How I came out as non-binary to my parents

The term “coming out” (of the closet) refers to the life-long process of the development of a positive gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender identity. It is a very long and difficult struggle for many people because they often have to confront many homophobic attitudes and discriminatory practices along the way.

You might come out by casually mentioning your partner, or going to an LGBTQIA+ event, or something similar. It doesn’t need to be a face-to-face conversation unless you want it to be. Video or voice calls can be helpful because you can always hang up the phone if the conversation sours.

1. Don’t think of it as Coming Out. Coming Out is a phrase with a lot of weight behind it.
2. Ease them in.
3. Remember how well they know you.
4. Ask for support from your friends.
5. Get on with the rest of your life.

What to Do (and Not Do) When Your Child Comes Out to You

• DON’T Ignore it.
• DON’T Say you “knew all along.”
• DON’T Tell them “this is just a phase.”
• DON’T Use religion to shame them.
• DO Tell them you believe and love them, and thank them for telling you.
• DO Ask about what kind of support they need.

Tips for When Someone Comes Out to You

1. Be patient.
2. Commit yourself as an ally.
3. Don’t push.
4. Keep their confidence and respect their privacy.
5. Acknowledge the risk they took by coming out to you.
6. Instead say, “Thank you for trusting me.”

Bisexuality is an attraction to more than one gender. Those who identify as bisexual feel a sexual and/or romantic attraction to people of a different gender as well as their own. While this offers a basic definition, bisexual people are a diverse group. Each individual perceives their sexual orientation differently.

Five things you can do after your child comes out

1. Tell them you love them. These are the single most important words right now.
2. Find your support system. Is there a community support group near you?
3. Do your research, and get your questions answered.
4. Sign up for our Coming Out With Care package.
5. Let love guide you.

Talk with your child or foster child about their LGBT identity. Express affection when your child tells you or when you learn that your child is LGBT. Support your child’s LGBT identity even though you may feel uncomfortable. Advocate for your child when he or she is mistreated because of their LGBT identity.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

Despite the fact that LGBT does not nominally encompass all individuals in smaller communities (see Variants below), the term is generally accepted to include those not specifically identified in the four-letter initialism.

LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), and others. The “plus” represents other sexual identities including pansexual and Two-Spirit.

The meaning of pansexual is clear: someone who is attracted – either emotionally, physically or both – to all genders. This includes cisgender, transgender, agender and gender nonconforming individuals. The prefix was chosen because it comes from the Greek root “pan,” meaning “all.” But that’s obviously not the case.