Introduction and Overview

If you suspect your child is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ), you may feel concerned about their safety and wonder why they have not confided in you. If you believe your child may be LGBTQ or questioning their sexuality or gender, the most important thing you can do is make it clear to them that you love them unconditionally. Your child will feel more comfortable talking to you about their sexuality and gender if they are confident that you will love them no matter what. Family acceptance is the most influential factor contributing to the well-being LGBTQ young people. By accepting their identity, you can make a huge positive impact on the life of your child.

MAPP-Net has assembled LGBTQ resources specific to mental health professionals and their patients.

Child Welfare Information Gateway: Resources for Families of LGBTQ+ Youth

Mental Health America: Take a Mental Health Test

Gender Spectrum: Training, resources, consulting, groups.

ACLU Montana: ACLU of Montana is an affiliate of the national ACLU, a civil rights and civil liberties organization. They serve as a voice of freedom, fairness, and equality for all people in America and have been at the forefront of major battles for freedom and justice in the country for a century. The ACLU work in the courts, the legislatures, and communities to protect and extend basic rights for everyone.

Trans Visible Montana: A coalition of transgender, non-binary, and two-spirit individuals and organizations throughout the state of Montana, providing workshops, leadership opportunities, education, and more to the people of Montana.

LGBTQ Supportive Business: The Pride Foundation's Initiative Open to All allows for businesses to pledge to be LGBTQ inclusive and fair. Their website provides a list of supportive businesses in Montana.

Western Montana LGBTQ Community Center: This community center hosts support groups and events for Western Montana's LGBTQ community.

My Kid is Gay: A web resource with videos and articles to help parents understand their children.

How to Be a Girl: A great resource for parents of transgender youth. A mother of a transgender daughter chronicles her experiences through her podcast and blog.

Find a PFLAG Chapter near you: PFLAG has chapters across the United States for parents and friends of LGBTQ people to find community and support.

LGBTQ+ Health Care Centers: The Western Montana LGBTQ Center has compiled a list of safe health care centers.

LGBTQ Supportive Businesses: The Pride Foundation's Initiative Open to All allows for businesses to pledge to be LGBTQ inclusive and fair. On their website, there is a list of supportive businesses by Montana city.

Trevor Project – Online training, Crisis Line, and resource support.

Q Cards: Identity cards that empower youth to help facilitate sensitive healthcare conversations with providers. The card was designed to be able to be clipped to records and/or carried by youth.

What does LGBTQ+ stand for and what do all these words mean? This cheat sheet provides an overview of the terminology and common slang terms that youth are using to identify themselves.

Families Supporting an LGBTQ Child: This cheat sheet by Lambda Legal goes over the basics on supporting an LGBTQ family member

Supporting Your LGBTQ Youth: A Guide for Foster Parents: Learn how to make your home a welcoming environment for LGBTQ foster youth

12 Tips for Supporting LGBTQ or Questioning Child: A tip sheet from the Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development

Talking to Doctors and Medical Professionals: Talking to doctors, dentists, and other medical personnel that your child or client will interact about their identity and pronouns is an important way to support your client or child.

Gender Diverse and Transgender Children: This article includes information about the definitions of gender divers and transgender, as well as how to support your child if they are exploring gender identity.

A Practitioner's Resource Guide: Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children

LGBTQ+ Mental Health: Insights from MHA Screening

Ending Conversion Therapy: Supporting and Affirming LGBTQ Youth

Affordable Care Act Enrollment Assistance for LGBT Communities: A Resource for Behavioral Health Providers

 

 

The best LGBT books for children, teens, and YA's: The Guardian's list of best LGBT books from authors and site members.