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FAQ’s for Parents and Children

“My child just came out, but I’m a Christian/struggling with this news. What should I do?”

The Christian faith is important to countless people, especially in the South. There are many Christians who accept and affirm the LGBTQ+ community. If your child has come out to you, I urge you to respond with a simple statement of unconditional love as you work through your own process.

It’s a harsh truth, but LGBTQ+ youth are 5x more likely to seriously attempt suicide and LGBTQ+ youth who come from rejecting families are 8.4x more likely to attempt suicide (Source: The Trevor Project). Offering your child unconditional acceptance can literally save their life.

These are some great resources to help:

• Read This I know by Pastor Jim Dant

  • This is a book written by a pastor local to Greenville, SC that has helped many parents learn to reconcile their faith with affirming their LGBTQ+ children (link to purchase below).

• Reach out to PFLAG, a support group and educational resource for parents (link below)

• Read “If I Have Gay Children: Four Promises From A Christian Pastor/Parent” (link below)

“What resources are available for me or another LGBTQ+ child in the South Carolina upstate?”

We all know that living in the South is a hard place for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community, but there are people and organizations out there to help! This list is certainly not comprehensive but meant to be a helpful starting point:

• Pride Link: https://pridelink.org/

  • Offers community-based services to help LGBTQ+ youth and adults through programs, groups, advocacy, health, wellness, and other assistance

  • Opened the Queer Wellness Center to offer medical services, mental health services, basic needs services, support groups, legal services, affirming resources, computer lab, HIV/STI screenings, Hormone Therapy Resources, and a sensory space.

• Trans in the South/Southern Equality: https://southernequality.org/

  • Provides a list of resources for affirming providers

• Upstate Pride: https://www.upstatepridesc.org/

  • Promotes acceptance through advocacy, education, and networking

• Rainbow Support Group: https://www.rainbowsupportgroupsc.com/

  • A positive support group for all LGBTQ+ people for support, anti-LGBTQ+ bullying, encouragement, and fellowship

• Uplift Outreach Center: https://upliftoutreachcenter.org/

  • Resource and homelessness center for LGBTQIA+ youth

• Gender Benders: tricountygbs@gmail.com

  • A trans-focused support group offering community, support, and education

• PFLAG: https://pflagupstatesc.org/

  • Offering support for family and friends of the LGBTQ+ community

What does being LGBTQ+ affirming mean?

In my practice, saying that I am LGBTQ+ affirming means that I keep an open-minded approach, create a therapeutic safe space for everyone, and unconditionally accept what everyone’s identity means to them. While I always have more to learn, it also means that I try to bridge cultural gaps so that every client feels a sense of belonging.

Being LGBTQ+ affirming does not mean that I’m going to “turn” anyone gay or “push” anything on them. It does mean that I am committed to helping everyone feel accepted, welcomed, and celebrated for exactly who they are.

Can you help me with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), transitioning, or gender reassignment surgery?

Gender affirming care looks different at every age. Because I work exclusively with young children who are not yet medically eligible for gender reassignment surgery, and in the interest of making sure that you receive the best care possible for this important journey, I do not offer this service. However, I usually recommend reaching out to the Queer Wellness Center to help get you pointed in the right direction!