ChristineConnelly-Transgender Parent - Late Night Parents

Late Night Parents with Ted Hicks

With this week bringing yet another suicide of a transgender teen who felt unsupported by his family, I wanted to offer a source in case you’re working on anything related:
Christine Connelly -- an author, CPA and director of BAGLY (our nation’s oldest and largest youth-led, LGBT organization) -- is both a transgender parent and daughter.
She has experienced family rejection and alienation firsthand, and knows all too well that a simple touch of kindness, understanding and acceptance from family or friends can absolutely make a life-or-death difference to transgender individuals.
She offers these tips for people with transgender loved-ones:
Recognize that coming to terms with being transgender is usually profoundly difficult. As hard as it is for you to digest and accept your loved-one’s gender identity, it is infinitely more complex for him or her. Now more than ever, he or she needs your support.
Understand that in opening up to you about his or her gender identity, s/he is a more honest person and is as deserving and worthy of your love as always.
Remind yourself that real love is unconditional at the core, transcending sexual identity and superficial choices like hairstyle and clothing.
Take the time to learn and read about the transgender community. There are nearly 700,000 transgender individuals in the U.S. alone, or 0.3% of the population. You will gain an understanding of your loved-one and feel less alone.
If you are feeling angry, negative or conflicted about acceptance, seek outside help. Specialized counselors and therapists can help your family stay strong and united. You can search for local organizations and counselors offering specialized support through www.glbtnearme.org . PFLAG also provides resources, especially for transgender children, teens and their families.
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