“Family Support Would Have Been Like Amazing”: LGBTQ Youth Experiences with Parental and Family Support
Stuart Roe
Being the only girl in my immediate family and extended family meant that to some extent I was fortunate and extremely spoiled. When I use the word “spoiled,” I don’t mean it in the sense that I was showered with gifts or got to do as I pleased. I was spoiled in the sense that my family always gave me their support in whatever it was that I was trying to do. As a result of their immense support I have been able to succeed in anything I put my mind to and it is this support system that has helped me grow into the person I am today. In “Family Support Would Have Been Like Amazing”: LGBTQ Youth Experiences with Parental and Family Support," Stuart Roe further indicates the importance family support plays in the lives of young LGBTQ youth. Those who came out as LGBTQ in a supportive family household tend to show positive levels of psychological well-being, “lower levels of interpersonal violence, later onset of first sexual activity, and lower levels of alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use” (Roe, p. 55). Having some type of family support can bring forth a positive impact as well as healthy behaviors.
Unfortunately, those who are not as fortunate to have supportive family when coming out as LGBTQ can experience harassment within the family and peers, isolation, exclusion verbal abuse and family rejection. Family rejection alone causes the individual to feel lonely and brings forth negative behaviors such as “higher rates of suicide, substance abuse and unprotected sex” (Roe, p. 56).
Looking into LGBTQ youth and family support, there are certain barriers that prevent youth and family from having a healthy relationship. These barriers include the lack of knowledge over the sexuality. These barriers make it hard for the youth coming out to gain the desired support from parents and family, especially in regards to the issue of religion. The youth interviewed by Roe indicated that religion created a negative relationship. Most parents instilled into their children that homosexuality was considered a ‘sin’ causing the youth to have a hard time expressing their sexuality and coming out to their family. The youth who identifies as LGBTQ had negative experiences with religion which increased health risk behaviors.
As Roe mentions, however, it is possible for both the child and family to have a positive relationship while practicing their religious belief as long as they have a supportive leader that will help them realize that helping their LGBTQ child does not mean that they are giving up their faith. Parents need to be re-oriented in their religious beliefs when it comes to supporting their LGBTQ children.
Roe, S. (2017). “Family Support Would Have Been Like Amazing”. The Family Journal,25(1), 55-62.