Family Support For LGBTQ+ Youth Of Color: Information For Parents And Caregivers

Mental health challenges can be common for children and teenagers who identify as LGBTQ+. They may face a higher risk of depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and other concerns. These concerns may be even greater for LGBTQ+ children of color. Family support may be the first step toward protecting these young people’s mental health. Individual therapy can help parents of LGBTQ+ children of color learn to embrace their children’s identities and promote good mental health.

Understanding the challenges facing LGBTQ+ youth  

Childhood and adolescence can be stressful as young people explore their identities and relationships while learning more about the world. For LGBTQ+, genderfluid, and gender-expansive youth, these periods of identity development can be especially challenging. 

Kids on the LGBTQ+ spectrum may face bullying, discrimination, and a fear of rejection from their peers and loved ones. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, as many as 30% of LGBT kids report not coming out to their families because they believe their families are not accepting of LGBT people. Another 19% report that they don’t come out because they are unsure how their family members will react. 

According to the University of Chicago, LGBTQ+ young adults typically experience homelessness at more than twice the rate of their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts, with Black LGBTQ+ youth facing the highest rates of homelessness. 

This may help explain why Black LGBTQ+ youth tend to be more likely to end up in the care of juvenile justice professionals.

Other times, LGBTQ+ children may end up in the child welfare system or placed with foster families. According to the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs, a disproportionate number of those in child welfare systems are LGBTQ+ youth of color. 

Projects by the Human Rights Campaign and other nonprofits often aim to help child welfare professionals provide better care to the LGBTQ+ community. 

That said, LGBTQ+ youth in child welfare agencies may still face discrimination and violence. For LGBT youth of color, the risk can be even higher. 

These sorts of challenges can have an impact on mental health. According to the Child Mind Institute, LGBTQ+ kids generally face a higher risk of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicide. These risks tend to be higher for those who lack support and acceptance from their families. 

How to provide family support for LGBTQ+ youth of color

LGBTQ+ people of color may face unique forms of prejudice and discrimination, both inside and outside their communities. As an example, the APA points out that LGBTQ+ identities may be denied or seen as shameful in Asian-American communities. 

It can be important to note that for LGBTQ+ kids, family support may be a protective factor against mental illness.

If you’re the parent or caregiver of an LGBTQ+ child of color, you may wonder how you can best support your child’s mental health. The following strategies may be a useful place to start: 

Educate yourself: Understanding different LGBTQ+ issues, terms, and history may help you better support your child. Consider researching different sexualities and gender identities. You may also want to research healthy sexual boundaries, relationships, and interactions in the context of the LGBTQ+ spectrum. 

Provide a safe space: Make it clear to your child that you accept them and they can be themselves around you. For parents of transgender youth, do your best to be mindful of their gender identity and use their preferred pronouns. Allow them to develop relationships and friendships with people who support them, and advocate for them if they’re experiencing prejudice or bullying. 

Encourage open communication: Your LGBTQ+ child may have complicated feelings about their culture, gender identity, or sexual orientation. It may help to make them feel comfortable discussing these topics. If they’re experiencing a challenge, listen actively and patiently before offering support. Try to avoid putting pressure on them to “figure out” their identity, and practice using inclusive language when discussing LGBTQ+ topics. 

Stay culturally connected: LGBTQ+ children of color may benefit from being able to celebrate their culture while also being accepted and loved. Think about how you can integrate traditional foods, artwork, and celebrations into your lifestyle to connect with your child over shared experiences. You can also try looking for ways to make cultural activities more LGBTQ-inclusive. 

Celebrate diversity: Similarly, celebrating LGBTQ+ achievements, events, and history may also help your child explore that side of their identity. You might try learning about prominent LGBTQ+ historical figures with your child or choosing movies and books featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Consider connecting with the families of other LGBTQ+ kids to foster a sense of community. 

Get support: Being an LGBTQ+ child of color can be challenging, but parenting one can bring challenges of its own. Navigating cultural expectations while also being supportive of your child might seem overwhelming at times. However, stress—especially chronic stress—can contribute to various physical and mental health challenges. That’s why you may want to take action to support your own mental health, too. Consider joining a support group for parents of LGBTQ+ kids or creating a self-care regimen to support your well-being. 

Therapy is another resource that may help parents and foster parents of LGBTQ+ children. Working with a mental health professional may help you develop stress management strategies, address challenges in a healthy way, and explore your own mental health. 

That said, in-person mental health support may not always be accessible. According to a 2023 report from Mental Health America, the majority of U.S. adults with an unmet mental healthcare need didn’t receive care due to cost. 

Online therapy may be a more affordable option. Platforms like BetterHelp can empower you to receive therapy from your own home, with prices starting at $65 per week. 

A growing body of research shows that online therapy can effectively treat a wide range of mental health concerns. In 2017, researchers analyzed existing data from 373 studies of internet-based therapy. They found that online therapy could effectively treat anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, phobias, OCD, and more.