ Students?
The nuclear family has changed in America. LGBTQ+ parents can create their family through surrogacy or adoption. Often, you see brown or persons of color in the same family as Caucasians. Or mixed race children. Sometimes, grandparents or relatives, because their children have mental health conditions, have custody of their grandchildren and are the primary…

This article was originally published in the NYMetroParents on July 19, 2016. The information contained in the article is still applicable, based on my book When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need To Know, co-authored with psychiatrist Jonathan L. Tobkes, M.D. Luckily, as of July, 2021, there are more than twenty-two U.S. states that…

Coming Out: Preparation is Key
This article was co-written with Nasir Fleming and originally published on the HuffPost Contributor Platform on 10/2/16. The advice is still pertinent. Coming Out: Preparation Is Key (Tips from a Straight Mother & Gay Teen) It’s my favorite time of year again: pumpkin spice flavored beverages, warm clothing, and barely starting to get a hang on…
How Will You Show Support For Transgenders on Transgender Day Of Remembrance?
Transgender Awareness Week (November 13-19) culminates in Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20 each year. TDOR was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith in honor of her transgender friend Rita Hester who was killed in 1998. The purpose of this day is to highlight the losses faced by the transgender community…