In an earlier post, I talked about supporting LGBTQ families in conservative communities, but being able to find resources and support systems is important for all LGBTQ families. LGBTQ parents, like all parents seek, guidance, support, and community as they navigate the joys and challenges of raising children in a world that is still learning to accept and embrace them. If you are anything like my wife and I, you have limited friends in the LGBTQ community and had/ still have difficulty seeking other families like ours. Sometimes it is nice to be able to talk to others who have been there and know what you are going through. Someone who gets how awkward it is for your daughter to call a random guy on the playground "daddy" while his and your child are playing together. Fortunately, if you have trouble finding resources in your neighborhood, there is a wealth of resources available specifically geared towards the needs of LGBTQ families. From support groups to books, and online communities, these resources offer invaluable support and guidance on the unique journey into LGBTQ parenting.
4 Resources and Support for LGBTQ Parents
Online Communities and Apps
One of the first things I sought out before we even had my daughter, was LGBTQ online communities and potential apps. I first looked to Facebook and not only found a local LGBTQ parenting Facebook group, but also a Facebook group for LGBTQ parents from all over the world. These groups are great for meeting new people, asking questions, and just finding and sharing relatable experiences with others with similar families. I also personally use the Peanut App, and although it is not specifically for LGBTQ parents and it is tailored towards mom's, there is a feature that allows you to include a LGBTQ+-friendly tag on your profile and find others with that tag. There are also many different online groups and communities on Instagram and YouTube. Here are some great articles that highlights many different groups and people to follow to expand your online communities:
Books
There are various beneficial books I would recommend that speak directly to LGBTQ parents. You can always look for LGBTQ parenting books online or at your local book store, but here are some great books to start with if you want to save time from looking at reviews and ratings:
Raised by Unicorns: Stories from People with LGBTQ+ Parents by Frank Lowe This book is a collections of essays written by children of LGBTQ parents. It includes diverse stories from a variety of generations of people with LGBTQ parents from Baby Boomers all the way to Generation Z. It is a powerful book which includes all perspectives that show the positive and the unique obstacles that arise with being a part of a LGBTQ family.
Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight?: Confessions of a Gay Dad by Dan Bucatinsky This hilarious book includes a collection of stories that shows the crazy, the wholesome, and everything in-between of being an LGBTQ parent. It is relatable, heartwarming, and funny all in one. Topics range from worrying about pubic perception as a LGBTQ parent to the day-to-day absurdities all parents face in our journey into parenthood.
Love Makes a Family: Portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Parents and Their Families This book includes interviews, and photos that display the experiences of a variety of different LGBTQ families. Families share their run-ins with discrimination and homophobia, but also share that love is all that is needed when making a family. This is an older book, but it is worth the read.
Support Groups
If you are looking for people in your community, finding support groups is a great option for you. Not sure where to look? Google or search up LGBTQ support groups in your area and some options should pop up. Support groups are great for meeting new people in person and sharing experiences together. There may be limited options specifically for LGBTQ parents, but these LGBTQ support groups will have similar families and people to share support and guidance with. When I tried to research groups tailored towards LGBTQ families in my area, I really did not find much. This is definitely something that needs to be looked into. However, there were numerous support groups for the LGBTQ community so take a chance and see if you can meet new people!
Podcasts
I love podcasts and there are a wide variety of podcasts hosted by LGBTQ parents. So if you are looking for something relatable to listen to on your morning commute check out some of my favorite podcasts:
"The Queer Family Podcast"
Host Jaimie Kelton creates a humorous podcast about the ups and downs of LGBTQ parenting. This show has weekly guests that talk about living in a world that was not made for them. This podcast is about the journey into parenthood, queer style and starting "non-traditional" families. This is a funny and relatable podcast that is worth listening to.
"Some Families"
"Some Families" is a podcast about LGBTQ+ families. It explores stories from a variety of diverse families that explore topics such as IUI and IVF, surrogacy and more. It also provides unique perspectives from children with LGBTQ parents, parents transitioning genders, and just the everyday life of parents. Hosts Lotte Jeffs and Stu Oakley provide a masterful blend of humor, emotion, and relatable content to share with LGBTQ+ families.
Additional Articles with Podcasts about LGBTQ+ Parents:7
Conclusion
There are many options out there for support and guidance for LGBTQ families. I barely scraped the surface with this post, but this is a good place to start if you are looking to expand your community. Parenting in itself can feel isolating and lonely, but there are people out there that know what you are going through, you just have to find them. If you have any additional resources, books, podcasts, or support group recommendations please feel free to comment and share! We are always looking for more ways to meet new people, find new resources, and share experiences.
References
Be, G. P. T. (n.d.). Gay parents to be resource center: Gay parents to be. Gay Parents To Be Resource Center | Gay Parents to Be. https://www.gayparentstobe.com/resource-center
Hatch Fertility. (2024a, March 26). 7 best LGBTQ+ parenting podcasts to listen to in 2023. https://www.hatch.us/en/blog/lgbtq-parenting-podcasts-2023
LGBTQ family books for adults. Family Equality. (2020, July 23). https://familyequality.org/family-support/lgbtq-books/adult/
Our 10 favorite LGBTQ+ family podcasts of 2019. Family Equality. (2019, December 5). https://familyequality.org/2019/12/26/our-10-favorite-lgbtq-family-podcasts-of-2019/
Raising rainbows: Parenting books for LGBTQ+ parents, children, and Allies. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. (n.d.). https://cmlibrary.bibliocommons.com/list/share/1176084117/1913573279
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