I’ve seen my son through 12 years of public school, so here are some of my best tips for other LGBTQ parents, plus my annual resource list about creating welcoming schools, developing inclusive curricula, supporting LGBTQ youth in sports, countering book bans, and more.
These two pieces encapsulate many of my thoughts and offer some useful (I hope) advice and inspiration:
- “4 Things LGBT Parents Can Do to Prepare Our Children for the School Year“
- “Back-to-School ABCs for LGBTQs“
- [Updated 8/25/2023 to add:] “Back-to-School Tips for LGBTQ Parents: 2023“
Additionally, Family Equality’s Chief Policy Officer, Shelbi Day, and Director of Education Law & Policy, Senior Policy Counsel Nikhil Vashee, spoke with me last year about “What LGBTQ Families Should Know for Back-to-School Time,” and much what they shared is still relevant. I particularly appreciate Vashee’s assertion, “Your family has nothing to be ashamed of, and your children deserve the right to learn and grow in a classroom that affirms their family composition no matter what.”
One excellent new resource is Safe Schools for All, a project from GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), GLSEN, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), and PFLAG, with information about student rights and what to do if you experience bullying, harassment, or discrimination.
I also wrote the other day about LGBTQ-inclusive picture books with school themes, often revolving around a first day of school. I hope these are helpful for the beginning of the year—but for more LGBTQ-inclusive books for ages 0-12, which may be useful year-round in classrooms and school libraries, please see my full Database of LGBTQ Family Books.
For even more resources, below is a categorized list of links that I hope offers even more useful information. Click the headings to expand each section.
I wish you and your children a happy and safe school year, full of learning and fun.
