http://www.bidstrup.com/parents.htm
“My child is gay! Now what do I do???” This webpage answers this and other questions that parents of gay youth might have. It is specifically designed for parents and delivers the information in a very plain and supportive language. Addressed are issues such as feeling responsible for the child’s sexuality, legal issues, emotional issues and religious aspects. The author debunks and explains many myths surrounding homosexuality and provides links to related information on the web and in print.
http://www.pflag.org/
If one were to choose only one resource to go to for information about homosexual issues, PFLAG (Parents And Friends Of Lesbians and Gays) would be it. It covers A to Z topics of human sexuality focusing on gays. Many pages are devoted to creating safe schools for gay youth, talking about coming out process, where to seek support, etc. Above all, PFLAG is a community of people who “provide support for all parents, family members and friends… and work to create an environment of understanding so their lesbian and gay children can live with pride, dignity and respect.” The website has vast quantities of information on how sexuality is developed, do’s and don’ts for gay children and their parents, enormous pool of resources and latest updates. For those looking for answers and support on dealing with the fact that somebody close to them is gay, the site can be a big help and comfort.
There are chapters of PFLAG all over the world, and the contact information for them is provided on the site. A Canadian PFLAG site can be found at http://www.pflag.ca, where in addition to general information on support and resources, national events are covered and issues pertaining to local communities across Canada are discussed. There are also links to chat rooms. More locally, there is a website of a chapter of PFLAG in Victoria at http://www.gayvictoria.com/pflag/
http://glccftl.org/library/youth/index.html
This is a comprehensive website focusing on youth resources and created by the Gay and Lesbian community centre of South Florida. It is provided under this category because of its Information for Families and Friends section. Some of the questions the website addresses are: For Parents of Gay Children - "Can We Understand?" and How might a parent helpfully respond when told his/her child is gay? It also provides statistical and research information teen suicide and harassment.
http://members.tripod.com/~claytoly/gc_resources.html
This site is created by Gaby Clayton, a mother of a gay teen who was harassed and took his life. The stories shared are very moving. Among other information on the site, there are pages devoted to youth, suicide, education and family and friends. Gaby provided excellent Internet links to other support sites, discussion boards and forums.
http://www.lgcsc.org/robkirkland/index.htm
This page is a memorial by the family of Robby Kirkland, a gay teen who committed suicide. His mother shares her deeply moving story. The site also includes Robby’s stories, poetry and pictures. The family went public hoping it would help other gay youth and their families. Helpful links are provided.
http://www.waf.org/
“We Are Family (WAF) is a voice of informed straight, lesbian and gay people who have chosen to love and support their gay and lesbian relatives and friends by working to spread truth about homosexuality. The focus is on young people because they generally feel so desperately alone.” Their mission is to “encourage straight and gay/lesbian members of our community to value one another through education.” The site provides comprehensive information on such topics as Homophobia and Discrimination, Religion, Schools, etc. It also has a number of links to publications, speeches, resolutions, and media prints on the subject. |
