Many GLBT individuals are parenting, whether alone or with a partner. Children in GLBTrelationships may be the product of an earlier relationship, may be adopted or birthed. How queer families are formed is less important than making certain that queer parents have the resources, information and support that they need to build healthy and loving families in a world that may be less supportive than any of us would like.

There are more resources out there than you might expect for GLBT parents. In larger cities, your local gay and lesbian support organizations may offer support groups, and these can be a great way to normalize life for your children. Also, if you attend a queer friendly church, like the United Church of Christ, Unitarian, or Episcopalian, you may find couples or singles with children in the congregation. Local and nationwide organizations, like Rainbow Families at rainbowfamilies.org and Colage and colage.org are working to help families and children navigate a homophobic world.

Unfortunately, many of us will navigate our families’ lives in areas without good support resources. Parents in this situation may find themselves turning toward online resources to get the support and information that they need to help their children cope with homophobia and the realities of a different family structure. Proudparenting.com is one possible source of this support, as is http://www.queerparents.org/. Gay parents may also find blogs of other gay and lesbian parents a helpful networking tool. PlanetOut.com does have a queer parenting board, and you will find message boards for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered parents at many larger parenting sites. You may even find local families via these online resources.

Do be sure that you offer your children books, television shows, and other media that show families like theirs. Illustrating in clear terms to young children that families can come in all forms is an important validation for children. Gayparentingpage.com/Books_for_kids.htm offers a list of books with GLBT families shown.

While support, information and resources are critical, it is equally important to realize that most of the parenting dilemmas faced by queer parents are not so different from those of everyone else. Children face social difficulties regardless of their family situation and may struggle with these differences and situations. Making sure that you equip your children with information and support, and that they come home to a supportive household will go far in terms of making them comfortable in their lives. Unfortunately, homophobia will likely be a fact in our children’s lives, but with open communication and honesty, we can manage it and raise strong and happy children.