Family Support for Families of LGBTQ+ Young People

Supporting understanding, acceptance and connection

Finding out that your young person identifies as LGBTQ+ or is exploring their gender identity or sexuality can bring a range of feelings and questions. You may feel supportive but unsure what to say or you may be experiencing confusion, worry or uncertainty as you try to understand their experiences.

For some families, these conversations can be influenced by family expectations, community attitudes or concerns about their young person's future and wellbeing.

At the Fusion Project, we recognise that every family is different. Our family support service provides a respectful, non-judgemental space for parents and carers to explore their feelings, ask questions and develop a greater understanding of their LGBTQ+ young person.

We believe that supporting parents and carers is an important part of helping young people feel safe, valued and understood within their families.

How can family support help?

Family support can offer an opportunity to:

• Develop a better understanding of sexual orientation, gender identity and LGBTQ+ experiences.
• Explore your own feelings, questions or concerns in a supportive environment.
• Understand how your words, actions and responses may affect your young person's sense of safety and belonging.
• Explore worries about family, community acceptance, discrimination or your young person's future.
• Develop communication skills that help your young person feel listened to and respected.
• Find ways to strengthen trust and maintain a positive relationship, even when you do not fully understand everything yet.

You do not have to understand everything straight away

You may have grown up in an environment where LGBTQ+ identities were rarely discussed, misunderstood or viewed differently from how they are understood today. You may have questions about what this means for your family, or feel uncertain about how to respond.

It is okay to have questions and to need time to process new information. Family support gives you an opportunity to explore these feelings openly, without fear of judgement.

The aim is not to blame parents or carers for their feelings or experiences. Instead, it is to help families develop understanding, communicate respectfully and consider how they can support their young person's emotional wellbeing.

A supportive space for parents and carers

At the Fusion Project, we aim to support families to explore challenges, recognise their strengths and find ways forward that prioritise the wellbeing of their young person.