Resources for families

For the parents of an LGB child

Family Ties:  The Rainbow Project, in partnership with Cara-Friend, run a monthly support group called Family Ties for the parents of a lesbian, gay or bisexual child.  The group is made of parents and is facilitated by The Rainbow Project’s Mental Health Development Officer.  More information about the group and a downloadable PDF guide for parents is available from www.familytiesproject.org.uk.

Counselling Services:  Both The Rainbow Project and the Parents Advice Centre provide short-term therapeutic support and counselling services to the parents and/or families of lesbian, gay & bisexual people.

PFLAG UK:  The Parents, Friends & Family of Lesbians & Gays is an independent website providing free information and resources.  More information is available from www.pflag.co.uk.

For the child of an LGB parent

Families Like Mine:  This site launched in 1999 with the mission to decrease isolation for people who have parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT), and bring voice to their experiences. www.familieslikemine.com.

For the spouse of a gay/bisexual man

My Husband is Gay:  At any given time, there are 2 million mixed-orientation marriages; Carol Grever and her husband, Jim, were high school sweethearts who married in their early twenties. Thirty years and two children later, Jim announced to his wife that he was gay. A fundamentalist Christian, he had been leading a double life for years. In an effort to process her pain and confusion, Carol Grever sought out other heterosexual women, of all ages, ethnicities, and educational backgrounds, who were married to gay men. The stories she uncovered examine these women’s coping strategies and form the basis of this manual for healing. Available for purchase here.

The Other Side of the Closet:  Having a spouse or parent disclose his or her same–sex attraction is a shattering experience fraught with pain, confusion, anger, and a profound loss of self–esteem. Amity Pierce Buxton spotlights this exploding phenomenon and reports constructive coping strategies that spouses and children have used to resolve problems of sexual damage, family breakdown, deception, and homophobia. Illustrated throughout by riveting personal narratives, this expanded edition of The Other Side of the Closet traces the family’s journey from initial trauma to eventual transformation.  Available for purchase here.