Not every LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ book needs to be “about” being LGBTQ—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t also room for engaging, insightful coming out stories, like this week’s two excellent new middle grade titles.
Today is National Coming Out Day, and as many of us queer parents know, coming out is not always a simple matter of finding the courage, but of balancing our needs and those of our children. Here are my thoughts, plus some resources for LGBTQ parents going through the process.
Coming out is often described as a journey. As parents, it’s a journey we take with our children, whether we first come out before or after starting our families. For National Coming Out Day, here’s my story, plus some additional resources on coming out while a parent.
Two recent memoirs by two women who came out late in life—one Jewish, with young children; one Christian, with grown children—remind us that there are many paths to queer parenthood and many ways to follow even a similar path.
Even though I was out before becoming a parent, having a kid meant being out to people I would never have shared anything with, about my queerness or otherwise. One toddler call of “Mommy and Mama!” in the supermarket, however, and everyone could see our rainbow halo.
Tiktok Chief Operating Officer V Pappas has said publicly that they identify as both a woman and nonbinary, and cited their kids as a primary reason for the announcement.
Coming out is often described as an ongoing journey. As parents, it is a journey we take with our children. For National Coming Out Day, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.
Two new memoirs offer differing looks at queer families. In one, the author reflects on the coming out not only of her and her two siblings (as lesbian, bi, and trans, respectively), but of their dad as gay. In another, the author shares her story of navigating infertility, miscarriage, breast cancer, separation, and adoption.
As always, I have my eye on the queer parent athletes at the Olympics! Come meet them and see photos of their families! One met her future spouse when they were both 10 years old; the other is fighting for marriage equality in her home country.
Pull up a chair and check out some of these great recent stories about LGBTQ families, including ones on donor kin, becoming a parent at an older age, and sharing household responsibilities!
